Introduction
The development and production of battery-powered vehicles and devices leading us away from the reliance on non-renewable fuels is only one side of the coin. The other side is hydrogen, with perhaps even more compelling prospects, with an energy-to-weight ratio three times higher than gasoline and four times higher than lithium-ion batteries. Yet nowadays, battery power dominates the green alternative to gas, although theoretically, hydrogen is leagues ahead of any alternative.
How it works
First, pure hydrogen needs to be produced. This method usually separates water into oxygen and hydrogen, but other methods include using the exhaust from natural gas combustion. In order to separate hydrogen in water, 2 rods of negative and positive charge are placed into the water. When a lot of voltage is applied, it separates the hydrogen from oxygen through an electrolysis reaction. Once the hydrogen is separated, it is either highly pressurized or liquified to store it efficiently and allow it to be used by hydrogen electricity generators. Then, when the hydrogen is used, it again reacts with oxygen to form water vapor and produces heat and, most importantly, electricity.
Pros
Hydrogen has a very high specific energy, which means that per kilogram of hydrogen, it contains more energy than almost everything, allowing less hydrogen to be used but still providing the same amount of power. Also, hydrogen is a very light material that offers many benefits to vehicles, allowing them to have much larger fuel tanks and, thus, longer ranges without making the car too heavy. Hydrogen-powered engines are also more efficient than their battery-powered counterparts.
Cons
Hydrogen’s primary downside is its cost. It is much more expensive than electric charging and, on average, a little more expensive than gasoline. Hydrogen is so costly because the process of electrolysis, which is the best way to get hydrogen, is still very energy-intensive and thus costs a lot of money. Furthermore, since hydrogen as an energy source has not been widely implemented, the infrastructure for transporting and storing hydrogen has yet to be developed, causing the price increase.
Conclusion
Hydrogen as an energy source is currently still in its infant stage of industrialization, so comparing it to the massively developed battery power industry, it is logical that hydrogen is more expensive. However, putting cost aside, hydrogen allows vehicles to be much more efficient, provide more energy, and have increased range, and in the long run, these things could make it cheaper than any other fuel source. In general, hydrogen can outperform other fuel sources in every aspect. Still, for this to occur, further innovation and widespread industrialization must occur so that hydrogen can compete with other fuel types.
Bibliography
https://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/hydrogen-production-delivery.html
https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/articles/fuel-cell-and-battery-electric-vehicles-compared
https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-production-electrolysis
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