The automotive world has been evolving for many years. The hydrogen car is one of the technological innovations initiated to fight against environmental degradation. Running on non-polluting gas, these cars are gradually reaching the market. However, they still have difficulty finding their place in this market still dominated by oil giants. The question is whether the hydrogen car is really the vehicle of the future.
Hydrogen vehicles and their advantages
The hydrogen car, as its name suggests, runs on hydrogen as a fuel. It is a good alternative to the use of fossil fuels. To get on the road, this type of vehicle uses fuel cells made up of a proton exchange membrane. The cells consist of an anode supplied with hydrogen and a cathode through which the oxygen contained in the air is drawn. They are separated by an electrolyte whose reaction creates water vapor and an electron flow. It is the electricity produced by this reaction that supplies energy to the engine and battery. The presence of the fuel cell in the engine allows the car to adopt the same performance as a conventional car. The hydrogen car, thanks to this operating mode, only releases water with its exhaust system. It is also possible to note that this type of vehicle runs on the roads without jolting, vibration or noise. For a full tank in less than 5 minutes, the car's range is about 500 kilometers.
Issues in the hydrogen cars market
Despite the various advantages of the hydrogen-powered car, it is not yet very popular in the automotive market. Indeed, some problems in manufacturing and distribution are noted. Of course, various steps have been taken in recent years to enable this new type of fuel to take off. The first concern is the price. Indeed, this type of vehicle involves a fairly large financial investment due to the complexity of its technology. In addition, the number of vehicles produced each year is still relatively low compared to cars running on fossil fuels. Another problem is that the hydrogen currently produced is still dirty. As it is still associated with other products, it must be extracted industrially. It should also be noted that access to clean or green hydrogen is very energy-intensive. The acquisition cost is then one of the obstacles to the development of the hydrogen car. Hydrogen is not yet available to private individuals and there are still too few refueling stations.
Hydrogen vehicles and their future prospects
Hydrogen-powered cars, although not yet widely used, have a bright future. Indeed, the use of hydrogen as an energy source for cars remains a very advantageous alternative. Of course, the popularization of this mode of transport is not expected for a few years. It is still necessary to think about creating new hydrogen distribution networks and optimizing the production of green hydrogen. Of course, the hydrogen car is already used for some transport. Hydrogen-powered taxis are planned in many regions. This makes it possible to limit the use of internal combustion engine cars and opt for a more ecological driving solution. To make it easier for individuals to access this technology, an action plan is being put in place. This plan aims to accelerate clean hydrogen production by 10% from 2023 and a little more in the coming years. Hydrogen car brands are also thinking of producing new models within a few years to meet this offer.
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