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I'm a believer that fuel cell technology will take-off. We are not even in the "first inning" as it relates to fuel cell technology in automobiles. It'll take time for prices of fuel cell vehicles to come down to affordable levels and compete with those of gasoline engine cars when the public buys more of these cars, the manufacturing techniques are streamlined and fuel cell technology is improved.
I think it is very much a horse race at this point, and nobody can possibly predict the winner yet. That's why a few manufacturers are coming out with both kinds. Each has different advantages.
The big, big issue with hydrogen is the lack of infrastructure to supply hydrogen for extended range driving. The same is true to a certain extent with EVs, but electricity IS readily available all over the country, and the supercharger stations are rapidly building out all over major US routes.
The big, big issue with hydrogen is the lack of infrastructure to supply hydrogen for extended range driving.
Actually the big issue is that it takes more electricity to generate it than it does to use it directly in a battery EV. And it has more storage and falmmability problems than electricity in a battery.
Actually the big issue is that it takes more electricity to generate it than it does to use it directly in a battery EV. And it has more storage and falmmability problems than electricity in a battery.
It's a bit more complicated than that. Since battery storage of electricity is still expensive, there are a number of scenarios in which generating hydrogen by hydrolysis of water might actually be a more effective energy storage methodology. This is being investigated for solar and wind energy storage, and especially for tidal energy, which has pronounced peaks and lulls AND has a plentiful supply of water to convert into fuel.
Yes, flammibility is an issue that must be dealt with carefully, however a hydrogen car can be refilled in 90 seconds from a high pressure filling station. On the downside, hydrogen escapes through far smaller leaks than any other commodity, so pipelines are inherently impractical. Hydrogen that is currently produced as a byproduct of petroleum refining is delivered to hydrogen vehicle refueling terminals by large high pressure tanker trucks, and that's unlikely to change.
What are the chances of a nasty explosion after an accident in those high pressure hydrogen trucks?
Small, I'd say. The tanks are concentrated gas, which is not even flammable in that form. It has to be mixed with oxygen in order to burn, and they have to be mixed in certain ratios to "explode." If a tank got a hole in it the plume of escaping gas could catch fire, like a torch, but I don't think it would explode unless a cloud of unburned gas built up around that accident.
But I don't know for sure. Maybe we should try it to see what happens.
The first hydrogen fueled Hyundais are hitting the UK market now, and Toyota will be along not far behind them.
Quote:
The first new Hyundai ix35 fuel cell vehicles have been delivered to the UK.
Air Products, Hyundai Motor UK and Johnson Matthey, all members of the LHNE consortium, will use the vehicles to demonstrate first-hand how hydrogen fuel cell vehicles operate easily in the real world. This will support the project’s work to create the UK’s first hydrogen powered transport system across London and the South East. The cars will complement the hydrogen powered vans that are already in operation as part of the proiect.
As part of the LHNE project, the Air Products-led consortium will deliver a publicly accessible, state-of-the-art station network which the Hyundai cars will use to re-fuel. This will include Air Products’ SmartFuel stations, which provide fuelling at 350 and 700 bar and include the company’s technology referenced in the SAE J2601 compliant hydrogen fuelling protocol.
To establish a viable and standardized network of refuelling stations, the LHNE project will deliver a new fuelling station in a central London location to complement the existing one in operation at Heathrow airport.
Diana Raine, European business manager (hydrogen energy) at Air Products and LHNE consortium leader said: “We are very excited to be introducing the Hyundai ix35 fuel cell vehicle to our business fleet, so we can demonstrate first-hand the benefits of hydrogen as a transport fuel. Air Products is proud to be leading the LHNE project, which is bringing together all the components necessary to make hydrogen transport possible across London and the South East. We are equally proud of our developing relationship with Hyundai, which now covers four continents."
Energy storage company ITM Power has also taken delivery of their first IX35 fuel cell model. ITM's Hyundai ix35 will be used as a commuter vehicle, covering the 158 miles from Sheffield to London using the cleanest fuel possible, hydrogen. Because the vehicle has a range of 369 miles, it will mean it will only require one tank of hydrogen to make this round trip.
The vehicle refueller will be located on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The site is very close to exit 33 of the M1 junction with the M18 and will be an important part of the UK hydrogen infrastructure roll out. Planning permission for the site has been granted and the commissioning process is now underway.
Small, I'd say. The tanks are concentrated gas, which is not even flammable in that form. It has to be mixed with oxygen in order to burn, and they have to be mixed in certain ratios to "explode." If a tank got a hole in it the plume of escaping gas could catch fire, like a torch, but I don't think it would explode unless a cloud of unburned gas built up around that accident.
But I don't know for sure. Maybe we should try it to see what happens.
4-75% Mix with air blows up. Only 4-16% for methane and other hydrocarbons, like gasoline, are similar. BTW, fuel cells still need good battery technology, especially capacitor types.
BTW, fuel cells still need good battery technology, especially capacitor types.
Yes, but the battery is much smaller in a HFCEV than it is in a BEV, sized like the battery in a hybrid. I haven't seen anything yet to indicate how much, if any, distance can be driven on the battery alone.
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Hyundai HFCEVs hit the market in the UK
