Are electric vehicles fuel cells? — evproguide.com

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been gaining popularity in recent years as a more environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. However, there is some confusion around whether electric vehicles are fuel cells or not. In short, electric vehicles are not fuel cells, but they can use fuel cells as a power source.

To understand this better, it’s important to know the difference between electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. Electric vehicles are powered by an electric motor that runs on electricity stored in a battery. The battery is charged by plugging the vehicle into an electric charging station or a regular household outlet. This means that electric vehicles produce zero emissions from the tailpipe and have a lower carbon footprint compared to gasoline-powered vehicles.

On the other hand, fuel cell vehicles use a fuel cell to convert hydrogen gas into electricity. The electricity then powers an electric motor to propel the vehicle. Fuel cells are similar to batteries in that they convert chemical energy into electrical energy, but they use hydrogen and oxygen as their fuel source instead of stored electricity. Fuel cell vehicles are also zero-emission vehicles and have a longer driving range compared to battery-powered electric vehicles.