Electric cars seem like they’ve been at the forefront of the green vehicle industry for some time now, and the current market would make it look like they don’t have much competition. However, there’s another green solution that is both more convenient and beneficial for the environment: hydrogen-powered cars.
One of the greatest advantages of using a hydrogen-powered vehicle is its environmental friendliness. Hydrogen-powered vehicles generate electricity to power their motors using hydrogen fuel cells. Simply put, these cells undergo a chemical reaction that converts hydrogen into electricity, with the only byproduct being water [1]. Because hydrogen is technically much more energy dense than the typically used lithium ion batteries, future cars made with the technology have the capacity to run for longer periods using the same amount of hydrogen [2]. Additionally, studies have shown that hydrogen-powered cars are actually more ecologically conscious than electric vehicles [3].
The lithium batteries used in electric cars can also be very harmful if mishandled or damaged. As stated by the National Transportation Safety Board, a crash can expose the high voltage components of a lithium ion battery. The damaged cells inside this battery can heat up uncontrollably, potentially leading to a fire [4]. These fires can cause further damage if the battery also explodes [5]. Electric vehicle explosions caused by lithium ion batteries are uncommon, but no hydrogen fuel cell accidents caused by hydrogen leaks have ever been reported [6, 7]. Hydrogen technology gained a reputation as an explosive fuel source through the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 (when a hydrogen-powered blimp exploded, killing 35 people), but hydrogen technology has since become much safer. Now, many vehicles store hydrogen as metallic compounds to keep the stored hydrogen from taking flame. Hydrogen storage is required by law to go through extensive testing before it can be deployed in vehicles on the street - so much so, that hydrogen fuel cells are now deemed safer than combustion engines by experts [8, 9].
Another significant drawback of electric vehicles is how long it takes to charge them. Owners are often forced to leave their cars plugged in overnight just to power them through the next day. Of course, gasoline vehicles don’t have this problem - they can be pumped full of gas in a matter of minutes. Fortunately, hydrogen-powered vehicles can accomplish this feat as well but with the much more environmentally friendly alternative of hydrogen gasHowever, if hydrogen-powered vehicles have all these advantages, why aren’t they more popular?
The easiest answer is price. Hydrogen fuel cells, which are needed to power hydrogen vehicles, are made of expensive and rare metals. This greatly contributes to the cost of the vehicle and makes hydrogen cars significantly more expensive than electric vehicles [10]. As a result, hydrogen vehicles are less appealing for car companies to manufacture. Although the market has been growing significantly in recent years, there are still very limited options for hydrogen cars,especially compared to electric vehicles [11].
Another reason hydrogen-powered cars aren’t flooding the market is because of a lack of infrastructure. For gas vehicles, and to a lesser extent electric ones, stations are always accessible to drivers while hydrogen refueling stations are relatively uncommon [12]. This could be an easy deterrent to driving a hydrogen car, as long trips would need to be routed based on where refueling stations are located.
Finally, the heavy metals needed to build hydrogen fuel cells are difficult to extract and can have a negative environmental impact [11]. This is also an issue with electric vehicles, as rare metals are used for their batteries. However both types of cars are a step in the right direction, as they are still exponentially more environmentally friendly than cars fueled by gasoline.
Despite these downsides, the potential hydrogen technology displays is clear. As the price of a full tank of hydrogen decreases, hydrogen-powered vehicles will start to look more appealing to consumers and companies, furthering their development. As gasoline prices continue to rise, this may also become a cheaper alternative to combustion cars, especially considering hydrogen vehicles’ fast refuel times compared to electric vehicles.
Climate change is now an unavoidable problem, with vehicular pollution becoming a central concern. After all, vehicles produce approximately 21% of all carbon emissions in the US [13, 14]. The increasing popularity of both hydrogen and electric powered vehicles is promising, as neither directly contributes to carbon emissions. Between the two, hydrogen-powered cars are becoming more popular due to their safety, promising leaps in technology, and fast recharge rates. As the issues with hydrogen-powered cars continue to be worked out, the car’s advantages may make it the perfect vehicle for resolving climate change.
[1] “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Cars.” DriveClean, n.d. https://driveclean.ca.gov/hydrogen-fuel-cell#:~:text=How%20They%20Work,powers%20the%20car's%20electric%20motors.
[2] Booth, David. “These Numbers Decide Whether Hydrogen or Electric Cars Win out - Driving.” Driving, December 3, 2021. https://driving.ca/column/motor-mouth/motor-mouth-the-numbers-that-decide-whether-hydrogen-or-electric-cars-win-out.
[3] “Fuel Cell and Hydrogen.” Argonne National Library, n.d. https://www.anl.gov/taps/fuel-cell-and-hydrogen.
[4] “Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles.” National Transportation Safety Board, November 13, 2020. https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/HWY19SP002.aspx.
[5] Moorcraft, Bethan. “Electric Vehicles: What Risks Do They Pose to Homes?” Insurance Business America, April 7, 2022. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/electric-vehicles-what-risks-do-they-pose-to-homes-401772.aspx.
[6] Evers, Andrew. “Electric Vehicle Fires Are Rare, but Hard to Fight — Here’s Why.” CNBC, January 29, 2022. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/29/electric-vehicle-fires-are-rare-but-hard-to-fight-heres-why.html
[7] “What Makes Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Safe?” Hyundai Motor Group TECH, September 6, 2019. https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/what-makes-the-fuel-cell-electric-vehicle-safe/.
[8] “What Makes Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Safe?” Hyundai Motor Group TECH, September 6, 2019. https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/what-makes-the-fuel-cell-electric-vehicle-safe/.
[9] Mearian, Lucas. “Here's Why Hydrogen-Fueled Cars Aren't Little Hindenburgs.” Computerworld, November 26, 2014. https://www.computerworld.com/article/2852323/heres-why-hydrogen-fueled-cars-arent-little-hindenburgs.html.
[10] Nightingale, Sarah. “Why Haven't Hydrogen-Powered Cars Gone Mainstream?” USC News, October 9, 2019. https://news.usc.edu/trojan-family/why-hydrogen-fuel-isnt-mainstream-as-fossil-fuel-alternative/#:~:text=Hydrogen%20in%20vehicles%20must%20be,expensive%20materials%20such%20as%20platinum.
[11] “Global Hydrogen Fuel Cell Market to Grow with a Significant CAGR during 2022 – 2030; Surge in Initiatives by Government of Nations for Adoption of Green Energy over Rising Environmental Concerns to Drive the Market Growth.” Globe News Room. Kenneth Research, June 22, 2022. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/06/22/2466918/0/en/Global-Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell-Market-to-Grow-with-a-Significant-CAGR-During-2022-2030-Surge-in-Initiatives-by-Government-of-Nations-for-Adoption-of-Green-Energy-Over-Rising-Environment.html.
[12] Lambrecht, Andrew. “Is There a Future in Hydrogen?” InsideEVs, February 15, 2022. https://insideevs.com/features/567002/hydrogen-versus-electric-cars/.
[13] Tiseo, Ian. “Global Transport CO2 Emissions Breakdown 2020.” Statista, December 14, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1185535/transport-carbon-dioxide-emissions-breakdown/.
[14] “Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” EPA, August 5, 2022. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions#transportation.