How far will 1kg of hydrogen get you?
Hydrogen has a high energy content by weight, but how far you can go on 1 kilogram depends on the vehicle’s efficiency, driving conditions, and tank size. In modern hydrogen fuel-cell cars, expect roughly 60 to 100 miles per kilogram, meaning a typical 4–6 kilogram tank covers a few hundred miles.
Understanding the math: what determines the distance per kilogram
Several factors determine how far hydrogen will carry you per kilogram. Here is the framework researchers and engineers use to estimate range.
- Hydrogen’s energy content and how efficiently that energy is converted into motion. One kilogram of hydrogen contains about 33.3 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy in its lower heating value (LHV), and up to about 39.4 kWh in its higher heating value (HHV). When fed into a fuel cell and a drivetrain, typical system efficiencies are around 50–60%, yielding roughly 20–25 kWh usable energy per kilogram for propulsion.
- Vehicle efficiency and design. The electric motor, power electronics, and drivetrain losses, plus the vehicle’s weight, aerodynamics, and rolling resistance, determine how much of that usable energy actually moves the wheels. Real-world FCVs often align with efficiencies seen in modern electric drivetrains.
- Driving conditions and behavior. High speeds, steep hills, rapid acceleration, and the use of climate control or other accessories raise energy usage and shorten the distance per kilogram.
- Hydrogen tank size and weight. Most passenger hydrogen vehicles carry roughly 4–6 kilograms of hydrogen. A larger tank increases potential range, but the per-kilogram efficiency remains governed by the factors above.
In practice, these factors combine to produce a broad but useful rule of thumb: roughly 60–100 miles per kilogram under typical driving in current passenger fuel-cell vehicles.
What you can expect from real-world hydrogen cars
Automakers commonly equip modern hydrogen-powered passenger cars with similar ranges per full tank and with tank capacities in the 4–6 kg range. Here are representative figures from current models to illustrate the idea.
- Toyota Mirai and similar contemporary fuel-cell sedans: about 80 miles per kilogram, with a full tank (around 5 kilograms) delivering roughly 400 miles of range in favorable conditions and steady highway driving.
- Hyundai Nexo and other mid-size FCVs: commonly in the same ballpark, typically achieving around 60–90 miles per kilogram depending on driving style and climate control usage; full-tank ranges often quoted around 350–400 miles.
- Older or smaller FCVs (and some regional variants): may trend toward the lower end of the range (roughly 60 miles per kilogram) due to tank size or efficiency limitations.
These figures are context-dependent. Actual range can be notably higher or lower depending on how aggressively you drive, road grade, temperature (which affects fuel-cell performance and cabin heating), and how often you use features like air conditioning.
Planning around hydrogen range: practical takeaways
For practical trip planning, keep these rules in mind when estimating range from 1 kilogram of hydrogen.
- Check the specific vehicle’s tank size and EPA or WLTP range rating. Models vary, even within the same class.
- Assume a conservative per-kilogram range in unfamiliar conditions. If a car’s published figure is 80 miles per kilogram under ideal conditions, plan for 60–70 miles per kilogram in cooler weather or with climate control running.
- Factor in refueling infrastructure. Hydrogen stations are less ubiquitous than gasoline or even EV charging, so route planning may require more attention to fueling options.
In summary, while hydrogen is highly energy-dense by weight, the distance you can travel per kilogram for a typical passenger fuel-cell vehicle sits in the roughly 60–100 mile range, with full-tank trips commonly totaling several hundred miles depending on tank size and driving conditions.
Summary
1 kilogram of hydrogen can generally propel a modern passenger hydrogen fuel-cell car about 60–100 miles, depending on vehicle design, driving conditions, and climate control usage. Most cars carry 4–6 kilograms of hydrogen, yielding an expected full-tank range in the 240–600 mile band, with real-world results typically clustering toward the lower-to-mid end unless driving optimizes efficiency. As infrastructure and technology continue to evolve, per-kilogram range figures may shift modestly, but the basic relationship between energy content, efficiency, and driving style remains the guiding framework for estimating distance per kilogram.
What is the range of 1kg of hydrogen?
Today a fuel-cell electric vehicle with 1 kg of hydrogen can drive approximately 60 miles, compared to conventional vehicles, which get about 25 miles on a gallon of gasoline.”
How much space does 1kg of hydrogen take up?
Being the lightest molecule, hydrogen gas has a very low density: 1 kg of hydrogen gas occupies over 11 m3 at room temperature and atmospheric pressure [5]. Thus, for the storage of hydrogen to be economically viable, its storage density must be increased. Several methods to store hydrogen at increased density exist.
What is the mileage of 1 kg of hydrogen fuel?
Hydrogen can do ~1000 KM (prototype from Daimler) vs 3300 KM for diesel trucks. Refill time is ~30 min to full compared to 5 minutes for diesel. The Tesla semi claims to do ~800 KM and can get back 560 miles after 30 minutes.
What is 1 kg of hydrogen equivalent to?
Hydrogen Conversion Information
There are . 0791 kilowatt hours of electricity in a scf of hydrogen. 1 kg of hydrogen is equal to 1 gallon of gasoline in btu equivalent.
