Hydrogen cars and electric cars were once neck and neck in the race to become the future of transportation. However, while electric vehicles (EVs) have surged ahead, hydrogen cars have largely fallen by the wayside. What led to this divergence?

Understanding Hydrogen Cars

Hydrogen cars, or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), use hydrogen as a means of propulsion. There are two primary methods of using hydrogen in vehicles: combustion and fuel cells. The combustion method involves modifying internal combustion engines to burn hydrogen, but this approach is fraught with technical challenges and safety concerns. Hence, the focus has shifted to fuel cell technology.

In a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, hydrogen gas (H2) passes through a membrane where it combines with oxygen (O2) from the air, generating electricity and water vapor. This electricity then powers an electric motor, much like in a traditional battery electric vehicle (BEV).

Safety Concerns

Hydrogen is highly flammable and requires careful handling. However, modern hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are equipped with robust high-pressure storage tanks designed to withstand extreme impacts, ensuring the safety of the occupants. Despite the inherent dangers of hydrogen, there have been no reported injuries or deaths associated with the limited number of hydrogen cars sold internationally.

Advantages of Hydrogen Cars

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer several advantages. They provide a smooth and quiet driving experience with zero harmful emissions, as the only byproduct is water vapor. A significant benefit over BEVs is the refueling time: hydrogen cars can be refueled in about five minutes for a range of approximately 500 kilometers.

Disadvantages of Hydrogen Cars

The main drawback of hydrogen cars is the availability and production of hydrogen itself. The infrastructure required for hydrogen fueling stations is even more challenging to develop than that for electric charging stations. Currently, most hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, which negates the environmental benefits of hydrogen cars. Producing hydrogen through electrolysis, a more environmentally friendly method, requires large amounts of electricity and is not yet commercially viable.

For example, producing 1 kg of hydrogen via electrolysis requires 50-55 kWh of electricity. A Toyota Mirai, which has a hydrogen tank capacity of 5.6 kg and a real-world range of around 500 kilometers, uses 55 kWh of electricity for every 90 kilometers traveled. In contrast, an electric vehicle like the BYD Atto 3 uses 60 kWh for a full charge and can travel approximately 400 kilometers. This efficiency disparity highlights the challenges hydrogen cars face compared to electric vehicles.

Conclusion

Despite the early promise of hydrogen cars, the combination of production, transportation, and storage challenges has made it difficult for them to compete with electric vehicles. While hydrogen cars like the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo are available in some markets, the widespread adoption of hydrogen technology seems unlikely in the near future. The infrastructure and efficiency advantages of battery electric vehicles have propelled them ahead, leaving hydrogen cars struggling to keep up.

The future may still hold a place for hydrogen in transportation, but for now, electric vehicles have clearly won the race.