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Optimizing Hydrogen Production for Sustainable Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles: Grid Impacts in the WECC Region

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  • Cong Zhang

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Yuqian Shan

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Jingchao Lian

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Chuanfang Zhang

    (Naval Architecture and Port Engineering College, Shandong Jiaotong University, Weihai 264200, China)

  • Ming Li

    (Shandong Inspur Database Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan 250101, China)

Abstract

The fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is a promising transportation technology for resolving the air pollution and climate change issues in the United States. However, a large-scale penetration of FCEVs would require a sustained supply of hydrogen which does not exist now. Water electrolysis can produce hydrogen reliably and sustainably if the electricity grid is clean, but the impacts of FCEVs on the electricity grid are unknown. In this paper, we develop a comprehensive framework to model FCEV-driving and -refueling behaviors, the water electrolysis process, and electricity grid operation. We chose the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) region for this case study. We modeled the existing WECC electricity grids and accounted for the additional electricity loads from FCEVs using a Production Cost Model (PCM). Additionally, the hydrogen need for five million FCEVs leads to a 3% increase in electricity load for WECC. Our results show that an inflexible hydrogen-producing process leads to a 1.55% increase to the average cost of electricity, while a flexible scenario leads to only a 0.9% increase. On the other hand, oversized electrolyzers could take advantage of cheaper electricity generation opportunities, thus lowering total system costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Cong Zhang & Yuqian Shan & Jingchao Lian & Chuanfang Zhang & Ming Li, 2025. "Optimizing Hydrogen Production for Sustainable Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles: Grid Impacts in the WECC Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:1129-:d:1580433
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cong Zhang & Haitao Min & Yuanbin Yu & Dai Wang & Justin Luke & Daniel Opila & Samveg Saxena, 2016. "Using CPE Function to Size Capacitor Storage for Electric Vehicles and Quantifying Battery Degradation during Different Driving Cycles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-23, November.
    2. Bampaou, M. & Panopoulos, K.D., 2025. "An overview of hydrogen valleys: Current status, challenges and their role in increased renewable energy penetration," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
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