Hydrogen Cars: Clean Energy Or Polluting The Planet?

Hydrogen cars are often touted as the future of automobiles, but they have yet to overtake electric vehicles in popularity. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) produce zero carbon emissions from their exhausts, can be refuelled quickly, and offer a similar driving distance to petrol cars. However, hydrogen cars are more expensive than electric cars and have fewer refueling stations. They also require more energy to power than electric vehicles due to the energy vector transition from wire to gas to wire. Despite these drawbacks, hydrogen cars still present a compelling alternative to traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles, and their role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions cannot be overlooked.

Hydrogen cars are environmentally friendly

The production of hydrogen fuel may produce noxious or greenhouse gas emissions if the hydrogen is made from coal or gas and these gases are not captured and stored. However, 'green' hydrogen can be produced by extracting hydrogen from water through electrolysis, which uses renewable electricity. This process emits zero carbon and produces 'green' hydrogen. Green hydrogen is not profitable yet, but as renewable power has become cheaper and the technology of electrolysers has matured, hydrogen is becoming a more serious fuel source.

Hydrogen can be produced domestically from resources like natural gas, coal, solar energy, wind, and biomass. When used to power highly efficient fuel cell electric vehicles or hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles, hydrogen can help strengthen national energy security, conserve petroleum, and diversify transportation energy options for a more resilient system.

However, it is important to note that hydrogen cars are not as advanced as electric cars in terms of infrastructure and charging stations. Electric cars are also more affordable and have a wider network of charging stations globally. The cost of building and maintaining hydrogen stations needs to decrease for the market to support a hydrogen economy.

Hydrogen fuel cells vs electric batteries

Hydrogen fuel cells and electric batteries are both alternatives to traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles. However, they differ in several ways, including efficiency, performance, driving range, environmental impact, and cost.

Hydrogen fuel cells can be 100% renewable and environmentally friendly. Hydrogen cars release pure water vapour and filter out ultrafine dust from the atmosphere, making them eco-friendly. The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) produces zero carbon emissions from its exhaust and can be filled as quickly as a fossil fuel equivalent. It offers a similar driving distance to petrol. However, hydrogen fuel cells require double the amount of energy of electric vehicles, and the process of converting electricity into hydrogen and then back into electricity to power a car results in energy loss, making hydrogen fuel cells less efficient.

The production and disposal of electric vehicle (EV) batteries can lead to pollution and resource depletion, especially considering the rarity and environmental impact of the materials used, such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt. However, electric cars are more affordable and have a more advanced infrastructure and charging network. They are also silent, produce no emissions, and require less maintenance due to the lack of moving parts.

In terms of cost, the manufacturing of fuel cells is more expensive than batteries, and the cost of building and maintaining hydrogen stations needs to decrease for hydrogen fuel cells to be competitive in the market.

Overall, while both technologies have their advantages and disadvantages, electric vehicles currently seem to be more favoured by the industry, with many automakers shifting their focus towards battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and several companies, such as Volkswagen and BMW, expressing scepticism about the viability of hydrogen fuel cells.

Hydrogen fuel production and distribution

Hydrogen fuel can be produced from a wide variety of sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. The two most common methods for producing hydrogen are steam-methane reforming and electrolysis. Steam-methane reforming involves separating hydrogen atoms from carbon atoms in methane (CH4) using high-temperature steam and pressure. Electrolysis, on the other hand, splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electric current. This process does not produce any byproducts or emissions other than hydrogen and oxygen.

The production of hydrogen fuel can be centralised in large plants or distributed across smaller, regional hubs. Centralised production reduces production costs but increases distribution costs due to the need for transportation and the unique challenges posed by hydrogen's properties, such as its low energy content per unit volume. Distributed production, such as at the point of end-use like fuelling stations, reduces distribution costs but increases production costs due to the expense of constructing on-site production capabilities.

To address the challenges and costs associated with hydrogen fuel production and distribution, governments and industries are investing in research and development projects. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy has launched initiatives like the Energy Earthshots Initiative and the Hydrogen Shot, which aim to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% in one decade. Additionally, the establishment of Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) aims to match the scale-up of clean hydrogen production with regional demand, utilising cost-effective resources and existing infrastructure.

The distribution of hydrogen fuel also presents logistical challenges. Hydrogen's low energy content by volume makes it challenging to store and transport, requiring high pressures, low temperatures, or chemical processes. The development of a nationwide network of fuelling stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles, such as cars, is still ongoing. However, regional or local hydrogen production can help minimise distribution challenges by maximising the use of local resources.

Overall, the production and distribution of hydrogen fuel are crucial for its widespread adoption, especially in the transportation sector. With ongoing advancements and investments in hydrogen technology, the costs and environmental impacts of production and distribution are expected to improve, making hydrogen a more viable option for reducing emissions and strengthening energy security.

Hydrogen cars' infrastructure and refueling stations

Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are zero-emission vehicles that run on pressurised hydrogen from a fuelling station. They produce zero carbon emissions from their exhausts, emitting only water vapour. Hydrogen cars also filter out ultrafine dust from the atmosphere. However, hydrogen cars have been criticised for their inefficiency. This is because, to power an FCEV, energy must be converted into hydrogen, compressed, chilled, and transported to a hydrogen station. Once inside the vehicle, the hydrogen needs to be converted into electricity. This process has been estimated to be only 38% efficient overall.

Another challenge for hydrogen cars is the lack of infrastructure and refuelling stations. As of 2023, there were over 1000+ hydrogen refuelling stations globally. In comparison, there are thousands of charging stations for electric vehicles. The cost of building and maintaining hydrogen stations is also high, which could hinder the development of the hydrogen car market.

Some governments are investing in the expansion of hydrogen refuelling station networks. For example, the California Energy Commission is investing in an initial network of 100 public hydrogen stations across California to support hydrogen fuel cell electric cars and encourage more consumers to consider these zero-emission vehicles.

The cost of fuel cells will also need to decrease substantially for hydrogen cars to be competitive in the marketplace. However, it has been projected that by 2025, the cost of mass-produced fuel cell electric vehicles could be similar to that of their hybrid counterparts.

Hydrogen cars' performance and driving range

Hydrogen cars are related to electric cars, but they have distinct pros and cons that set them apart. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) use hydrogen gas to generate electric current, powering the motor to run efficiently. This process produces zero carbon emissions from the exhaust, only emitting water vapour.

The effective range of a hydrogen-powered vehicle depends on its drivetrain technology and the size of its hydrogen tank. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles operate similarly to electric cars, while hydrogen combustion vehicles behave like gasoline cars. Hydrogen combustion engines deliver roughly the same efficiency and range as a gasoline engine with a similarly sized tank, although the hydrogen tank is pressurised. Hydrogen cars can be refuelled quickly, in a matter of minutes, even for large commercial vehicles, and their range is roughly equivalent to gasoline vehicles. This reduces downtime on long journeys and is convenient for commercial vehicles.

However, hydrogen cars have been criticised for their inefficiency. The energy must transition from wire to gas to wire to power a car, which results in energy loss. Hydrogen is also challenging to store due to its low energy content by volume, requiring high pressures and low temperatures. This makes storing hydrogen in light-duty vehicles difficult as they have limited size and weight capacity for fuel storage. Hydrogen vehicles also lack the required infrastructure for refuelling stations, with only around 1000+ stations globally as of 2023.

While hydrogen cars have advantages in terms of performance and driving range, they face competition from electric vehicles, which have advanced infrastructure and widespread support from governments. Electric cars are also more affordable and have a lower environmental impact during the manufacturing process.

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