One of the latest alternatives that is emerging for more environmentally friendly mobility is the hydrogen car. Undoubtedly, this type of vehicle could be a solution for the future. The problem is that there are currently few infrastructures and alternatives that we have for this field of the automotive industry. Because if; There is a lot of talk about 100% electric, but what about the one that does it with water vapor?
Will the hydrogen car take a step forward?
Sales of battery electric cars, the 100% electrified ones, are on the rise across Europe and, according to the annual Global Electric Vehicle Outlook report, they are now selling more every week than they did all of the years ago.
Also, despite growing popularity, shortages of key battery components such as lithium, nickel and cobalt could threaten supply. Which makes us wonder if the time has come to focus on hydrogen-based energy.
Or what is the same: is it the turn of the hydrogen car to take a step forward? The truth is that we could say yes, especially knowing that electrification is moving in all its forms… and yes, this type of vehicle is still considered electric; from another category, yes, but an electric one.
What do we have with them
The point is that, even if from 2050 only zero-emission cars circulate in Europe and from 2035 only these are manufactured, there are many doubts about the future viability of a world dependent on batteries and their components.
Unlike the hybrid and the pure gasoline car, for example, the hydrogen car is still far behind the electric car in terms of the maturation of its technology and its practical development (for the real world), but many see in him the answer to that question. Why then is he barely talked about?
This is, among other things, because emission restrictions are pressing and manufacturers do not have time to evolve this system enough to scale it to profitable production. Be careful, this does not mean that the hydrogen car is dead, far from it. It happens that today it is too far from being a true viability.
The reason is that, being a new alternative, there is still a long way to go, something that can be seen in the limited variety of models on the market, especially in Spanish. In addition, there is a very large lack in the distribution network, which makes refueling complicated.
A scarce supply coupled with a high price of these cars generates insufficient demand for service stations to invest in hydrogen to refuel. And without a sufficient refueling network, who dares to buy a hydrogen car?
It is the most ecological, but…
In short, the hydrogen vehicle uses the chemical reaction that occurs between hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity. This passes to a battery and, later, a motor uses this stored electricity to move the wheels of the vehicle. Along the way, only water vapor and nitrogen are expelled. In addition, they have greater autonomy.
On the other hand, these vehicles are more prepared for extreme temperatures and their engine maintenance is minimal. No more worrying about hotfixes and the unwanted issues that other types of mechanics cause.
In any case, it is important to mention that, once the hydrogen is produced, transporting it in large quantities is, again, very expensive. Above all because it is very complicated to transport, it is required to be at high pressures and very low temperatures, which complicates its transfer. All these inconveniences are delaying a network of hydrogen stations that extend along our roads.
