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Although fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have advantages such as zero emissions and high energy efficiency, they still have several significant drawbacks. First, the production and storage costs of hydrogen are relatively high. Currently, hydrogen is mainly produced through water electrolysis or natural gas reforming. The former consumes a large amount of energy and relies on fossil fuel power generation, while the latter involves carbon emissions. Moreover, the production cost of green hydrogen is even higher. Second, fuel cells rely on platinum as a catalyst. This rare metal is expensive and has limited reserves, which restricts large-scale production. In addition, hydrogen refueling infrastructure is severely inadequate. As of 2024, charging stations across the country are primarily for electric vehicles, while the hydrogen refueling station network remains underdeveloped and concentrated in urban areas, limiting convenience of use. Technically, fuel cell systems require auxiliary batteries to recover braking energy, resulting in complex structures and increased vehicle costs. For instance, battery costs account for approximately 33% of the total price of electric vehicles, whereas the initial purchase cost of FCVs is even higher. Regarding safety, although hydrogen's high diffusivity reduces explosion risks, high-pressure hydrogen storage and transportation still require stringent regulations, and consumer acceptance of hydrogen fuel remains influenced by psychological factors. Notably, the local tropical climate poses additional challenges for fuel cell thermal management, as high-temperature environments may compromise system efficiency and lifespan. These factors collectively contribute to FCVs lagging behind battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in terms of adoption rates. The latter dominate the market due to more mature charging infrastructure and continuously declining battery costs (e.g., lithium-ion battery prices have decreased to 573 Malaysian ringgit per kilowatt-hour).

The core difference between battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) lies in their energy sources and refueling methods. BEVs rely on lithium-ion battery packs to store electrical energy, which is replenished via external charging piles or household power sources. Their powertrain directly converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to drive the vehicle, featuring a single energy conversion link. However, their driving range is limited by battery capacity, and charging takes a relatively long time. FCEVs use hydrogen as fuel. The on-board fuel cell stack converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy to power the motor. Their energy is replenished by refueling with hydrogen, which takes a similar time to refueling a gasoline vehicle (approximately 3-5 minutes), and their driving range is usually better (e.g., the Hyundai NEXO can reach 666 kilometers). However, they depend on hydrogen refueling station infrastructure. Both achieve zero emissions during operation, but the environmental friendliness of BEVs is affected by the energy structure of the power grid. For FCEVs, if hydrogen production relies on fossil fuels, indirect carbon emissions may be generated. In terms of cost, BEVs have a more favorable price due to the higher maturity of battery technology, while FCEVs have higher manufacturing costs due to their fuel cell systems and high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks. Currently, the price of hydrogen is approximately 50 to 60 Malaysian ringgit per kilogram, and the long-term usage cost needs to be considered comprehensively. Technologically, the charging network for BEVs has gradually become popular, while the hydrogen energy industry chain for FCEVs (such as hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and refueling) is still in the early stage of development. Nevertheless, both are important technical paths to achieve carbon-neutral transportation.

Fuel cells can be used in automobiles. Currently, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have been listed as one of the important sub-sectors of the new energy electric vehicle industry in Malaysia, mainly applicable to long-distance transportation and commercial vehicle scenarios. Hydrogen fuel cell technology converts hydrogen energy into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions, emitting only water vapor. It has the advantages of zero pollution, long driving range (typically exceeding 500 kilometers), and short refueling time (3-5 minutes). Its technological maturity has gained international recognition; for instance, Feichi Technology's hydrogen fuel cell models received endorsement from senior Malaysian government officials at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Green Hydrogen Summit. However, current adoption faces challenges including inadequate hydrogen refueling infrastructure (with only single-digit station counts nationwide) and relatively high hydrogen production costs (approximately 40-50 ringgit per kilogram), necessitating collaborative efforts between government and industry to expand the hydrogen energy supply chain. Compared to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell vehicles are better suited for heavy-duty applications or commercial sectors requiring rapid refueling, while the light passenger vehicle segment remains predominantly BEV-oriented. With Malaysia's explicit designation of hydrogen energy as a priority development area in the National Energy Transition Roadmap, fuel cell vehicles are poised to make significant advances in targeted market segments in the coming years.

The main reasons why fuel cell vehicles have not been popularized in Malaysia include insufficient infrastructure, high production costs, and an incomplete policy framework. Currently, the hydrogen economy is still in its infancy. Although Sarawak has launched a hydrogen-powered smart electric vehicle testing project and plans to put two hydrogen production plants into operation by 2027, the lagging construction of hydrogen refueling station networks and the high technical threshold for hydrogen transportation and storage have led to persistently high end-use costs. While the government has set a long-term target of achieving an output value of RM89 billion by 2050 in the *Hydrogen Economy Technology Roadmap*, there is a lack of incentive measures such as car purchase subsidies or tax relief for individual consumers at this stage. From a technical perspective, although locally produced biohydrogen has made progress in laboratory environments (e.g., the sequential fermentation process developed by UKM has an efficiency of 102 mL/L·h), its commercial-scale application is still limited by the integration of palm oil waste supply chains and the investment in cutting-edge equipment such as plasma gasification. Notably, the green hydrogen project involving Chinese enterprises in Perak is expected to reduce hydrogen production costs. Coupled with the 245-kilometer range hydrogen-powered smart rail transit vehicles being trial-run in Kuching, a breakthrough may be achieved first in the public transportation sector in the next five years.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) are a type of new energy vehicle that uses hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity through electrochemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen, which then powers the electric motor. Their only emission is water vapor, giving them zero-pollution characteristics. These vehicles are particularly suitable for long-distance transportation and the commercial vehicle sector, as refueling takes only 3-5 minutes and the driving range can exceed 500 kilometers, solving the time-consuming charging issue of pure electric vehicles. Currently, the Malaysian government is actively promoting the development of the hydrogen energy industry. For instance, in 2024, it partnered with Feichi Technology to introduce hydrogen fuel cell technology and plans to expand clean energy applications through the *National Energy Transition Roadmap*. Compared to conventional fuel-powered vehicles, FCEVs have lower operating costs, with hydrogen fuel costing approximately 0.15 Malaysian ringgit per kilometer. However, the hydrogen refueling station network is not yet fully developed, with only a few demonstration stations currently available nationwide. With platforms like the 2025 Green Energy Exhibition facilitating technical exchanges, hydrogen energy infrastructure is expected to expand rapidly over the next three years, laying the groundwork for FCEV commercialization. Notably, hydrogen fuel cell systems can last up to 10 years or 150,000 kilometers, and their cold-start performance surpasses that of lithium batteries. However, regular maintenance of core components such as the fuel cell stack and hydrogen storage tanks is required.