Discussion: How Should We Prioritize Public Funding for Alternative Fuel Projects?

What's the Alternative?

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Sources, Figures, and Calculations:

Hydrogen Station Cost Estimates - A study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory about the costs that go into building hydrogen fueling stations for vehicle use.

Electric vehicle charging station cost average comes from my personal experience working with several installers, utilities, and charging companies.

AFLEET - Tool by Argonne National Labs used for emissions and cost-of-ownership analysis for alternative fuel vehicles.

Cost per kilogram of CO2 reduced per day:

Hydrogen vehicle infrastructure: $194 / kg/day

Electric Vehicle infrastructure: $90.6 / kg/day

Cost per mile, per day:

Hydrogen vehicle infrastructure: $42.29 / mile/day

EV vehicle infrastructure: $19.84 / mile/day

CO2 emissions factors by fuel type:

Gasoline vehicle: 0.430 kg/mi

Hydrogen vehicle: 0.212 kg/mi

Electric vehicle (U.S. national grid average): 0.211 kg/mi

CO2 benefit per mile by fuel type (conventional fuel factor - alternative fuel factor):

Hydrogen vehicle: 0.218 kg/mi

Electric vehicle: 0.219 kg/mi

Hydrogen Calculations:

Station assumptions:

Total station cost: $5,050,000

Daily production rate: 1,500 kg/day

Cost per production rate: $3,370 / kg/day

Vehicle assumptions (used the Toyota Mirai as a baseline):

Efficiency: 0.01256 kg/mi

Miles supported per day of station production:

(1,500 kg/day) / (0.01256 kg/mi) = 119,426.75 mi/day

Cost per mile per day:

($5,050,000) / (119,426.75 mi/day) = $42.29 / mi/day

Cost effectiveness (cost per CO2 kilogram reduced per day):

($42.29 / mi/day) / (0.218 kg/mi) = $194 / kg/day

Electric Calculations:

Station assumptions:

Total station cost: $750,000

Power output: 600 kW

Load factor (percentage of time in use): 75%

Average output: 450 kW

Daily energy production (460 kW * 24 hr/day): 10,800 kWh/day

Cost per production rate: $69.44 / kg/day

Vehicle assumptions:

Efficiency: 3.5 mi/kWh

Miles supported per day of station production:

(10,800 kWh/day) * (3.5 mi/kWh) = 37,800 mi/day

Cost per mile per day:

($750,000) / (37,800 mi/day) = $19.84 / mi/day

Cost effectiveness (cost per CO2 kilogram reduced per day):

($19.84 / mi/day) / (0.219 kg/mi) = $90.60 / kg/day