Volkswagen is confident that electricity is better than hydrogen. Let’s try to figure out if it’s true or not.
A few years ago, Volkswagen had a long discussion about what to bet on – hydrogen or electricity? It seemed that electric cars had too many disadvantages, but the Germans decided to invest in them.
The fact that traditional internal combustion engines are a dead end in the development of the automotive industry, many manufacturers have long understood. Of course, now no one will stop the production of gasoline engines, because buyers are accustomed to such machines. However, if you try to look 10-20 years ahead, it is obvious that the future belongs to alternative energy sources. But why did the choice fall on electricity?
Reason 1: Electricity is cheaper
All calculations show that even with the mass production of hydrogen fuel, it will still be more expensive than electricity. After all, hydrogen in its pure form does not exist on our planet. Therefore, it must be mined. And this process is not cheap.
Reason 2: Hydrogen cars are harder and more expensive
By themselves, hydrogen cars are more expensive than electric ones. The latter need only batteries and an electric motor. And hydrogen requires not only a motor, but also a complex installation on fuel cells. It is in it that during the chemical reaction of the interaction of hydrogen and oxygen, electricity is generated, which is transferred to the battery. And hydrogen cars must have expensive tanks where the gas is stored under pressure – just think – 700 atmospheres.
Reason 3: ecology
Do not forget about the environment (for the sake of which, in fact, everything is started). After all, for the “refueling” of electric vehicles, only electricity is required, which can be obtained, for example, thanks to wind generators. And in the case of hydrogen, the process is somewhat more complicated. First you need to generate electricity, then use it to get hydrogen, and then get electricity, but in the car itself.
The second point is that now the process of obtaining hydrogen decently pollutes the atmosphere. Although we note that in the future it is planned to produce hydrogen at nuclear power plants or with the help of solar panels by electrolysis of water (and it is also possible to obtain hydrogen from waste using bacteria).
Reason 4: large losses of hydrogen
Losses in the delivery of electricity from the place of its production directly to the “wheels” of the car are not so big – a total of 20-30%.
But when using hydrogen, energy losses are much greater – according to some calculations, the efficiency of a hydrogen machine is 25-35%. That is, a hydrogen car consumes 2-3 times more energy per kilometer than an electric car.
Reason 5: Cost of Infrastructure
Building a state-of-the-art EV charging point is much cheaper than setting up a hydrogen filling station. Moreover, to recharge an electric car, it is enough to have a regular electrical outlet that we have in our homes.
Hydrogen is a mistake?
Nobody knows this yet. Therefore, many manufacturers are still working in this area. The leader here is Toyota and Hyundai. Although Chinese companies may soon make themselves known, the Celestial Empire decided to support hydrogen cars after Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visited Japan in May 2018 and got acquainted with the Mirai hydrogen car. This environmentally friendly machine made a great impression on Li Keqiang.
This is the second generation of the Mirai – sales of the car will begin this year. And not only in Japan, but also in the US and Europe. The second Mirai is fundamentally different from the first. No, the fuel is the same here. But the basis is no longer a platform from a hybrid Prius, but a rear-wheel drive bogie from a large Crown sedan, which is well known to right-hand drive lovers. Thanks to this, the second Mirai has become noticeably larger than its predecessor – the wheelbase has increased by 140 mm, and the length by 85 mm (plus – the car has become wider by 70 mm).
However, many experts believe that in the passenger car segment, hydrogen as a fuel will still lose out to electricity. But it will take a leading position in the truck sector, in rail, air and maritime transport. True, they will be transferred to the new fuel only after 2030 (the life cycle of aircraft, ships and trains is too long).
Statistics: electricity wins
Last year, a total of 7.5 thousand hydrogen cars were sold (mainly Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo). This corresponds to the level of sales of electric cars in 2010 (in 2019, more than 2.2 million electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids were sold worldwide).
The chances that hydrogen models will be able to rush upwards in the coming years are not very high. After all, if the cost of production of electric vehicles is almost equal to that of gasoline cars, then hydrogen cars are still too expensive. And if a person refuses a gasoline car in favor of environmentally friendly transport, then why should he overpay for hydrogen if he can buy an electric car?