Researchers at MIT have analyzed the likely cost of various alternative vehicles once they are mass produced. Their results show that the incremental cost of fuel cell electric vehicles will be much less than that of battery electric vehicles, even though the BEV has shorter range (200 miles) than the FCEV (350 miles).

The fuel cell electric vehicle with 350 miles range between fueling stops will cost approximately $3,600 more than a conventional car, according to the MIT experts. A battery EV with only 200 miles range is projected to cost $10,200 more in mass production.

If we increased the BEV range to even 300 miles, the incremental costs would approach $20,000, as shown in this graph---------->

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with all-electric ranges greater than 30 miles will also cost more than FCEVs with 350 miles range. The PHEV-30 would be able to travel 350 miles on one tank of gasoline, but could only travel 30 miles on electricity from the battery bank.  To achieve an all-electric range of 60 miles, the PHEV-60 is estimated to cost approximately $6,000 more than a regular car.

The McKinsey and Company report on the total cost of ownership (TCO) for vehicles in Europe based on confidential auto company cost data projects that FCEVs will have lower cost than either BEVs or PHEVs by 2030, and will eventually (2050) have lower TCO than even gasoline-or diesel-powered ICVs: