The Safe Driver

Hydrogen: The Future for the Automotive Industry

**As written for The Safe Driver**

Hydrogen-powered vehicles are a safe and cost-effective solution when it comes to protecting the non-renewable sources of energy currently being used to power vehicles. They are also an alternative to hybrid and electric vehicles. Once the infrastructure is complete more and more hydrogen-powered vehicles will be seen on our roads. Already, great advancements have been made. This article will look at what has been achieved so far. A hydrogen fueling stations manufacturer is the solution to providing this energy source to all and changing the way our vehicles are powered.

Hydrogen – How it Works and What it is Capable of

To make this technology work when powering our vehicles, hydrogen is generated, compressed, and stored during the process. The fueling appliance will use water and electricity to produce high purity fuel cell-grade hydrogen. It is an innovative process that will convert 3.8 gallons (17.3 litres) of filtered water into enough hydrogen to take a vehicle 360 miles (579 kilometres) in distance. This is more than sufficient to service the needs of those that travel to work in their vehicles. This is evidence that we can already make use of this technology in vehicles.

Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen fuel cells are both renewable and readily available. It is clean energy and a flexible source of power that is supportive of the zero-carbon energy strategies. It is a transportable fuel that offers greater power and energy efficiency than fossil fuels. It is extremely efficient compared to them. For environmentalists and anyone who cares about our planet, hydrogen gives off zero emissions. This makes it an energy source very much for the future as one that will satisfy everyone from users to governments. We just have to do all we can as a nation to support it so that we can reap its benefits.

A further advantage of hydrogen cells is that, unlike a battery inside a petroleum-fuelled car, which will eventually go dead, hydrogen continues to produce its energy as long as fuel and oxidant are supplied to it.

The Future – Hydrogen versus Electric

Because they can densely pack their storage of energy, Hydrogen-powered cars can achieve greater distances than electric cars. So, while a hydrogen-powered car can typically manage 300 miles on average on a single charge, an electric car will only manage between 100 and 200 miles when fully electric. This means that hydrogen may well have greater longevity in terms of an alternative way of powering our vehicles.

The zero-emissions element of hydrogen provides it with longevity. Well into the future we will continue to seek sources of power that do not contribute to global warming. This issue is now reaching a crisis point because we are now trying to slow down global warming rather than hope to reverse much of it. We must quickly find sources of power such as hydrogen and then make full use of them. So, it is onwards and upwards in terms of hydrogen being used for vehicles. This will include all kinds of vehicles used in leisure, for commuting to work, and as a part of work. Hydrogen will be powering more commercial vehicles in the future and ultimately more of those that are part of our public transport system. It is not exactly a battle between hydrogen and electric because both will play their part. However, it does seem that hydrogen has the edge now.

In conclusion, the production of hydrogen requires water, which there is a plentiful supply of, whereas petroleum requires fossil fuels to produce it. The latter is a depleting source whereas hydrogen is a renewable one. This means that it is the future for all kinds of travel and as a power source in general. We just need to continue to develop the technologies to the levels to sustain hydrogen for mainstream use. It is a giant leap forward that technologies have already brought hydrogen to the automotive industry and made it practical to use. It is the perfect solution for the environment and can already offer greater distances on a single charge than electric. What is not to like about hydrogen as a source of powering our vehicles today and in the future?