Strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of fuel cells in electric vehicles

Fuel cell electric vehicles have the advantages of simple assembly, higher efficiency, and quiet operation compared to any other propulsion method. While there is a clear road map on the future of fuel cell electric vehicles, there is still a need for a paradigm shift to relent on using fossil fuels as soon as possible. The majority of the reviewed literature focuses on enhancing the current performance of the fuel cell electric vehicle technology for the transportation sector. However, detailed information for policy makers and the research communities on the current state of the technology is evidently missing. This study presents a detailed and holistic examination of fuel cell electric vehicle technology's current state and prospects. A systematic SWOT analysis on the technology is presented to highlight major factors impeding the proliferation of the technology up to widespread commercialization. Despite the progress made, the uncertainty of market trends requires further studies to allow fuel cells to compete fairly with existing infrastructure like the one available for conventional internal combustion engines.