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This fact sheet provides an overview of fuel cell technology, detailing its operational mechanisms, various types, and its comparative advantages over internal combustion engines and batteries. It examines the technical and economic barriers to widespread adoption—specifically cost, hydrogen production, and infrastructure—while outlining current applications in portable, stationary, and transportation sectors. The document also analyzes the role of U.S. federal and state policies, including Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives and state-level incentives, in driving the commercialization and deployment of fuel cells.

This 2005 report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that fuel cells can be cost-effective distributed energy resources (DER) by capturing economic benefits beyond simple energy generation, such as deferring utility distribution investments and providing premium reliability for the digital economy.

Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) critiques the March 2004 American Physical Society (APS) report "The Hydrogen Initiative," arguing that it reaches erroneous conclusions regarding hydrogen economics and storage due to outdated assumptions and methodological flaws.

Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute provides a rebuttal to a response by Tromp et al. regarding hydrogen leakage rates. Lovins argues that the 10% to 20% leakage rate assumed by Tromp et al. is unsupported by evidence and technically implausible for commercial systems. He specifically disputes the claim that liquid hydrogen (LH2) boiloff from automotive tanks would contribute significantly to atmospheric emissions, asserting that such gases would be used as fuel or catalytically oxidized. Lovins further contends that the automotive industry is moving toward compressed gaseous hydrogen (GH2) over LH2 due to superior economics, safety, and weight, citing a concept SUV as evidence that high-pressure GH2 tanks can meet or exceed range benchmarks.

This research paper, submitted as a 'Brief Communication Arising' to Nature, argues that a United States hydrogen economy is practical and economically viable without the expansion of nuclear power. The author contends that fuel cells will accelerate the decline of nuclear power by providing cheaper energy services and that wind power is a more cost-effective method for hydrogen production via electrolysis than nuclear electricity.

The document proposes a strategic commercialization path for fuel cells and hydrogen (H2) that avoids the need for immediate, massive bulk-supply infrastructure. The strategy relies on the development of "Hypercars"—ultralight, high-efficiency vehicles—and the integration of fuel-cell deployment between buildings and vehicles. By first establishing fuel cells in buildings for co- or trigeneration and using decentralized "hydrogen appliances" for production, the market can build the volume necessary to reduce fuel-cell costs to levels competitive for vehicles. Ultimately, the strategy envisions a transition from decentralized production to bulk supply, including wellhead reforming of natural gas with carbon sequestration and the conversion of hydroelectric dams into "Hydro-Gen" plants.

The Reinventing Fire (RF) transportation analysis outlines a methodology to estimate the techno-economic potential for efficiency gains in the U.S. transportation sector from 2010 to 2050. The report details modeling approaches for four subsectors—autos, heavy trucks, airplanes, and remaining sectors—focusing on 'Improved Design' and 'Improved Use' pathways to reduce fossil fuel consumption. It also includes a model for biofuel supply and cost, and calculates the overall societal net present value of these transitions.

This research paper by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) proposes the 'hypercar'—a vehicle combining ultralight mass, ultralow aerodynamic drag, and hybrid-electric drive to achieve fuel economies 4–10 times higher than conventional cars. The author argues that by using advanced composites and recursive design, manufacturers can reduce costs and mass simultaneously, bypassing the incremental improvements of the traditional automotive industry to create a more efficient, safer, and cheaper vehicle.