Regan Brown
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are an alternative to electric cars and traditional combustion engine vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cells can be used to power cars, buses, and even space capsules. Hydrogen is a clean, flexible energy carrier with zero emissions, but it is not a source of energy in itself. Hydrogen can be produced from diverse sources, including fossil fuels, biomass, and water electrolysis with wind, solar, or grid electricity. The environmental impact and energy efficiency of hydrogen depend on how it is produced. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles can reduce carbon dioxide by up to half if the hydrogen is produced by natural gas and by 90% if produced by renewable energy. However, hydrogen fuel cells are costly to manufacture and maintain, and hydrogen is challenging to store due to its low energy content by volume.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles | Related to electric cars but with differences that make them rarer |
| Hydrogen as a fuel | Can be produced from diverse sources, including fossil fuels, biomass, and water electrolysis with wind, solar, or grid electricity |
| Hydrogen fuel efficiency | Fuel cells operate at 40-50% efficiency, compared to 35% for fossil fuel power plants and 15-20% for internal combustion engines |
| Hydrogen fuel cell benefits | Silent, no pollutant or toxin emissions, modular, efficient at converting chemical energy to electrical energy |
| Hydrogen fuel cell applications | Used in small handheld devices, electric vehicles, backup power systems, and in remote places with limited access to conventional power |
| Hydrogen fuel cell cost | Cost of fuel cells and hydrogen stations needs to decrease for wider adoption |
| Hydrogen fuel cell refueling | Refueling experience is similar to a gas station and takes only a few minutes |
| Hydrogen fuel cell driving range | More than 300 miles on one tank of hydrogen fuel, similar to gasoline vehicles |
| Hydrogen fuel cell cars | Examples include the Toyota Mirai, Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, and Hyundai Nexo SUV |
| Hydrogen fuel cell availability | Over 30 public retail hydrogen fueling stations in California, with plans for more in the Northeast and other markets |
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What You'll Learn
Hydrogen fuel cells are happiest at a steady power output
Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising alternative to conventional power sources, offering high efficiency, reduced emissions, and adaptability across various applications. They are particularly well-suited for providing a steady power output, making them ideal for backup power use.
The challenge for automotive engineers lies in the varying power demands of an average car. While hydrogen fuel cells excel at maintaining a constant power level, they struggle with the rapid power fluctuations required for acceleration and deceleration in vehicles. For example, a car may require 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower) to maintain a steady speed on a flat road but need up to 20 times that amount for maximum acceleration.
To address this issue, some hydrogen car manufacturers, such as Toyota, have incorporated a high-voltage, low-capacity battery similar to those found in hybrid vehicles. This supplementary power source provides the necessary boost during short periods of intense acceleration and is recharged through excess fuel-cell output or regenerative braking.
Despite this challenge, hydrogen fuel cells offer significant advantages. They are highly efficient, with efficiency rates exceeding 60% in combined heat and power systems, compared to around 25% for internal combustion engines. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cells emit only water vapour and heat, making them a zero-emission power source that helps reduce air pollution and contributes to a healthier environment.
Hydrogen fuel cells also have a modular design, making them versatile and scalable to meet diverse energy demands. They can be used in various applications, from powering emergency generators and vehicles to large-scale power systems. With advancements in hydrogen production methods, hydrogen fuel cells have the potential to revolutionize energy consumption patterns and play a crucial role in achieving global zero-carbon energy initiatives.
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Hydrogen cars are rare
Hydrogen has a low energy content by volume, which makes storing it a challenge. It requires high pressures, low temperatures, or chemical processes to be stored compactly. This is particularly difficult for light-duty vehicles, which often have limited size and weight capacity for fuel storage. To meet consumer needs, hydrogen-powered vehicles typically need a driving range of more than 300 miles, which currently requires a larger tank at higher pressure than other gaseous fuels.
The high cost of fuel cells is another factor contributing to the rarity of hydrogen cars. The most expensive part of a fuel cell is manufacturing the fuel cell stack itself, and the cost of building and maintaining hydrogen fuelling stations remains high. For hydrogen cars to become more widespread, the cost of fuel cells and fuelling infrastructure needs to decrease significantly.
Limited availability of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure is also a barrier to the adoption of hydrogen cars. As of mid-2022, California is the only state in the US with a network of retail hydrogen fuelling stations, with more than 30 public stations online and plans to install 100 more. However, efforts are being made to expand the infrastructure to other regions, with several stations ready to open in the Northeast and developments underway in Hawaii.
Despite their rarity, hydrogen cars have some advantages over electric vehicles. Hydrogen fuel cells are silent and do not emit any pollutants or toxins, making them suitable for use in enclosed areas and indoor warehouses. They also have a higher fuel economy than conventional gasoline vehicles, with a driving range of more than 300 miles on a single tank of hydrogen fuel.
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Hydrogen is derived from fossil fuels
Hydrogen is a clean fuel that is widely used in several industries, including fertilisers, petrochemicals, and food. Hydrogen can be produced in several ways, and almost all of the world's current supply of hydrogen is created from fossil fuels, specifically natural gas. This process involves using a great deal of energy to "crack" a compound like natural gas (CH4) into pure H2, with CO2 as a byproduct. This method of producing hydrogen through steam methane reforming is known as creating "gray hydrogen".
Producing one tonne of hydrogen through this process emits 6.6–9.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide. However, when carbon capture and storage are used to remove a large fraction of these emissions, the product is known as "blue hydrogen". While this process reduces carbon dioxide emissions, it is still derived from fossil fuels.
There are alternative methods to produce hydrogen without the use of fossil fuels, such as water splitting or using renewable energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, or biomass. Water splitting involves splitting the water molecule (H2O) into its components, oxygen, and hydrogen. When the source of energy for water splitting is renewable or low-carbon, the hydrogen produced is sometimes referred to as "green hydrogen".
Biomass, a renewable resource derived from plants and animal materials, can also be used to produce hydrogen through biological and thermochemical processes. This method reduces CO2 emissions and absorbs CO2 from the natural environment, leading to a neutral carbon emission scenario. While these alternative methods exist, they are currently more expensive than fossil fuel-based production methods.
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Hydrogen fuel cells are more efficient than fossil fuel power plants
Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising alternative to fossil fuels, with several advantages that make them more efficient than traditional power plants. Firstly, hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms, resulting in the emission of water vapour and small amounts of heat. This process is environmentally friendly, as it does not release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, making it a zero-emission energy source.
Secondly, hydrogen is an abundant element in the universe, making it a reliable and sustainable energy carrier. While pure hydrogen is not naturally occurring, it can be produced from various sources, including natural gas, coal, solar energy, wind, and biomass. This versatility in production methods strengthens national energy security and diversifies transportation energy options.
Additionally, hydrogen fuel cells have specific applications in the automotive industry. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (HFCVs) are refuelled at hydrogen fuelling stations, similar to traditional gas stations. However, the power demands in cars vary significantly, posing a challenge for hydrogen fuel cells, which operate optimally at a steady power output. To address this, some HFCV manufacturers include a high-voltage, low-capacity battery to provide supplemental power during periods of intense acceleration.
Despite the benefits of hydrogen fuel cells, there are also challenges to their implementation. Hydrogen has a low energy content by volume, requiring high pressures, low temperatures, or chemical processes for compact storage. This challenge is particularly relevant for light-duty vehicles with limited size and weight capacity for fuel storage. Furthermore, the cost of fuel cells remains high, primarily due to the expensive manufacturing process of the fuel cell stack. To become competitive in the marketplace, the cost of fuel cells and hydrogen stations will need to decrease significantly.
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Hydrogen fuel cells are modular
The basic structure of a hydrogen fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The anode and cathode are the negative and positive electrodes, respectively, and the electrolyte allows ions to pass through while blocking electrons. This design enables the fuel cell to convert chemical energy into electrical energy efficiently.
The modularity of hydrogen fuel cells also extends to their ability to use a variety of fuels and feedstocks. While hydrogen is the most common fuel source, fuel cells can also operate on other fuels, including natural gas, coal, solar energy, wind, and biomass. This flexibility in fuel choice further enhances the adaptability of hydrogen fuel cells to different applications and contexts.
Additionally, hydrogen fuel cells can be used in combination with other power sources, such as batteries, to address specific performance requirements. For example, in the Toyota Mirai, a high-voltage, low-capacity battery is added to provide supplemental power for short periods of intense acceleration. This modular approach allows hydrogen fuel cells to be tailored to the specific needs of the system or vehicle they are powering.
While hydrogen fuel cells offer modularity and versatility, there are also challenges to their implementation. For instance, the cost of fuel cells, particularly the manufacturing of the fuel cell stack, can be high. Additionally, storing hydrogen fuel can be challenging due to its low energy content by volume, requiring high pressures or low temperatures for compact storage.
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Frequently asked questions
Hydrogen cars are closely related to fossil fuels because most of the hydrogen produced today comes from natural gas, a fossil fuel.
Hydrogen is obtained from natural gas through a process called "cracking", which involves using a great deal of energy to break down natural gas (CH4) into pure H2, with CO2 as a byproduct.
Hydrogen fuel cells are highly efficient, with an efficiency of about 40% to 50%, compared to 35% for fossil fuel power plants and 15% to 20% for internal combustion engines in most vehicles. They also do not emit any pollutants or toxins, making them suitable for use in enclosed areas. Additionally, they are modular and can be stacked to generate various amounts of power.
Hydrogen fuel cells generate power by converting chemical energy into electrical energy. Hydrogen gas is supplied to the anode of the fuel cell, which is coated with platinum. The platinum acts as a catalyst to break down the hydrogen into protons and electrons. The electrons then travel through a connected circuit and provide power to any load that is connected.
One of the main challenges is the cost of fuel cells, which needs to decrease substantially for hydrogen-powered vehicles to be competitive in the marketplace. Additionally, hydrogen has a low energy content by volume, which makes storing it a challenge due to the high pressures, low temperatures, or chemical processes required.
