Hydrogen-supported decarbonization of automotive industry: from ICE through hybrids to FC vehicles
Grineva D.E. Mensharapov R.M. Ivanova N.A. Spasov D.D. Sinyakov M.V. Aliyev A.S. Fateev V.N.
26 November 2025Elsevier Ltd
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
2025#192
This paper presents a comprehensive review of the transition to zero-emission hydrogen-based automotive transport, evaluating its alignment with modern carbon-free policy objectives. The analysis demonstrates that current decarbonization pathways for vehicles – including internal combustion engines (ICEs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and their hybrid derivatives – are insufficient to achieve true zero emissions by 2050. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems present a highly efficient and eco-friendly alternative, but their commercialization is impeded by critical challenges. This review examines the principal obstacles to PEMFC adoption in the automotive industry, including the lack of hydrogen infrastructure, reliance on unsustainable hydrogen production methods, challenges with onboard hydrogen storage, high costs and persistent technical limitations. As these barriers cannot be rapidly overcome, this work concludes that a gradual transition via PEMFC/Li-ion battery hybrid vehicles represents the most viable strategy for the complete decarbonization of the automotive sector in the foreseeable future.
Hybrid powertrains , Hydrogen infrastructure , Internal combustion engine , Li-ion batteries , PEMFC , Transport decarbonization
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Department of Electrochemical and Hydrogen Technologies, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, 1, Akademika Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, 123182, Russian Federation
Department of Isotope Technology and Hydrogen Energy, Institute of Modern Energetics and Nanotechnology, D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Miusskaya sq., 9, Moscow, 125047, Russian Federation
Department of Electrochemistry, “D.V. Sokolsky Institute of Fuel, Catalysis and Electrochemistry” JSC, 142, Kunayev str., Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71, Al-Farabi Avenue, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemistry and Electrochemical Energy, National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute”, 14, Krasnokazarmennaya st., Moscow, 111250, Russian Federation
M.Nagiyev Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H. Cavid Ave. 113, Baku, AZ 1143, Azerbaijan
Department of Electrochemical and Hydrogen Technologies
Department of Isotope Technology and Hydrogen Energy
Department of Electrochemistry
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Department of Chemistry and Electrochemical Energy
M.Nagiyev Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry
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