HYDROGEN VEHICLES: A MORE SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TO ELECTRIC CARS?

Faced with the challenges of climate change and the growing scarcity of fossil fuels, alternatives are emerging. The choice of greener mobility is a growing imperative for everyone and is pushing more and more households to equip themselves with electric or hydrogen cars. 

While the electric car has almost no secrets as far as its operation is concerned, the hydrogen car remains unknown to many people. 

Buying one of these vehicles represents an investment and a commitment and raises many questions. Is it advantageous from an economic point of view? 

Is it a real alternative to a gasoline or diesel car? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a hydrogen car? Is it preferable to an electric car? 

What is a hydrogen car?

A hydrogen car (or vehicle) is an automobile that uses hydrogen as an energy carrier. Hydrogen is used as a fuel coupled with oxygen to power a fuel cell. The reaction results in the generation of electricity that allows the vehicle to move forward, and the vehicle emits only water vapor. 

In other words, a hydrogen car has an electric motor, so it is an electric car that produces electricity. Hydrogen cars are also classified as electric vehicles, despite using fuel. 

Although the process was invented by William Grove in 1839, the first hydrogen car prototypes did not arrive until later. It wasn’t until Chrysler, in 1994, that an automaker tried it. Mercedes didn’t produce the first production hydrogen vehicle until 2005.

⛔️ Are you into environmental issues? Discover all about Macro Farming pollution problems!

How does a hydrogen engine work?

A hydrogen engine uses a fuel cell to produce a reaction that generates electricity. It produces its electricity, without the need to store it. 

The fuel cell uses the reaction between hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) to produce the electricity needed to run the car. The hydrogen is stored at high pressure in the vehicle’s tanks, while the oxygen is taken directly from the ambient air.

The chemical reaction produces electricity, heat, and water vapor (H2O). In this way, a hydrogen car is silent and emits no polluting gasses!

How is a hydrogen car recharged?

The hydrogen-powered vehicles are refueled in the same way as a gasoline or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) car, at a hydrogen filling station. However, the pump doesn’t fit into the tank as in a gasoline car but is screwed onto a nozzle.

Like the fast charging time of an electric car, a hydrogen car takes only a few minutes to refuel and can travel several hundred kilometers. Unfortunately, there are still very few refueling facilities. At present, hydrogen vehicles belong to private company fleets or are vehicles used for large-scale transportation (buses, airplanes, etc.).

Where does the hydrogen come from?

Hydrogen is a gas that exists in nature, but not in “natural” form. It’s systematically used in the composition of natural resources and is always associated with other elements. For example, it’s found in the composition of water (H2O).

Hydrogen must be extracted. At present, it’s mainly produced from fossil resources such as natural gas. 

Another production option is to use water electrolysis. The principle is based on the emanation of hydrogen and oxygen as a result of the circulation of an electric current in the water. Unfortunately, for this process to be considered environmentally friendly, the electricity used must come from renewable sources, such as wind or solar power. 

✅ Find out how to practice responsible consumption!

Hydrogen car: an alternative to electric cars?

Environmental concerns are driving the need for alternative fuels. Given the rise and advantages of the so-called “electric” car, is the hydrogen car interesting? 

The main argument in favor of the hydrogen car is its excellent environmental track record in terms of performance. It is a car that emits only water vapor, i.e. with zero environmental impact.

However, there are questions about how the hydrogen is produced and transported, how the vehicle is manufactured, how the fuel cell and battery are produced…

At least, compared to the lithium battery of a “conventional” electric vehicle, hydrogen is a less polluting fuel!

Advantages

• Emits only water vapor.
• It recharges faster than an electric vehicle (a few tens of minutes depending on the model, compared to several hours for an electric vehicle).
• Long driving range (650 km on average, compared to 300 km for an electric car).
• Physically storable energy.
• Cold doesn’t affect autonomy, unlike lithium batteries.

Disadvantages

• Energy-intensive manufacturing of fuel cells and tanks.
• Expensive car and limited supply.
• Hydrogen is more expensive and complicated to transport and store, so the network of refueling stations is limited.
• No possibility of refueling at home (unlike electric cars, with installed plug-ins).
• The problem of the environmental impact of hydrogen production.