Navigating the road ahead: Exploring the potential of hydrogen cars

Posted on 03 May 2024

Zero emissions driving have become the latest vision and mission for car manufacturers and leading automotive executives believe that hydrogen would perhaps become the default choice in this in future.

Petrol and diesel vehicles dominate the roads and some electric vehicles are being pushed in the mix but without much success in the car segment. Given the challenges in e-vehicle adoption, particularly cars, do you think we are ready for a switch over, will hydrogen-powered cars occupy the white space?

My friend and I were walking through the park, it was early morning, and the extreme heat that Delhi is accustomed to has not yet arrived. As readers would be aware getting a covered parking space in India’s capital city is a big challenge, my car albeit old was still shining bright in the sun.

“Yours is a good-looking car,” my friend exclaimed. “It is maintained properly, unlike the ones that we see on Delhi roads. So, when are you planning to sell your car? Do you like electric versions?” she asked. I said, “Perhaps I would buy an electric one, as they are also automatic, and I am comfortable driving automatic.”

She interrupted, saying, “Man, do you even think electric cars are going to be a success? Whatever is being projected is a farce. They are not viable, practically. Where would you dispose of the lithium? The biggest challenge in electric cars is the battery. The cost of the battery itself is the first big deterrent. And then, where are you going to discard used batteries? Bury them in a pit or throw them in the sea?”

As for her, an electric car will be polluting both land and sea. The climate is changing drastically; at least you need to protect the environment. Further, electric vehicles cannot handle the load of people. If there are 3-4 passengers in the car, then you cannot maintain a good speed, as the battery would drain fast. It is also not possible to travel a great distance with a single charge, given fewer charging outlets. You need to wait patiently for some 4-8 hours for the car to be fully charged.

“I know it is being touted as an environment-friendly alternative to conventional fuel-powered vehicles, and some governments are investing big time in it. But do you think electric vehicles will derive their power from renewable sources alone? No, it will be coal, the black fuel which is considered a pariah. Coal will be powering electric vehicles, so the air pollution goes for a toss,” she exclaimed.

However, it looks like all the brouhaha will die down in a few years with the arrival of hydrogen-powered vehicles in transportation. India is stepping up in this venture, with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announcing a new scheme to support pilot projects to test the suitability of green hydrogen as a vehicle fuel and develop refueling stations. Every big manufacturer is into it: Tata Motors, Volvo Eicher, Ashok Leyland, and some others. Research and development are being taken up to develop hydrogen-powered trucks and buses.

Hydrogen bikes are expected to be on the roads in India soon. During the Bharat Mobility Expo 2024, WardWizard Mobility, the parent company of Joy e-bike, showcased a hydrogen-powered electric two-wheeler, which created curiosity. It promised a leap into alternative cell chemistry to promote clean and efficient mobility in India. Many such alternatives are coming up, and in a matter of a few years, customers will get more choices to switch over.

When you examine, if you would, then the trend indicates that in India, electric vehicles have gained traction only in two-wheelers, which is fine, and more in e-rickshaws, which adds to the traffic woes in cities like Delhi. E-rickshaws, with their slow movement, create traffic snarls, and there are fewer people interested in buying electric cars as they don’t want to regret their decision in the future, given the multitude of challenges that electric cars pose.

Yes, Tesla, promoted by Elon Musk, is there, which of course, is a dream car as it offers high quality, but then everyone cannot afford a Tesla. The quality is not there in many electric vehicles that are being manufactured now, and many who bought them want to sell but are not finding takers for the second-hand wares. And then there are many instances where some electric vehicles have caught fire due to poor cell quality, poor battery design, and deficient battery management systems. Accessories bought from third-party vendors also result in electric vehicles catching fire.

Hydrogen cars: A solution?

Are hydrogen cars greener than electric cars? Are they the best mobility alternative in the auto landscape in the future? Well, hydrogen-powered cars have tanks that feed the fuel cell with high-pressure hydrogen gas that can mix easily with oxygen. As this happens, it gets an electrochemical reaction producing electricity to power the motor. Hydrogen cars, therefore, have the typical characteristics of both electric and conventional petrol cars.

In terms of driving range, hydrogen cars seem to be better placed, as electric car users on average can travel between 100 and 200 miles on a single charge, while hydrogen ones can travel around 300 miles. Power stations for electric vehicles are growing by the day in India, but the entry of hydrogen vehicles will enable the setup of fuel stations for recharging hydrogen-powered vehicles, something which we do not see now.

Another big advantage of hydrogen cars is the amount of time taken to recharge. It would take about five to ten minutes to pump hydrogen into the car, something like petrol vehicles of today. The full charging of electric cars takes time, about four to eight hours. It is interesting to note that although Tesla’s fast chargers (with 120 kilowatts) give batteries about 80% power in half an hour, other fancy cars such as the BMW i3, and the ordinary ones would take four to eight hours.

Hydrogen, although common, doesn’t exist in pure form on Earth. If we go ahead with using it for running cars, then a lot depends on where it could be sourced from. Water, natural gas, fossil fuels, biomass, etc., are the sources, and each of these will again raise environmental concerns as well as economic considerations.

Hydrogen can be obtained as a clean form of energy by reversing the electrolysis process of water, but separating H2O molecules to get the hydrogen means that we need to spend high amounts of energy, making it an expensive affair.

Where this is sourced from renewable energy such as solar or wind then the net energy cycle is significantly carbon-low and environmental-friendly which is a big win. Currently, hydrogen fuel is extracted from natural gas reforming which releases harmful carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide leading to global warming and climate change.