8 Things You Need To Know About Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Cars

Edmunds.com

8 Things You Need To Know About Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Cars

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (EVs that don't need plugs) are coming. Here are the key things to know about them and about hydrogen safety.

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max136

Having done a little research on the subject (www.hydrogencarguide.com is a good starting point) I would definitely be interested in owning a hydrogen fuel cell car. Once local filling stations are available (for which there is significant global investment), I could drive an emission free vehicle with the refuelling time and driving range of a petrol engine. The hydrogen could be manufactured using clean electricity (such as from wind turbines), but even if made by reforming natural gas has much lower 'well to wheel' carbon emissions than petrol or diesel fuel. What is not to like?!

danwat1234

It really depends how the hydrogen is captured. If made by electrolisis of water and done with non-renewable electricity, then it isn't nearly as green as a straight electric car. But if it's captured by renewable electricity such as wind, solar, hydro then yes, but then think about transporting the hydrogen to the station if not made local. By trucking it would be horrible. With an infrastructure such as the natural gas infrastructure it would be good.

I don't quite understand how 70 miles per kilogram of Hydrogren equates to 70MPG. One is mass, the other is volume. What specific pressure would make this true?

I sure hope people get educated about electric (and via hydrogen, electric) cars, they are the future and hey, they are getting cheap if you buy them used.

jodell

Danwat1234- the hydrogen to gasoline comparison is simply that one kilogram (2.2 lbs) of hydrogen contains approximately the same amount of energy (btu) as one gallon (6.3 lbs) of gasoline. So if a fuel cell vehicle delivers 70 miles per kg, that's the equivalent of an ICE delivering 70 mpg. As to the pressure - a pound is a pound (and a kg a kg) under any pressure. The most common compression for hydrogen in the fuel cell cars coming to market is 10,000 psi or 700 bars. Hope this answers your questions.

ToniMassari

Answers to the above conundrum (cost and infrastructure): INVEST!

LICENSE DESIGNS FOR VEHICLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT K I T S COMPRISING OF:

a suitably rated electric motor
a Proton Exchange Membrane FUEL CELL STACK
A COMPRESSED HYDROGEN fuel tank (carbon fibre)
piping, control, monitoring electronics and safety systems

Recycle the metal from the discarded engine to manufacture more electric motors

AWARD LICENSES FOR HYDROGEN MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION

BUILDINGS/PUBLIC SREEET AND POTHER LIGHTING:
Renewable Electricity + distilled water ---> PEM Electrolytic Cells = HYDROGEN (H2) + OXYGEN (O2) ---> STORAGE

AUTOMOTIVE/RAIL/ SHIPPOING/HAULAGE/PUBLIC TRANSPORT FLEETS
H2 PRODUCTIPON BY RENEWABLE ----> STORAGE

PIPED OR TRUCKED TO H2 ---> Fuel pumps ---> PEM FUEL CELL VEHICLES: ---> Transportation
Emissions: Ultrapure H2O at tail pipe, and heat at the fue cell

ULTRAPURE WATER CAN BE COLLECTED AND DELIVERED BACK INTO THE ELECTROLYSIS CYCLE.

NOW S H A R E ! Or stop aslking "How Do We Stop Climate Change?"

Wheels_Lover_007

Question to the Edmunds team. I'm considering a used fuel-cell vehicle. I love long road trips. With the minimal fueling stations infrastructure, could I carry my own hydrogen fuel with me, much like gasoline in a gas can? And would anything special be required to then fill the vehicle from the hydrogen "gas can"?