Why Green Hydrogen as an Automobile Fuel ?
Battery operated EV’s may be the immediate need of the hour, but can not be the final solution for Zero carbon emission for reasons mentioned in my previous posts.
World over now the emphasis is on Green Hydrogen to be used
as an Automobile Fue as the final combustion product is steam. (Green Hydrogen is derived from electrolysis of water - Electricity power used should be from renewable sources wind, solar)
Currently two major industries namely Fertiliser plants and Refineries are the major consumers of hydrogen produced in India / World.
These are not green Hydrogen…these are all produced from hydrocarbon fuel or coal resulting in to carbon emissions.
So the immediate mandate for all Refineries and Fertiliser Plants who consume Hydrogen is to produce Green Hydrogen- at least to counter carbon emissions at their plant locations- it appears from different announcements by Oil PSU and Others - so actions/ efforts/ commitments are definitely there.
Now let us come to Automobiles, Green hydrogen can be used in automobiles in 2 ways:
(1) Internal combustion engines- code named as H2- ICEV.
It would burn Hydrogen fuel in stead of petrol and diesel. While there is no carbon emissions from tail pipe, but since air is used to burn Hydrogen and air contains 77 % Nitrogen , so nitric oxide will be an emission which is a pollutant. And there will be some lubricating oil getting burnt in combustion chamber, so to that extent some carbon emissions would be there. Therefore green Hydrogen used as a ICE fuel is not zero emission vehicle .
(2) Fuel Cell vehicles code named as H2- FCEV is the ultimate the world is looking for !
In a fuel cell vehicle , the hydrogen is not burnt…Hydrogen is used along with oxygen from air to produce electricity in an electrolyte medium with a cathode and an anode…
This electricity so produced would drive an electric motor which in stead would drive the vehicle. (This is just the opposite of electrolysis of water by using electricity to produce hydrogen)
There are no huge batteries required (one small battery may be required for only starting )…Recharging with hydrogen needs to be done…just like fuel topping.
This is Zero emission vehicle and this is the ultimate vehicle perhaps the world is aiming at.
Is the Technology for both H2-ICEV & H2- FCEV available ?
Yes available in both versions and sold commercially.
So what is not available is the Hydrogen infrastructure.
Attaching the following articles which would give you a lot of insights on Hydrogen as Auto fuel and would be helpful for your investment journey.
(1) 5 Reasons why you would prefer a Hydrogen Vehicle ultimately and 5- reasons why you would prefer an Electric vehicle now.
(2) H2- ICEV
(3) H2- FCEV
(4) India’s Hydrogen journey 2006-2021 and where are we now and will we expedite our plan in to action ?
https://www.hotcars.com/5-ways-hydrogen-cars-beat-electric-5-reasons-why-wed-stick-with-evs/
Discl: it is not an investment advice…it is purely for information and education purpose