Hydrogen between alternative fuels and electrification

If natural gas has established itself as one of the most viable alternative solutions to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, as evidenced by the large number of cars on the market, which are increasingly appreciated by transport companies,hydrogen is a resource that promises to complete this complex process, offering a possible key to a breakthrough in electric motors. 

resource renewable practically inexhaustible, since it is largely present in nature, mainly in water, hydrogen can be obtained for electrolysis using energy obtained in turn from other natural sources (such as sun or wind), and therefore creating a supply chain 100% virtuous... Currently, the biggest problem is with its storage and distribution, which requires certain factories pressure and temperature check.

Heat engine experiment

An attempt was made to use hydrogen as fuel "Direct", for internal combustion engines instead of gasoline. The most famous experiment is the experiment BMWwhich, from 2006 to 2008, produced a small fleet of 7 Series vehicles called Hydrogen7. It was powered by a 12-liter V6 760i engine modified to run on both gasoline and hydrogen.

However, in this application return and autonomy were limited: the engine developed 40% less power than a petrol power supply, even in terms of distance, the comparison was too large disadvantageous... Mazda also briefly tried this path, applying it to the Wankel RX-8 rotary engine. Definitely more interesting is the use of hydrogen to generate electricity using fuel cells or fuel cells.

Hydrogen and fuel cell

С fuel cells, hydrogen recombines with oxygen in the air to produce electrical energy, effectively reversing the electrolytic process that involved the fission required to produce hydrogen itself. All without thermal combustion and withefficiency for example, to convince various manufacturers (such as Toyota and Hyundai) to invest in the development of this technology.

Fuel cell in commercial vehicles

The use of fuel cells is currently underway. experimental with fast growing applications. Already today there are many examples of electric city buses that have traveled millions of kilometers in service, equipped with private systems also installed here in experimental name.

If we look at heavy The most advanced fuel cell manufacturer to date is Nikola Motor, which will launch the TRE electric truck starting at 2021 thanks to close cooperation in 2019 with CNH Industrial... The second will be added to the battery-powered long-haul option with high pressure cylinders in carbon fiber, autonomy up to 800 km and refueling time approx. 15 minutes.

In California in ports Los Angeles e Long Beach fuel cell articulated trucks created in collaboration between Toyota and Kenworth... Funds are based on T680 Grade 8 equipped with a fuel cell electric transmission supplied by Toyota. The project also includes the construction of some stations gas stations that distribute hydrogen from renewable sources.

Light Renault takes care of this

The first app on midsize and compact models came from France, more specifically from Renault, which began rolling out fuel cell options for the electric Kangoo ZE and Master ZE models between the end of 2019 and this year. increase up to 3 times autonomy compared to 100% electric vehicles, refueling time is 5-10 minutes.