Advantages & Obstacles Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

As a different force of new energy vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are known as the "ultimate solution" for new energy vehicles, and their advantages are obvious：

The first is to recharge mileage. For example, the Hyundai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle NEXO is equipped with three hydrogen storage tanks of the same model. It can load around 2 kg hydrogen under the pressure of 70 Mpa (international standard). Official test results show that NEDC can continue to run around 866 km when it is fully filled. It already got rid of the size and weight of the battery also the difficulty of improving the endurance is much less than that of lithium battery vehicles in future. In addition, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle also has an advantage in controlling the weight of the entire vehicle, and optimizes the driving ability from another angle. 

Second, the energy replenishment time. In general, the time required for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle to fill up with hydrogen is 3 to 5 minutes, which is much shorter than the charging time of a lithium battery vehicle. 

Third, low temperature is a major killer of lithium batteries, while the endurance of hydrogen fuel cells will not be affected by temperature. In some plateau areas, normal driving can be performed with the adjustment of the air compressor, and the durability of the hydrogen fuel cell system can reach 160,000 km / 10 years.

Fourth, the power generation efficiency of hydrogen fuel cell can reach more than 50%, which is unmatched by lithium batteries and traditional gasoline and diesel.

With the environmental pressure brought by the long-term use of traditional petrochemical energy, it is imperative to promote the development of new energy industry and the efficient use of new energy. Above advantages of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles make them promising in terms of clean energy vehicles. In addition, there are many sources of energy resources, which will not be restricted by traditional energy resources. Therefore, although the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle industry is an emerging industry, it has become very hot. It is predicted that by 2020, the output of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will grow explosively; conservatively, it will exceed 30,000 by 2025; by 2030, it is expected to reach hundreds of thousands.

At present, the national policy is very strong. The "Blue Book of China's Hydrogen Industry Infrastructure" mentioned that by 2030, 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations will be built in China, and 1 million hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be built. And in the "Government Work Report" for 2019, hydrogen energy is also written for the first time, requiring the promotion of infrastructure construction such as charging and hydrogenation. the support of hydrogen-fueled vehicles was expressed not only at the national level, but the local government represented by Shanghai also clearly presented support and related support. By 2030, the technology and manufacturing of fuel cell vehicles will reach the same level abroad, and the annual output value of the entire fuel cell vehicle industry chain in Shanghai will exceed 300 billion yuan. which is released in the “Shanghai Fuel Cell Vehicle Development Plan”. In addition, more than 20 domestic provinces and cities have successively released related policies on hydrogen fueled vehicles. Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu may usher in the first development.

H2 fuel cell bus in operation , ZheJiang ,China

H2 Fuel cell bus in operation ,ShangHai, China

Although hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can reach zero emissions and will become the ultimate goal of the energy revolution, they face multiple constraints, which greatly restrict the industrialization process of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

First of all, the cost of fuel cells is at high position due to the use and scale of precious metal catalysts. Also production and transportation of hydrogen need to consider many factors such as cost, energy saving, policies, and models. Whether it is a technological breakthrough or the development of the entire industry, it cannot be completed in the short term.

 Second, the technology is not yet mature, and its security has been repeatedly questioned. Successive hydrogen explosions in Norway, the United States, and South Korea are still worrying.

 Thirdly, at present, China's hydrogen energy technology does not yet have the capability for mass production due to technical reasons in terms of proton exchange membranes, catalysts, and air compressors. It is still relied on importation. The current hydrogen energy technology in use are those many years ago and new Hydrogen technology has not fully become a mainstream, large-scale application technology.