For decades hydrogen fuel-cell technology has been deemed the replacement for gasoline. That’s until Tesla and the like came along. Tesla CEO Elon Musk actually called hydrogen-fuel cell technology “fool cells.” So then what’s going on today? Why has hydrogen been so mocked so much? Why is California the only place where you can actually live comfortably with a hydrogen car? The key rival to electricity, will it ever become mainstream?
Let’s be honest here, is it actually needed? Well with electric cars requiring finite materials such as lithium, maybe its a possibility? Toyota proved with the Mirai that hydrogen power works perfectly, yet the infrastructure is awful. Complain about charging stations with your Nissan Leaf? Try owning a Mirai outside California, and you’ll realize. Life is hard when hydrogen is your power.
Not to mention the fact that a hydrogen-powered car costs the same as a sportscar. Yep, a complete turn-off point for most people, right? Well, Toyota sold over 10,000 first-generation Mirai’s so that’s pretty good.
Why Do We Need Hydrogen Cars Anyway?
That’s like asking why we need diesel cars. Its another option and something we can fall back on. Face the facts here. It’s only recently electricity has held a position in the car industry limelight. Previously hydrogen was the future. Honda Clarity was deemed a car of the future. Nowadays most people don’t even know it exists. Nowadays the Tesla Model 3 seems like the future. What’s going on then? What is the car of the future?
Let’s take a look at diesel. Course it was looked down upon. The founder of the diesel engine Rudolf Diesel either died of suicide of murder. Great start. However, diesel was a clean fuel-efficient way to power a car. It took over 100 years or so to gain mass attention. Maybe that will be the case with hydrogen?
Batteries are hell to make at a car scale. It involves a lot of costly precious metals usually found in corrupt countries such as the Congo. What makes it worse is that recycling the metals is even costlier. These metals are also finite. Though new developments in battery technology are being made, we may run out of precious metals together. That’s where hydrogen comes in. Today, hydrogen technology is extremely advanced. It could easily work for the masses.
Except at present, only three car manufacturers have a hydrogen-powered car on sale today. Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai. Compare that to the 100 odd or so manufacturers with an electric car currently on sale. Low demand then? More like poor efforts from most manufacturers. Saying that both BMW and Mercedes are working on a few hydrogen cars (allegedly)
How Does This Hydrogen Technology Actually Work?
It’s a big chemical reaction basically. Oxygen goes into the fuel cell which is connected to a hydrogen-tank. A chemical reaction happens between hydrogen and oxygen to form water and heat. This then powers an electric motor charging the four wheels. The result of all this? Water from the exhaust pipe. It’s a very clean energy-efficient way of running a car. No need for expensive lithium batteries then. Plus electric cars need energy, where does this come from? More powerplants, solar panels, wind turbines, etc are needed. This costs more money and time. Hydrogen fuel-cell cars though, nothing.
A hydrogen-powered car then has its own little world. You just need to fill it up with hydrogen and that is all. No need to wait countless hours charging at a station. No need for that “range anxiety.”Filling a hydrogen-powered car only takes up 2 minutes compared to 2 hours or so. Hydrogen power works well as its a clean chemical reaction. It’s a complete win-win for those wanting combustion and those wanting to save the environment.
But don’t the hydrogen cars just blow up? Do electric cars set on fire when you crash them? No. Same with hydrogen cars. They are not moving bombs. In fact, the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo are more refined than most electric cars. They are safer and more sturdy. Why does Elon Musk hate hydrogen then? Simply because it threatens his business. Tesla is known for its electric cars. They really did kick off the trend. Musk does not believe in fuel-cell tech what-so-ever. Maybe he will get under-cut in the future. Or Musk may just make Toyota collapse. Why Toyota? Well, they believe hydrogen is the way forwards and is continuously investing in it.
Hydrogen is also quite cheap. Expect a full tank to be $5. Compare that to gas where you will easily be paying ten-times or so that amount. Right now though hydrogen cars are quite expensive but 20 years ago or so, they were going for over $1 million dollars each. Who knows, maybe in the future they will be cheaper.
Why Do I Have to Live in California to Comfortably Live With a Hydrogen Car?
Let’s face it. Only 39 hydrogen fuel stations exist at the moment in the USA. In California, there are 35 compared to 2 in the North-East. There are plenty of stations around Los Angeles so it really does work. However, what happens if I live in New York? Keep dreaming or re-locate to the Wild West. Despite the state talks about implementing hydrogen stations, it’s not going to happen for a long time. Unless you’re in California where new stations are being built.
Most hydrogen car sales then are in California. These cars are perfect in the congestion capital of Los Angeles hence the high sales rates. Car enthusiast Jay Leno owns a Honda Clarity. They don’t hold the same stigma either that electric cars do. That pretentious environmentalist look electric cars give off is not attractive what-so-ever. Hence why so many car enthusiasts hate Tesla.
Hydrogen cars are just in the background. Nobody really knows they exist. The only media attention they get nowadays is bad or mainly weird. Its like people can’t believe they exist. Unless you live in California, where you are probably used to seeing these cars drive about. Some hydrogen cars even have solar panel technology to help charge the battery. Perfect then in a state full of sunshine.
Gas is expensive in California. Hydrogen isn’t. Yet a hydrogen car costs twice as much as its gas equivalent. Are you really making the saving?
Featured image credits via: carscoops.com