This clip about a hydrogen powered natural gas engine on a New York taxi cab is part of a one hour long film I made in the late 1980s on the coming of alternative engines to the internal combustion engine on cars and trucks.
Here is that film - https://youtu.be/ZGCj18B_AU0
I recently bought an electric car. A Kia. It is quite wonderful. But back when I filmed this scene an alternative car was being proposed that seems to have never taken off. A natural gas car. I have no idea why this idea has not succeeded or if it will succeed in the future but it was amazing to see an automobile that had zero pollution and yet burned gasoline.
A hydrogen-powered automobile is a vehicle that uses hydrogen as a fuel source, typically through a hydrogen fuel cell. In this system, hydrogen is combined with oxygen in a chemical reaction inside the fuel cell, producing electricity to power the vehicle's electric motor. The only byproduct of this reaction is water vapor, making hydrogen-powered vehicles a clean alternative to traditional gasoline or diesel-powered cars.
There are hydrogen-powered vehicles, including some taxis, in operation in New York. Several hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are being tested or used in pilot programs around the world, including in New York. Toyota's Mirai and Hyundai’s Nexo are two examples of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that have been incorporated into these fleets. The deployment of hydrogen taxis in cities is often part of broader initiatives to reduce emissions and explore cleaner transportation technologies.
Hydrogen power, despite its potential, faces several challenges that have limited its widespread adoption. One of the biggest barriers to the adoption of hydrogen cars is the lack of refueling infrastructure. Hydrogen fueling stations are scarce, particularly compared to gas stations or electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Building this network is expensive and time-consuming.
Producing hydrogen, particularly "green hydrogen" (which is made using renewable energy), is still costly. Most hydrogen today is made from natural gas, which is less environmentally friendly and undermines the green potential of hydrogen vehicles. Efforts are ongoing to reduce the cost of hydrogen production, but it remains a significant barrier.
Hydrogen is difficult to store and transport due to its low density. It needs to be stored under high pressure or at very low temperatures, requiring specialized tanks and infrastructure, which adds complexity and cost.
Hydrogen vehicles, while zero-emission, are less energy-efficient than electric battery vehicles (BEVs). Creating hydrogen fuel and delivering it to cars consumes more energy than simply using electricity to charge an electric vehicle.
The technology involved in hydrogen fuel cells is complex and expensive. As a result, hydrogen cars tend to be more expensive than their electric or gasoline counterparts, though prices are expected to decrease as the technology improves and scales.
Despite these challenges, hydrogen-powered vehicles offer several potential advantages. The only byproduct of a hydrogen fuel cell is water vapor, making it a clean and environmentally friendly technology. If hydrogen is produced from renewable energy sources, it can be a completely green fuel.
Unlike battery electric vehicles (EVs), which can take a significant amount of time to charge, hydrogen cars can be refueled in a few minutes, much like a traditional gasoline vehicle.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles typically have a longer driving range than most battery-electric cars. For example, cars like the Toyota Mirai can drive around 300-400 miles on a single hydrogen fill-up, comparable to gasoline-powered cars.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles do not rely on large batteries, which present challenges in terms of resource extraction (for lithium, cobalt, etc.) and end-of-life disposal. This could make hydrogen a more sustainable option in the long term.
Hydrogen cars don’t require heavy batteries like BEVs, meaning the vehicles are generally lighter. This can lead to better efficiency in terms of range and fuel use.
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David Hoffman