Are Hydrogen Cars a Type of Electric Vehicle (EV)?
Story by Wendy Johnson •
One type of vehicle that’s not talked about all that much is hydrogen cars, which are a work-in-progress type of technology. While hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer great benefits, there are still too many limitations, such as a lack of infrastructure across the country, which is why there are only about 15,000 of these units on the road now. Whether they’ll be big competitors to electric vehicles will remain to be seen, at least for now.
One question that often enters people’s minds is whether a hydrogen car is another type of electric vehicle or if it’s in a classification of its own. Let’s explore what a hydrogen-fueled car is, whether it’s an EV or not, and whether any of these vehicles are currently on the U.S. market.
Hydrogen is a little-known alternative fuel source
Electric vehicles are meant to help keep the environment clean of hazardous emissions and transition to a more renewable and cheaper fuel source. Hydrogen cars, which have
a different technology, emit only water vapor from the car’s exhaust pipe, so it’s also considered a zero-emission vehicle, according to Car and Driver.
Essentially, it’s a specific type of EV, its classification is the same as an electric vehicle.
Powering up this kind of car is the same motor found on an EV, except it uses a fuel-cell unit instead of the typical battery you find with an electric vehicle. The fuel cell has pure hydrogen running through a membrane inside the unit, which will combine with oxygen from the air, producing energy to move the car forward.
To fill up the tank in the vehicle, you will have to use a hydrogen fueling station, which generates pure hydrogen by breaking up compounds containing the molecule, such as natural gas. However, because the process is complicated and expensive, the cost of fueling up at a station will put quite a dent in your wallet. The price could range from
$10 to $17 per kilogram, equivalent to approximately $5 to $8.50 a gallon of gas.
Another constraint on a Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is that there are relatively few stations you can fill up at. Currently, the 60 or so fuel stops are only found in California, which is why you can’t buy this car in any other state. Honda used to offer the Clarity Fuel Cell model for a while, but due to the limitation of fuel stations, among other reasons, the brand discontinued it.
What are the 4 types of EVs available?
One of the most common types of EVs are ones with hybrid technology.
This combines an electric motor with a gasoline-powered engine. The two units work together to increase driving ranges and decrease vehicle emissions. The battery that runs the electric motor can’t be charged with an outside source; it recharges from the energy recaptured from the car. Offering impressive fuel economy ratings, an excellent example
of this hybrid type of EV is the Toyota Prius.
The next type is a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), which runs much like a regular hybrid, except you can charge the electric motor using an outside charging source and recharge from the energy produced from the gas engine. Also, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you can travel anywhere from 20 to 50 miles on electricity, and then the internal combustion engine can take over. An example of a popular PHEV is the Toyota RAV4 Prime.
The most well-known type of EV is the battery-electric model.
This refers to the fully electric vehicles we see on the market today. The battery stores energy and transmits it to the motor to move the car down the road. It can be recharged using an external power source, accessed from your home, or a charging station in public. All Tesla models and popular vehicles like the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf fit this category.
The last type is the fuel cell vehicle, where hydrogen technology comes in.
To power your car, the vehicle will convert hydrogen into electricity, providing the motor with energy to move the car in the direction you want to go. To fill up the tank, you must use a special hydrogen station.
Are there any hydrogen-powered vehicles currently for sale in America?
So far, only two vehicles on the market use hydrogen as a fuel source. One is the Toyota Mirai, and the other is the Hyundai Nexo. Both of these cars are currently only for sale in California because the only places you can fuel up are in that state.
The Hyundai Nexo’s fuel cell motor offers 161 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t all that powerful, considering you only get about an 8.4-second acceleration time on a 0 to 60 mph run. As for fuel economy, you can expect to get approximately 61 MPGe and a driving range of around 380 miles for the standard-sized tires. Opting for the 19-inch wheels decreases the range by 26 miles.
Mirai: Everything we know: http://crdrv.co/l5DrT2S
2021 @Toyota
With the Toyota Mirai, you can expect a motor that produces 182 hp and 221 lb-ft
of torque. On a 0 to 60 mph run, this model will take 9.1 seconds to get up to speed,
which is pretty poor compared to other EVs. However, its fuel economy ratings are impressive. You can get 67 MPGe, rated for a 402-mile driving range.
When it comes to zero-emission vehicles, one type of car that will help you keep from harming the environment is a fuel-cell hydrogen vehicle, provided you live in California, which is the only state it’s sold in. Filling up the tank can get expensive, but this model offers excellent fuel economy to help offset some of the cost.
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HYDROGEN VEHICLE BY RENAULT GROUP
Among the various technologies to which the future of the automobile is turning, the hydrogen fuel cell car is already a reality. This technology was introduced on a vehicle from the Renault utility range — Kangoo Z.E. Hydrogen — for the first time in 2014. Hydrogen is changing the game in electric mobility, both in terms of challenges and possibilities.
Here are some explanations to better understand this famous chemical element.
While, for many, the term “fuel cell” might sound like complex advanced technology,
the secret to this new way of producing energy also lies in a simple chemical reaction
between oxygen and hydrogen. So what are the particularities of a hydrogen vehicle?
How does it work? What are its advantages? And, more concretely, also what are the
possible uses of a hydrogen car in everyday life?
The challenges of the hydrogen electric car
We’ll begin with some context. The term “hydrogen electric car” refers to a vehicle powered by a specific energy source — hydrogen — using a special device: the fuel cell.
The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle belongs to the large family of electric cars, as it gets its traction from an electric powertrain. For an electric car powered by a lithium-ion battery, electrical energy is simply stored in the battery after charging on the electrical grid.
Herein lies the difference with the hydrogen vehicle. The electricity required to run the powertrain is not only supplied by the battery, but also, by the fuel cell using hydrogen stored onboard the vehicle. The majority of hydrogen vehicles currently produced by automobile manufacturers work in this way.
The hydrogen-powered car shares the same emission-free driving ambitions as the “conventional” electric vehicle. That said, there still remain several challenges to overcome in order to reduce the environmental impact of hydrogen production as much as possible. The current method of extracting this chemical element relies on the steam reforming of hydrocarbons and is called “grey” hydrogen because it is extracted from fossil fuels.
But there is another way to obtain hydrogen:
Through water electrolysis. Where the electricity used in the electrolysis process
is from a sustainable energy source, like solar or wind power, it is possible to produce
“green” hydrogen. This extraction method is a solution for the future.
How does the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle work in practice?
Its electric energy is supplied by a fuel cell. Pressurized hydrogen is stored in special tanks onboard the vehicle. The gas (H2), along with dioxygen (O2) from the surrounding air, are supplied to the fuel cell. These two gases then undergo an electrochemical reaction inside the cell, in turn producing electricity, heat and water vapor (H2O), which is released in the form of a gas via a small tube located underneath the vehicle.
The resulting energy produced:
As well as energy from the battery, power the car’s electric motor, which is then able
to run silently and with zero pollutant or CO2emissions*. When it comes to replenishing
the hydrogen, fueling takes place at dedicated stations using pumps that inject hydrogen,
extremely quickly, into the vehicle’s tank in the form of pressurized gas.
The energy consumption of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
How much does a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle consume?
Bear in mind that the hydrogen atom, two of which are required to make up the dihydrogen (H2) molecule, is one of the simplest and lightest natural elements on the periodic table (a classification which lists all the chemical elements present on Earth.)
It has very low volume density. So, in order to obtain the quantity of hydrogen needed
to power a vehicle, it is necessary to store a considerable amount in large tanks at high pressure.
The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle according to Renault Group
The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle is, for Renault Group, an electric vehicle that combines a lithium-ion battery and a hydrogen fuel cell under one hood. By opting
to use both technologies together, the brand combines the best of both worlds.
Hence, behind the iconic diamond logo on its electric utility vehicle Kangoo Z.E.
Hydrogen, Renault has integrated a fuel cell.
Diagram of the fuel cell installation onboard the Renault Kangoo Z.E. Hydrogen.
In this operational diagram of the Kangoo Z.E. Hydrogen, the motor of the hydrogen-powered electric car is powered by its lithium-ion battery. As for the fuel cell, it provides an additional energy reserve that increases the range of the car (providing more autonomy and shorter charging time.) Hydrogen-powered vehicles provide the driver with practical and financial advantages of electric power, plus the benefits offered by hydrogen in terms of flexibility and range.
The advantages of the hydrogen-powered car.
Behind the wheel of a hydrogen-powered vehicle, the driver benefits above all from almost double the range. As part of the complementary relationship between the fuel cell and the lithium-ion battery, the electricity produced by the fuel cell using the stored hydrogen is added to the storage capacity of its main battery.
For example, Renault’s Kangoo Z.E. Hydrogen is equipped with a 30 kWh
battery coupled with an onboard hydrogen storage capacity equivalent to 29.7 kWh.
Its range therefore increases from 230 kilometers to 370 kilometers (WLTP* cycle).
In this way, the hydrogen system can be seen as a “range extender”.
The icing on the cake is the refueling speed.
As well as recharging on the grid, a maximum of ten minutes is enough to refill the hydrogen tank in order to supply the fuel cell — instantly increasing the vehicle’s range. And these aren’t the only advantages: the hydrogen-powered vehicle offers all the benefits of driving an electric vehicle, starting with the lack of engine noise, enjoyable driving experience, and access to restricted driving zones in certain city centers.
Recharging a hydrogen-powered vehicle.
How exactly is a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle recharged?
The answer differs between manufacturers.
At Renault, there are two ways of restoring the vehicle’s energy reserves.
Firstly, recharging from a standard electric terminal to supply the lithium-ion
battery (an option facilitated by the number of accessible charging stations.)
Secondly, refueling at a hydrogen station to refill the gas tank takes just a few
minutes during the day, for example, when the driver needs to extend their trip.
Hydrogen storage.
While the term “fuel cell car” has not yet entered into our everyday language, it shouldn’t evoke concern when it comes to safety. Of course, hydrogen, highly-pressurized in its tank, is a volatile and flammable element. In case the fuel cell overheats or is removed, the hydrogen is dispersed and released in less than a minute. Before going into circulation, hydrogen cars must adhere to particularly strict European regulations.
Kangoo Z.E. Hydrogen is subject to a European certification in accordance with
the EC regulation n°79/2009. For over twenty years, technologies that use dihydrogen have been tested and approved on numerous occasions, often under extreme conditions (space engineering, submarines, construction machinery). Today, thanks to the experience accumulated from the pioneering Kangoo Z.E.
Hydrogen since 2014, Renault Group is going even further:
Announcing a partnership with the renowned world leader in fuel cells,
Plug Power, who have rolled out over 40,000 fuel cell systems to date. The resulting Innovation Center will not only place its partners at the cutting edge of research and development, manufacturing, and the commercialization of hydrogen vehicles, at the forefront of related services (charging infrastructures, hydrogen supply, etc.)
A comparison of the hydrogen car and electric lithium-ion battery car.
While these two technologies give the impression of being diametrically opposed,
they are actually complementary mobility modes.
The question “hydrogen or electric car?” depends above all on the use and type of vehicle.
On a light utility vehicle with a high payload capacity, hydrogen is particularly interesting.
Even though the tank used to store the gas is large, its weight remains reasonable.
Hydrogen is especially suited to intensive closed loop use where refueling is easily
locatable and accessible on the vehicle’s route, or even directly on company premises.
Electric vehicles equipped only with lithium-ion batteries are intended
for all types of driver and use, from short trips around town to longer journeys.
But when the battery is empty, the only solution is to recharge on the electricity grid.
The electric-only vehicle takes longer to charge than its hydrogen counterpart, but
there are more charging stations available, both in private and public locations.
Parking can be easily combined with charging the vehicle. Both electric and hydrogen
are complementary technologies designed to provide sustainable mobility suitable
for all types of use.
How established are hydrogen vehicles in Europe?
In 2020, new registrations of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles occurred mostly in Germany, followed by the Netherlands and France**. Hydrogen refueling stations are expanding progressively throughout Europe. In 2020, for example, there are around 100 stations in France, with the objective of reaching 1000 stations by 2030. There are 150 operational stations in Europe, with 750 being rolled out. 3,700 stations are in the works for 2025.
To support this developing infrastructure, several European countries have introduced incentivizing policies to promote the technology: like Germany, which has just allocated
a budget of 700 million euros to the sector, and France, which finances the purchase of a hydrogen vehicle by up to 16,000 euros. The arrival of the first mass-produced hydrogen electric cars, including professional vehicles currently refueled on company premises, will help accelerate the development of infrastructure, promising a bright future for hydrogen technology.
You might not think much about hydrogen-engines, but they’re actually similar to
gas-powered motors in a lot of ways. They both use a four-stroke design for intake,
compression, ignition, and exhaust, and both make the same sorts of sound.
But, as Jason Fenske of Engineering shows us, there are some pretty big differences.
Shown, Mazda’s hydrogen rotary-powered RX-8.
The main difference is what sort of exhaust hydrogen engines put out. Instead of toxic NOx gases, hydrogen motors produce water (yes, plain, old water) as the main bi-product of their combustion cycle. Because of the heat also produced by the engine, there are still some harmful NOx emissions, but not nearly as much as a normal gas engine produces.
Because hydrogen is different from gas, the sorts of air-fuel ratios, compression ratios, timing and ignition energies you can run are wildly different from what you’d normally see. For example, you can run an air-fuel ratio as lean as 180:1, and a much higher compression ratio since hydrogen has a higher-octane rating. It’s all pretty technical,
so if you want to find out everything there is to know, check out Fenske’s video below.
The Difference Between Gasoline And Hydrogen Engines – YouTube
This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content
in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their website.
How do Hydrogen-Powered Cars Work? Using [Fuel Cells & IC Engines].
Why Hydrogen Engines Are A Bad Idea – YouTube
How do hydrogen engines work? | Cummins Inc.
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