| Hydrogen as an alternative fuel cell for automotive has been in development for almost a century, but interest in it started in the late 1960s as in basic explanation a car powered by water, electricity is used to generate hydrogen by electrolysis.
The resulting hydrogen is an energy carrier that can power a car by reacting with oxygen from the air to create water, either through burning in a combustion engine or catalyzed to produce electricity in a fuel cell. |
This is basically what hydrogen fuel cell engine is all about. Though it’s not a new thing in the present its just not being exploited with a lot of factors namely cost and the perspective of the current technology still leaning towards fossil fuel. Hydrogen as fuel alternative may not appear easy to understand, but it solves fuel emissions as one of the positive in using this technology.
Hydrogen: Basic Understanding
There have been five car manufacturers who have been developing hydrogen fuel cell technology that in production. The electric cars may be the current alternative, but it’s not like hydrogen fuel cell that is being developed to be safer and fuel efficient. To get a complete understanding on how it works Toyota was at CES in 2015 to explain how the process is being made with the video below:
Car manufacturers from all over the world has teased their interpretation with the hydrogen fuel technology in past with their concept cars, but as mentioned five car manufacturers has mass produced these cars that are currently on the road.
Car Manufacturers that See the "Future"
Fuel Cell Vehicles are not yet perfected, but the information behind it has potential to further develop it if there’s a huge support as most would still stick to fossil fuel that’s not even have zero emissions.
Honda has been one of the car manufacturers who have mass produced their Fuel Powered cars with the FCX Clarity (2008-2014) and their current Honda Clarity Fuel Cell (2016-Present) that has been teased and currently available in selected markets in U.S., Japan and Europe.
Mercedes-Benz has mass produced one car with the F-Cell in 2010, which was leased in some markets in the US, Japan, and Europe. Now they are going forwardfocusing on battery electric vehicles with fuel cells that introduced the GLC F-Cell.
Toyota was one of the first companies to ever sold a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle commercially namely the Toyota Mirai (meaning “Future”) from 2015 to the present, which is sold in Japan, the United States, Europe and United Arab Emirates.
Riversimple is an independent car manufacturer unknown to the general public, but has been developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicle like the Sasa with the motto: “To pursue, systematically, the elimination of the environmental impact of personal transport." The UK-based company has been developing their cars since going public in 2016.
Hyundai has introduced their first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2014 with the Tucson FCEV and recently have announced the mass produced Hyundai NEXO at CES (Consumer Expo Show) 2018, which is a five door SUV like its predecessor with developed hydrogen fuel cell engine as their next best thing in this technology.
Are We Ready for Hydrogen?
The question still looms if the world is ready, but other car manufacturers are pushing for this technology. It’s the awareness that is needed for this to be the next technology pushing forward as flying cars are fictional, but water-powered vehicles is the future to slowly eliminate pollution at the same time the basic fuel that is everywhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment