Driving Sustainable Transportation and Energy Transition: Techno-economic Analysis of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and Residential Electrification for a Greener Bangladesh

To address future global warming and climate change concerns, a significant reduction in fossil fuel usage is required, beginning at the grassroots level with household hybrid energy systems. The study explores creating hybrid energy systems for individual households, integrating utilities and transportation, suggesting hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEVs) and eco-friendly hydrogen production. Three scenarios in Bangladesh were assessed: PV/Biogas Generator/Battery/Electrolyzer, PV/Biogas Generatorl Super-capacitor/Electrolyzer, and PV/Fuel Cell/Supercapacitor IElectrolyzer. Findings reveal that employing a biogas generator with a supercapacitor is more efficient than a fuel cell and lead acid battery. The optimized scenarios yield levelized costs of electricity (LCOE) at 0.224$/kWh, 0.200$/kWh, 0.651$/kWh, and levelized costs of hydrogen (LCOH) at 5.08$/kg, 4.61$/kg, 11.6$/kg, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicates that slashing main component prices by 50% could lead to a 17% decrease in LCOE and an 18.4% decrease in LCOH, presenting affordable, eco-friendly energy alternatives. This pioneering study on small-scale renewable energy and a hydrogen economy roadmap holds promise to draw widespread interest.