Sustainable mobility is booming. More and more electric cars are being sold in our country. What is more, when we talk about alternatives to combustion cars we always refer to hybrid and electric vehicles. However, this type of vehicle is not the only alternative. There are other zero-emission vehicle technologies. We are talking about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This type of vehicle is basically the same as electric cars. Their only big difference lies in the way in which the electrical energy used is obtained.
Hydrogen-cell cars are another type of zero-emission vehicles, but much less well known than electric vehicles. Even so, there are different brands of cars that already bet on this technology. As is the case of Toyota with its Mirai model or the Honda brand that was the first to market a vehicle with hydrogen battery FCX Clarity, in 2008. Hyundai is another manufacturer that bets on this type of vehicle and in 2013 launched the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. It is currently about to launch its second generation of hydrogen fuel cell.
How do hydrogen fuel cell vehicles work?
Cars with hydrogen cells produce their own electricity. The hydrogen, which the vehicle carries in its tank, reacts with oxygen. This reaction occurs in the fuel cell and generates electricity as well as water. The electricity that has been generated is stored in the batteries and the remaining water, in the form of steam, is expelled through the vehicle's exhaust pipe. Cars with hydrogen batteries have a somewhat more complex mechanics than an electric vehicle.
At low speed vehicles with hydrogen cells move with the energy of the battery, but when the speed is increased the fuel cell provides more power to the engine, while the battery is being recharged.
It should be noted that like electric vehicles, cars with hydrogen cells also take advantage of the energy generated in braking to recharge the batteries.
Sustainable mobility is on the rise. More and more electric cars are being sold in our country. Moreover, when we talk about alternatives to combustion cars, we always refer to hybrid and electric vehicles. However, this type of vehicle is not the only alternative. There are other zero-emission vehicle technologies. We are talking about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This type of vehicle is basically the same as electric cars. Their only big difference lies in the way in which the electrical energy used is obtained.
Hydrogen-cell cars are another type of zero-emission vehicles, but much less well known than electric vehicles. Even so, there are different brands of cars that already bet on this technology. As is the case of Toyota with its Mirai model or the Honda brand that was the first to market a vehicle with hydrogen battery FCX Clarity, in 2008. Hyundai is another manufacturer that bets on this type of vehicle and in 2013 launched the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. It is currently about to launch its second generation of hydrogen fuel cell.
How do hydrogen fuel cell vehicles work?
Cars with hydrogen cells produce their own electricity. The hydrogen, which the vehicle carries in its tank, reacts with oxygen. This reaction occurs in the fuel cell and generates electricity as well as water. The electricity that has been generated is stored in the batteries and the remaining water, in the form of steam, is expelled through the vehicle's exhaust pipe. Cars with hydrogen batteries have a somewhat more complex mechanics than an electric vehicle.
At low speed vehicles with hydrogen cells move with the energy of the battery, but when the speed is increased the fuel cell provides more power to the engine, while the battery is being recharged.
It should be noted that like electric vehicles, cars with hydrogen cells also take advantage of the energy generated in braking to recharge the batteries.
Advantages of hydrogen fuel cell cars
The first advantage of cars with hydrogen batteries is that during operation they do not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere. The only thing they emit is water vapour, which is not polluting.
The speed of refuelling is another factor in favour of this type of vehicle. Recharging the hydrogen tank is practically the same as refuelling with a traditional combustion car. A hose is used, which remains sealed to the tank for the duration of the refuelling of the tank. When comparing the refuelling of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles gain points, because although rapid charging exists for electric vehicles ... Recharge the batteries of the plug-in takes more time.
We continue to add advantages for these vehicles, their autonomy. The autonomy of this type of vehicle is very similar to that of combustion vehicles. According to the model a hydrogen tank can give us to cover perfectly between 400 and 600 kilometres.
Disadvantages of Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
Although hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on the planet, it does not exist in its pure state. In other words, to use hydrogen it has to be treated.
All the processes to treat hydrogen (hydrolysis, electrolysis...) are expensive, complex and in some cases polluting. In addition, the storage of hydrogen requires a lot of space so the habitability of the vehicle is reduced. This translates into smaller trunks than those of combustion or electric vehicles; because the hydrogen tank and other necessary items take up more space.
Other noteworthy disadvantages are the price of this type of vehicle, higher than the price of plug-in vehicles and the lack of hydrogen refuelling stations.
At present, the hydrogen fuel cell car has greater disadvantages than electric vehicles. However, we will have to wait to see how this technology overcomes all these barriers.
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