Fact of the Month #18-02, February 15: Life-Cycle Water Consumption of Fuel Cell Vehicles Can Be Cut in Half Compared to that of Conventional Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles

Life-cycle1 water consumption of fuel cell electric vehicles using hydrogen produced from natural gas with steam methane reforming is almost 50% less than the life-cycle water consumption of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles using gasoline. If the hydrogen is produced from solar power and water, the life-cycle water consumption is almost 60% less.

Life-Cycle Water Consumption per 100 Miles Driven

Horizontal bar chart comparison of life-cycle water consumption per 100 miles driven for conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, natural gas vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles.

Note: This data is based on a number of assumptions, which can be found in the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Data Record #17005.

1 Includes upstream fuel production, delivery, storage, and on-board utilization.

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