Hydrogen vehicles Explained

Hydrogen vehicles continue to be manufactured by auto dealers and patronized by green consumers as efforts to be lesser dependant on fossil fuels. 

Hydrogen may be generated from fossil fuels to make an energy supply that is almost free from carbon emissions.  Hydrogen may also be generated from other renewable sources like biomass or through electrolyzing water or through natural gas.

Vehicles powered by hydrogen or also often called fuel cell electric vehicles “FCEV” are more efficient than traditional internal combustion engines. They have also added benefit of having only water for their emissions.  One kilogram of hydrogen gas is said to generate around the same amount of energy in a gallon of gasoline.

How does it works?

Hydrogen gas is used as a source of energy to power the car’s engine and produce electricity. Then, an electric motor propel the vehicle.

Hydrogen gas is stored in the car in a hydrogen tank. Hydrogen is subsequently mixed with oxygen in a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell generate consequently electricity to power a motor that situated near the vehicle’s wheels. Therefore, Hydrogen vehicles are a type of electric vehicle, but in contrast they don’t need to supply electricity from a battery. However, there is an efficiency loss in electricity production process within the fuel cell when compared with an electric car in which the electricity comes straight from a battery pack charged from the mains. 

Since hydrogen is a clean fuel, hydrogen car engines produce no harmful by-products like carbon dioxide (CO2), the leading cause of global warming. 

The most common fuel cell type for vehicles is the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) . Fuel cell vehicles can either be powered with pure hydrogen gas stored on the vehicle directly or from a secondary fuel that transmits hydrogen like methanol, ethanol, or natural gas.

Hydrogen supply

To make a hydrogen transport system work, it is important that two things be developed: an efficient and extensive hydrogen highway and a dependable hydrogen vehicle. 

Hydrogen highways are a series of hydrogen filling stations on a well-known route.  It is essential to develop hydrogen highways to promote use of hydrogen vehicles. It’s mainly because hydrogen has a small amount of energy by volume. So to liken a hydrogen fuel to a normal fuel, it needs a large tank for refuelling quickly and often.

Pros and Cons of hydrogen fuel cell cars

Pros:

– Renewable and Readily Available:

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the Universe and despite the challenges associated with its extraction from water, is a uniquely abundant and renewable source of energy,perfect for our future zero-carbon needs for combined heat and power supplies.

– More Powerful and Energy Efficient:

Hydrogen fuel cell technology provides a high-density source of energy. It has also higher energy efficiency than fossil fuels. Hydrogen has the highest energy content of any common fuel by weight.

– Reduces Carbon Footprints: Hydrogen is a Clean and Flexible Energy Source to support Zero-Carbon Energy Strategies. In fact, hydrogen fuel cells do not release greenhouse gases. That means they do not have a carbon footprint while in use.

– No Acoustic Pollution:

FCEV are much like electric cars, hydrogen powered vehicles are much quieter than those that use conventional internal combustion engines.

– Charging time:

Refilling a hydrogen car is very similar to filling up with petrol or diesel, it is also almost as quick as it takes around 5 minutes to fill a tank. This is undoubtedly an advantage over the long waiting times when charging an electric car. 

– Long life cycle: Hydrogen fuel cells offer greater efficiencies with regard to usage times.

Cons:

– Hydrogen infrastructure:

One of the biggest reasons for the slow uptake of hydrogen vehicles is the existing infrastructure. For instance and According to UK H2 Mobility, there are currently 11 hydrogen stations open in the UK. This is obviously far less than the amount of petrol stations and public EV charge points but more hydrogen filling stations are planned. For now, though, not having a filling station nearby is clearly impractical for many people. 

– Hydrogen storage and supply:

Storage and transportation of hydrogen is more complex than that required for  fossil fuels. This implies additional costs to consider for hydrogen fuel cells as a source of energy.

– Highly inflammable:

Hydrogen is a highly inflammable fuel source, which means extra care regarding safety concerns

– Cost:

The cost for a unit of power from hydrogen fuel cells is actually greater than other energy sources, including solar panels. This is likely will change in the near future as technology advances, but currently this cost is a still a another obstacle for a greater extention of the use of hydrogen even though it is more efficient once produced.

Are hydrogen cars already available in the market?

Yes, Hydrogen vehicles are gone through the prototype and tests stage, and are already produced by some of the main car companies but still in limited number. They’re not yet as popular as pure electric cars “EV”.

Hyundai and Toyota have gone about creating their models in different ways: In 2021, there are two hydrogen cars publicly available in select markets: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. The Honda is like the Toyota in this respect, and it is expected that new manufacturers coming into the FCEV market will follow this approach. In this scope, The Honda Clarity was produced from 2016 to 2021.

BMW, Audi, and Mercedes Benz are just some of the companies that have been developing hydrogen fuel cell models, so the market will gradually expand over the course of the next few years. Until then, Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda will remain the main market leaders for this technology, though even small start-ups such as Riversimple, with its ultra-efficient Rasa, look set to compete on some level.

Conclusion

Actually hydrogen-powered cars are not really expected to replace EVs. Instead, hydrogen is intended to complement pure electric power. Why: it is the cleanest fuel possible.

However, hydrogen could become the best alternative for our energy requirements. But it will require some time, as political will and investment strategies need to be adopted and achieved. However, as fossil fuels run out hydrogen could be a key solution for our global energy needs.