Economic and Environmental Prospects of Battery and Fuel Cell Vehicles for the Energy Transition in German Communities

The CO₂ reduction potential of battery and fuel cell electric vehicles (BEV/FCEV) is linked to the success of the energy transition. Both vehicle types can facilitate the integration of intermittent renewables. H₂ generation and storage infrastructure to support FCEVs is a promising opportunity for synergy between the transportation and building sectors in renewables integration, through grid storage and Power2Gas (i.e. blending H2 into the natural gas supply). However, as FCEVs also require more than twice as much electric energy per distance traveled than BEVs, an integrated analysis is necessary to evaluate which electric vehicle (EV) offers the lowest cost for reducing CO₂ emissions. We use an integrated analysis to determine the overall cost and CO₂ emissions when BEVs or FCEVs are deployed in two communities in southern Germany. Based on a comprehensive scenario for future cost and technology developments for 2025 and 2035, the cost-optimal mix of energy generation and storage technologies is determined to meet all energy demands (heating, electricity and transportation) in the communities. This integrated analysis finds, that the higher energy consumption of FCEVs could not be compensated by system benefits like Power2Gas and grid storage. The result is consistent with a similar analysis of a community in California. The simulation results reveal, that while the two vehicle types enable similar CO₂ emission reductions, these can be realized at lower costs with BEVs than with FCEVs. The most striking observation was, that in the event seasonal H2 grid storage becomes necessary, FCEVs would in fact be less favorable than BEVs, which require less energy per km traveled and therefore leave more energy available for stationary applications.