Editorial Team - everything PE
Apr 4, 2024
The conventional fuels such as petrol, diesel, etc used in vehicles produce enormous amounts of pollutants that damage the environment. This has led to a high demand for environment-friendly fuel solutions for mobility. Sustainable mobility refers to the various transportation modes such as automobiles, trucks, trains, etc., that minimize environmental impact, promote social equity, and ensure economic viability for now and in the future. It contributes to the reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide thereby reducing atmospheric pollution, improving air quality, and reducing global warming and ozone layer depletion.
Hydrogen Fuel: The Premier Source of Sustainable Energy
Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe. It is considered to be a renewable energy source for the future. The natural occurrence of hydrogen is in the form of compounds with other elements such as oxygen to form water or carbon to form hydrocarbons. Although the industrial and chemical applications of hydrogen have been widely exploited, its potential as a sustainable energy source is a topic of recent interest. Hydrogen when used as a fuel in engines is preferred in its liquid form. It needs to be produced from renewable or non-renewable sources as it is naturally not found in liquid form.
There are two types of hydrogen vehicles -
Both types of vehicles use hydrogen as fuel. The difference lies in the way they convert the fuel into power.
A hydrogen vehicle that uses an electric motor is known as a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). In this type of vehicle, hydrogen gas is fed into the fuel cell stack where it undergoes a chemical reaction with oxygen in the air to produce electricity.
There are two types of fuel cell stacks:
Working Principle of FCEV
A fuel cell stack consists of multiple fuel cells which are stacked together to increase the amount of electricity produced. Each fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. When hydrogen gas is introduced to the anode and oxygen is introduced to the cathode, a chemical reaction occurs producing protons and electrons. The protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode, whereas the electrons are forced through an external circuit, generating an electric current. This electric current powers an electric motor that drives the vehicle’s wheels with water being the only by-product of the reaction. Thus, the fuel cell stack does not burn the hydrogen gas, rather it transforms the chemical energy of hydrogen to electrical energy.
Key Components of FCEV
A hydrogen vehicle that uses a combustion engine is known as a Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (H2ICE). In this type of vehicle, hydrogen gas is fed into an engine, where it is mixed with air and ignited. The resulting explosion drives a piston which turns a crankshaft and powers the car’s wheels. However, hydrogen internal combustion engines emit pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and other pollutants similar to gasoline-powered engines. FCEVs have an efficiency of up to 60% which is two times higher than the efficiency of H2ICE. This implies that FCEVs require less hydrogen to travel the same distance making them cost-effective in the long run.
Key Advantages of Hydrogen as a Fuel
Limitations of Hydrogen Fuel in Mobility
While hydrogen technology offers many advantages for sustainable mobility, it also has several technical shortcomings that limit its widespread adoption. Some of the key limitations include:
Thus, hydrogen fuel offers a promising pathway to clean and sustainable mobility, particularly for applications where long driving ranges and fast refueling are essential, such as heavy-duty trucks and buses.
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