For many years Hydrogen has been cited as a possible alternative to both petrol and diesel vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs), and while there are Hydrogen-powered vehicles on UK roads, and a huge amount of ongoing investment in developing the technology, the truth is that we are still some way from Hydrogen being adopted as a viable option for everyday public motorists.
In some ways the Hydrogen vehicle – officially known as the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, or FCEV – is following on the same arduous path to acceptance that the EV has been, and there are a similar number of practical obstacles. Similarly there is an interest and an investment in overcoming these obstacles, and if it can be done, there are many great advantages to driving an FCEV, even over an EV.
How does Hydrogen-powered motoring work?
A vehicle is fitted with a Hydrogen storage tank which can generate a high voltage of electricity when the Hydrogen reacts with Oxygen. This is sent to a small storage battery and electric motor which powers the car.
What is the current state of the market for Hydrogen vehicles?
In 1998 Mercedes-Benz produced the Necar, which was powered by Hydrogen, but there are currently only two Hydrogen vehicles on UK roads. The Toyota Mirai was released in 2015 and a second generation hit the market in 2021. This has a 5.6Kgs storage tank and is capable of a driving range of around 400 miles. It does an impressive 0-60mph in 9.1 seconds. The Hyundai Nexo soon followed and has a 6.3Kgs tank and a similar range, but is capable of 0-62mph in 9.6 seconds. Alas, each model will cost around £64-65,000 to buy and there are less than 30 on UK roads, with neither model currently available to order.
BMW has partnered with Toyota and plans to release the iX5 by 2030, which is causing ripples in the industry, as is news that Land Rover and Vauxhall plan to have Hydrogen models on the market in the next five years. This all sounds great, particularly when you look at the benefits presented by Hydrogen-powered cars, but the problem comes when you consider the fundamental disadvantages.
The pros and cons of Hydrogen-powered vehicles
Pros
- Emissions – There are zero tailpipe emissions with Hydrogen vehicles.
- Refuelling – Hydrogen vehicles are refuelled using a pump at a filling station similar to a petrol/diesel forecourt, which could help with transition and acceptance, as will the fact it only takes about five minutes to refuel the vehicle, compared to potentially a few hours to recharge an EV battery.
- Availability – Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements in the universe.
- Efficiency – Energy usage versus cost of fuel is thought to mean that fuel management is more efficient than with EV motoring.
Cons - Refuelling – There are currently only six Hydrogen filling stations in the UK, with five more planned, making largescale public use of Hydrogen cars for the foreseeable future, non-viable.
- Sustainability – Producing Hydrogen on an industrial scale uses large amounts of fossil fuels because it isn’t a natural gas. It is estimated it takes 10Kgs of CO2 to produce 1Kg of Hydrogen. There are more renewable ways you can produce Hydrogen, but these currently add considerable costs.
- Costs – Hydrogen vehicles are currently very expensive due to the complexity of the technology and the fact there is no current route to mass production.
- Transportation – There would need to be huge investment in the transportation network to make Hydrogen a viable refuelling source for vehicles, as it currently needs to be transported in tanks from source to the filling stations. To make Hydrogen vehicles viable, it is thought this would require a ‘hydrogen economy’ whereby the whole energy sector incorporated Hydrogen into the system.
The future for Hydrogen-powered vehicles
There have been less than 500 Hydrogen-powered vehicles registered in the UK in the last decade, but by 2030 industry insiders estimate there will be 13 million globally. That is a bold claim, but does reflect the level of interest in developing the technology, which inevitably will reduce the market price of vehicles and will trigger a dramatic increase in the public refuelling infrastructure. Transportation is clearly another huge obstacle, but the sustainable benefits of using Hydrogen could ensure there is sufficient demand, and as we have seen with EVs, the motor industry reacts to these trends with vast investment and works towards more practical solutions.
Ultimately, while development has been much slower than with EVs, the interest in Hydrogen-powered vehicles is there, and with demanding but credible targets set for 2030, it will be very interesting to monitor what happens with the Hydrogen vehicle market over the next five years. For now, the focus is very much on EVs and the demand is still there for people to want to choose cleaner energy options when on the roads. Will EVs and hydrogen-powered vehicles co-exist in perfect harmony in the future? Most likely, yes, but we may also see more non-EV drivers choose hydrogen in the future who like the many benefits that hydrogen-powered vehicles bring. Some drivers are still currently hesitant about making the switch from petrol / diesel to electric due to the vehicle range and charging requirements, but hydrogen could help ease those concerns. The future of motoring will be interesting!
