The sustainable mobility is booming. In our country more and more electric cars are sold. What’s more, when we talk about alternatives for combustion cars, we always refer to hybrid and electric vehicles. But, these types of vehicles are not the only alternative. There are other zero-emission vehicle technologies. We are referring to cars with hydrogen battery. This type of vehicle is basically the same as electric cars. Its only big difference is in the way in which the electrical energy used is achieved.
The cars with hydrogen fuel cell are other zero-emissions vehicles but far less known than electric vehicles. Even so, there are different brands of cars that are already betting on this technology. As is the case of Toyota with its Mirai model or the Honda brand that was the first to bring a hydrogen-powered vehicle to market on the FCX Clarity, in 2008. Hyundai is another manufacturer that is committed to this type of vehicle and already in 2013 brought the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell to market. He is currently about to launch his second generation cars with hydrogen battery.
How do cars with hydrogen battery work?
The cars with hydrogen fuel cell produce its own electricity. The hydrogen, the vehicle is in the tank, reacts with oxygen. This reaction occurs in the fuel cell and generates electrical energy, in addition to 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. Vehicles with hydrogen battery have a somewhat more complex mechanics than an electric vehicle.
At low speed, vehicles with a hydrogen battery move with the energy of the battery, but when the speed is increased the fuel cell adds more power to the engine, while the battery is being recharged.
It should be noted that, like electric vehicles, cars with hydrogen battery also take advantage of the energy generated when braking to recharge the batteries.
Advantages of cars with hydrogen battery
The first advantage of cars with a hydrogen battery is that during their operation they do not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere. The only thing they emit is water vapor, which is not polluting.
The speed to refuel is another point in favor of this type of vehicle. Recharging the hydrogen tank is practically the same as refueling with a traditional combustion car. A hose is used, which is sealed to the tank while the refueling of the tank lasts. When comparing the refueling of hydrogen-powered vehicles, they earn points, because although fast charging exists for electric vehicles … Recharging the batteries of the plug-in takes longer.
We continue adding 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 travel perfectly between 400 and 600 kilometers.
Disadvantages of vehicles with hydrogen battery
Although hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on the planet, it does not exist in its pure state. That is, to use the hydrogen has to be treated.
All 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 that the habitability of the vehicle is reduced. Which translates into smaller boot sizes than those of combustion or electric vehicles because the hydrogen tank and other necessary elements take up more space.
Other noteworthy disadvantages are the price of this type of vehicle, higher than the price of plugs and the lack of hydrogen refueling stations.
At present the cars with hydrogen battery 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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