Electric cars and hydrogen cars both run on apparently clean fuels. However, the source of electricity or hydrogen production may be based over partially clean processes. It is a question of the future, which of them will prevail.
Many thanks for your precious points of view. There is a potential for hydrogen production via solar pyrolysis of biomass, as illustrated by the review mentioned below:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325803601_Biomass_pyrolysis_past_present_and_future
To see what the future holds, it is good to see the sustainability of the sources both Battery electric and fuel cell vehicles use. Hydrogen production by electrolysis needs only water and electricity and the byproduct is oxygen, still very useful and environmental friendly. Hydrogen is the most abundant on earth (in water, H2 O) though less in the air. Battery on the other hand uses chemicals and metals which is not as abundant as hydrogen. We have to see another factor: the specific energy and energy density. Hydrogen has the highest top on its calorific value per gram but low in energy density due to its light weight. If research succeed in the near future in increasing the density of on board hydrogen storage for fuel cell (40g/l and 5.5% H2 by weight...and even more), Fuel cell car is the future. But, battery technology is also in development, now Lithium ion is good for electric vehicle application with both specific energy and energy density perspective. Plug in EV is very famous now but it needs a lot of battery to cover a long range. The best way I prefer is a hybrid between fuel cell EV and Battery will increase the efficiency and performance of the system. For instance fuel cell in not very responsive for dynamic loads and acceleration as the compression command and response takes time (poor load following), but battery is very good at this and it supply the demand power very quickly in no time. Normally battery is a must in FC EV for many reasons; it charges the regenerative power during braking and deceleration of the vehicle. Super capacitors make the car even better efficient by charging the high power transient during sudden braking which the battery can not charge (it could damage the battery). My conclusion: If we find a solution for today's problems connected with FC EV, and if fast response for dynamic loads is improved, FCEV is indeed our future candidate. Otherwise Hybrid FCEV will still be more competent in every-way in the future.
This popular article has many critique points about why hydrogen cars are not a realistic future option. Any links to scientific articles either supporting or not to these claims, would be highly appreciated. Also for what I understand, the energy necessary for producing the hydrogen is much more than, the energy you get out of it afterwards in the fuels cells. True or false? If there is an abundant amount of sustainable energy it could be justified, but there isn't (yet) and won't be for many years as I hope we will rapidly switching to sustainable energy.
http://energypost.eu/hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars-competitive-hydrogen-fuel-cell-expert/
Many thanks to all of you for your valuable replies. Happy new year you all.
Tamer YA Fahmy thank you for your new year wish, you too have the same. Marianne Bigum what’s the advantage of storing energy in hydrogen, does it matter for now if we can’t get back the energy we put in? Surplus energy from grids or large off grids will be lost normally if don’t store it? So, at least storing 50% is a big deal don’t you think?
The other thing, hydrogen vehicle is a form of electric vehicle.
Dear Tamer YA Fahmy,
In my opinion, both technologies should be developed as quickly as possible so that cars based on electromobility and other ecological energy sources become widely available. The infrastructure of the battery charging station and hydrogen-oxygen fuel should also be built. Which technology will develop to a greater extent will be determined by the time and cost of charging the fuel.
Best wishes
In my opinion, hydrogen fuel cell technology and electromobility should become economical and safe in the future. However, currently hydrogen production is not cheap. The storage of hydrogen, e.g. in cylinders in cars that would be fueled by this fuel, is associated with a high risk of a dangerous explosion. Space shuttles in space programs in the USA were fueled by hydrogen-oxygen fuel. However, there have been tragic catastrophes.
Best wishes
Dear Friends and Colleagues of RG
Will the technologies of electric motors and the new generation of batteries installed in cars and other motor vehicles be developed in the scope of the main directions of development of electromobility of the automotive industry? Will the technology of hydrogen engines or other types of engines be developed as part of the development of eco-motorisation? At present, in the majority of countries, there is no financial resources for financing high-budget pro-ecological projects from public finance funds? Should new, new ecological innovations, new technological solutions in the field of renewable energy sources, new ecoelectrodes producing electricity for the needs of electromobility in the automotive industry, new generations of batteries, photovoltaic panels, energy storage and transmission stations, hydrogen and other engines, etc. be created that the production and use of electricity generated from renewable energy sources becomes profitable, that it becomes a profitable business, that electromobility will become more and more profitable, profitable, and the prices of electric cars drop significantly? If this process lasts for a long time, there may be a shortage of time to implement the necessary reforms aimed at disseminating in the global economy a model of sustainable pro-ecological development based on the concept of green economy. If this process lasts much longer than by 2030, there may not be enough time to carry out the necessary reforms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, consequently, the planet's warming process will accelerate considerably, this process will be irreversible and will continue to accelerate and towards the end of the 21st century century will lead to a global climate disaster that threatens the life of all humanity and most other forms of life on Earth.
Best wishes
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