Hydrogen power for a sustainable trend.
Toyota's Mirai Concept- (WIX, 2024)
The 21st century has been a witness to a myriad of technological advancements, from A.I. to Tesla, the iPhone, and now the hydrogen fuel cell car. This concept, which has been in development since the late 20th century, holds immense potential as an innovative and sustainable solution. Despite its current status as a niche project of a few companies in California, USA, it is important to recognize that this is just the beginning. The future of hydrogen fuel cell cars is promising, and with the right support and awareness, it could revolutionize the automotive world.
The first major hurdle that the Hydrogen car has is availability. The leading manufacturers are Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and several others. They all make one model in several hundred and are only allowed in California, Japan, and South Korea. "There are only about 17,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles on U.S. roads right now, and all of them are in California. Meanwhile, E.V.s are out there in the millions." (CD, 2024). This is an enormous problem. The scarcity has yet to grow the appeal, as many of these cars can only get hydrogen from certain stations in a handful of locations statewide. Minimal federal funding and support have also weakened sales in the USA.
One of the major misconceptions about hydrogen cars is their perceived danger. However, it's crucial to note that no deaths have occurred in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles due to the hydrogen tech. This is a significant point, considering that electric and combustion vehicles are considerably more dangerous by ratio. Toyota and Hyundai, in particular, have conducted over 5,000 crash tests, making them some of the most comprehensive crash tests in the world (MIT, 2023).
The challenges facing hydrogen cars are numerous, from expensive refueling to costly maintenance and outdated vehicle compliance measures that have hindered their proliferation. However, it's important to shift the focus to the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. They offer a familiar driving experience, with easy refueling and a quiet, refined interior. They emit only water, can cover 400-mile distances quickly, and are backed by a sustainable, high-tech, practical product. While electric cars may struggle in extreme conditions, hydrogen vehicles have demonstrated their capabilities in the harshest environments (CD, 2024).
"Innovations to make hydrogen cleaner and cheaper could help fuel cell vehicles compete again. So, too, could changes in the E.V. market. For example, Paltsev says, batteries depend on minerals mined overseas and sometimes under problematic conditions. A shortage in those materials, or geopolitical turmoil in the countries that produce them, could raise the price of E.V.s—and make made-in-the-U.S.A. hydrogen appealing by comparison." (MIT, 2023). These changes and, importantly, the manufacturing benefits of hydrogen cars could become the defining characteristics of these sleek spaceships on the road. Nevertheless, for now, they remain a wealthy California niche.
Bibliography
Hydrogen cars: Everything you need to know. Accessed May 9, 2024. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a41103863/hydrogen-cars-fcev/.
“Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Are Here. but Good Luck Trying to Fill One Up.” Los Angeles Times, August 16, 2023. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-08-16/hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars-fuel.
“Hydrogen vs Electric Cars: Which One Offers a Better Future?” EV Blogs | EV components Manufactures and Suppliers - bacancysystems.com, April 25, 2023. https://bacancysystems.com/blog/hydrogen-vs-electric-cars#:~:text=Why%20are%20hydrogen%20cars%20not,of%20EVs%20in%20the%20future.
Kumar. “Why Have Electric Vehicles Won out over Hydrogen Cars (so Far)?” MIT Climate Portal. Accessed May 9, 2024. https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/why-have-electric-vehicles-won-out-over-hydrogen-cars-so-far.
Pollard, Tim. “Are Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Cars the Future?” CAR Magazine, October 3, 2023. https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/electric/are-hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars-the-future/.
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