The fuel cell vehicle (which acronym is FCV) uses the same propulsion system than any EV, that is to say, an electric motor fed by a power current regulated by a control device. The essential difference between fuel cell vehicles and battery electric vehicles is their energy storage system: while BEVs are fed by chemical batteries with restricted containing capacity and long recharge times, the FCV is fed by a fuel cell that produces electricity onboard trough the oxidation of hydrogen (as well as certain liquid hydrocarbons) stored in fuel tanks in a similar way to the ICVs.

This last fact can suppose a solution to the long recharge time of the BEV, since while its batteries take a large amount of time to be recharged, the fuel tank of the FCV can be refilled in a couple of minutes, bringing to the electric car a great advantage of the internal combustion vehicle.

In a certainly similar way as the BEV, the implantation of the FCV would signify the eradication of the urban contamination typically caused by motorised transport, since hydrogen is a non-pollutant combustible which emits only water in its oxidation. That also excludes CO2; however, even if there were no direct carbon dioxide releases from this fuel, the hydrogen production might emit this compound if it was based in hydrocarbon sources rather than renewable energy.