By Robert Spénard
Both fully electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells have many advantages and disadvantages. There are hundreds of documents on the pros and cons of both. In this article we will try to give a concise picture of the advantages and disadvantages of both. Although there are many articles stating that hydrogen is not viable, we hope to show a full picture of what is not being talked about when it comes to the debate.
First, we have to look at the obvious and less talked about. The current means of the mass production of hydrogen fuel is not environmentally friendly. Increasing numbers of battery powered electric vehicles put additional demand for power, increased power production is also not environmentally friendly. Ultimately when it comes to the bigger picture, at this time there is not way not to decrease the environmental impact. In the long term, small scale local production of hydrogen fuel will have a positive affect on the environment.
The current method of mass producing hydrogen fuel is called Blue or steam method reforming with C02 capture. It involves the use of natural gas or other fossil fuels to create hydrogen fuel. Wikipedia describes hydrogen fuel production as;
Hydrogen production is the family of industrial methods for generating hydrogen gas. As of 2020, the majority of hydrogen (∼95%) is produced from fossil fuels by steam reforming of natural gas and other light hydrocarbons, partial oxidation of heavier hydrocarbons, and coal gasification. Other methods of hydrogen production include biomass gasification, zero-CO2-emission methane pyrolysis and electrolysis of water, The latter processes, methane pyrolysis a well as water electrolysis can be done directly with any source of electricity, such as solar power.
It is important to note that small scale self-sufficient hydrogen refuelling stations create hydrogen fuel through electrolysis of water powered by solar panels. In another article about hydrogen fuel production, we will talk more about how hydrogen is produced.
The primary sources of producing electricity are from fossil fuels, nuclear energy, hydropower, wind and solar generation. The primary ones are from fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal. Secondary is nuclear energy and hydropower. Wind and solar power provide the least amount of power to the grids. In a time when we need to be reducing our dependence on devices that require electricity to operate, increasing the demand for additional electricity only increases the negative aspects of power generation. CO2 emission increase from fossil fueled power generation and nuclear waste. With the global demand for food, creating massive solar farms in place of agriculture isn’t an option. Wind power has also proven to be problematic on wildlife, birds in particular. Combining wind farms with agriculture reduces the amount of food that can be grown. If you are serious about reducing the negative effects on the environment, please research environmental impact of solar and wind power on agriculture, wildlife and how much it adds to the growing demand of electricity.
There is always a bigger picture that is often ignored, technological, commercial and how we affects the environment are complicated. There are thousands of documents to be read and discussed. Always question the popular beliefs of what is wrong with the environment, learning everything about a subject, from the big to small picture is the only way to make an informed opinion.
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” Oscar Wilde, De Profundis
“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” Isaac Asimov
“All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.” Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt
You can make hydrogen fuel cells in your garage, there are hundreds of You Tube videos that show you how to make them. (how to make a hydrogen fuel cell – Google Search) Hydrogen fuel cells have a long life cycle and are easy to recycle.
Batteries for electric vehicles have to be manufactured, you can make your own battery. The process is toxic but you can make one. High-capacity batteries like the ones used in electric cars have a significantly less life cycle and are difficult to recycle. Science.org had this to say about EV batteries;
[1]The battery pack of a Tesla Model S is a feat of intricate engineering. Thousands of cylindrical cells with components sourced from around the world transform lithium and electrons into enough energy to propel the car hundreds of kilometers, again and again, without tailpipe emissions. But when the battery comes to the end of its life, its green benefits fade. If it ends up in a landfill, its cells can release problematic toxins, including heavy metals. And recycling the battery can be a hazardous business, warns materials scientist Dana Thompson of the University of Leicester. Cut too deep into a Tesla cell, or in the wrong place, and it can short-circuit, combust, and release toxic fumes.
That’s just one of the many problems confronting researchers, including Thompson, who are trying to tackle an emerging problem: how to recycle the millions of electric vehicle (EV) batteries that manufacturers expect to produce over the next few decades. Current EV batteries “are really not designed to be recycled,” says Thompson, a research fellow at the Faraday Institution, a research center focused on battery issues in the United Kingdom.
Electric cars can be charged at home or in easy to find quick charging stations. Increase in monthly utility bill.
Hydrogen Fuel cell cars do not have a national or provincial distribution network.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have a greater driving range than electric.
Hydrogen fuel cells have a positive impact on the environment, especially in places where water is hard to find, has been depleted and or rainfall is almost non-existent. In areas where water freezes, unless the water created from hydrogen fuel cells or direct hydrogen powered vehicles is dumped on the ground, it will add additional ice on the roads. Which will require the municipality to spend more money and resources to deal with the additional ice on the roads. Non-toxic environmental friendly chemicals used on winter roads is far more expensive than salt and sand.
Electric vehicles have zero emissions, in winter climates like any vehicle battery. Age and type of battery is affected by temperature. Keeping the electric vehicle plugged in shortens the life cycle of the battery.
Drive Electric in Vermont had this to say about Electric cars and winter;
[2]Cold weather reduces efficiency of all vehicle types, not just EVs. According to FuelEconomy.gov, conventional gasoline vehicles typically have a 20% reduction in fuel economy at 20° F. However, it is often more noticeable with an EV and is especially concerning for all-electric vehicle drivers who need to know they have enough range to reach their travel destinations.
Keeping the inside of the vehicle warm in winter is usually the biggest drain on EV range, especially when ambient temperatures plunge below 15° F. Lithium ion batteries used in EVs also do not perform as well in cold temperatures, which can lead to further range reductions.
Plugin Power had this to say about hydrogen fuel cells in winter;
[3]Hydrogen fuel cell technology has proven itself against tough conditions, including cold environments as low as -40 degrees F/C, weather environments like hurricanes, deserts, and winter storms, and even the hardworking business environments of material handling warehouses.
An article from sustainable-bus.com titled: The effect of cold weather on electric bus range, fuel cell wins. A study by CTE. Had this to say;
[4]The results of the analysis (entitled ‘An Analysis of the Association between Changes in Ambient Temperature, Fuel Economy, and Vehicle Range for Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Electric Buses’) show that the loss in range during a temperature change from 50-60° F (10-15° C) to 22-32° F (-5 to 0° C) was greater for battery electric buses (37.8 decrease) than for fuel cell buses (23.1 decrease)
Here is the link for the full study;
https://www.sustainable-bus.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/electric-bus-range-cold-weather.pdf
Cost to purchase Electric powered vehicles;
[5]A new electric vehicle in Canada ranges between $32,000 and $160,000. At-home charging stations are an additional upfront payment and range from $300 to $700. When parts and labour are tacked on, that can add another $1,200 to $2,000.
Cost to purchase a hydrogen fuel cell car (only available in Vancouver, Victoria and Quebec city);
Toyota Miria from $54,990. (2022 Toyota Mirai: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle | Toyota Canada)
Hyundi Nexo starting at $71,000 (Hyundai NEXO | Hyundai Canada)
These are the only two non-commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles available in Canada. Commercial vehicles including buses are still in the testing phase in limited areas. With only two companies providing hydrogen fuel cell cars limited to cities with hydrogen fueling stations, being competitive in price isn’t up for consideration.
Companies manufacturing Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles include;
Hyzon, Ballard, Boeing, Airbus, International, BMW, Daimler, Alexander Dennis, Caelano Bus, Evo Bus, Rampini, Safra, Solaris, URUSBUS, Van Hool, VDL, Renault, Volvo, Audi, Cummins Inc, General Motors, Isuzu, Hino Motors, Scania, Zero-Avia, Universal Hydrogen, H2Fly, Air Flow, Heart Aero Space, Wright Electric, Mercedes-Benz, Nikola Motors, Mckinsey, Beta Technologies
[1] Source Millions of electric cars are coming. What happens to all the dead batteries? | Science | AAAS
[2] Source Electric Vehicles in Winter – Drive Electric Vermont (driveelectricvt.com)
[3] Source Hydrogen Fuel Cell Benefits & Advantages – Plug Power
[4] Source The effect of cold weather on electric bus range, fuel cell wins. A study by CTE – Sustainable Bus (sustainable-bus.com)
[5] Source (1) Sky-high gas prices are pushing Canadians to consider electric vehicles – National | Globalnews.ca
