Hydrogen is a clean fuel that produces water as ‘waste’ when consumed in a fuel cell. It can be made from various readily available resources such as natural gas, biomass and even renewable power like solar and wind. It has been touted as a potential sustainable alternative to traditional gasoline engines in automobiles. So why, then, is it not leading the charge as the automobile industry, without exception, shifts away from fossil fuels and combustion engines?
Instead, it is electric powertrains that are fast rising in popularity and adoption. In the performance car segment, electric vehicles are popping up with increasing frequency. They were mainly confined to ambitious draft drawings as recently as a decade ago. Now, though, we have electric heavyweights like the Rimac Nevera, Lotus Evira and the Automobili Pininfarina – cars that can hold their own against their fossil-powered counterparts. It is not the same with hydrogen-propelled supercars. At best, we only have concepts like the Hyperion XP-1 – fascinating but, sadly, still just a concept.
There are a few reasons why, despite the promise, hydrogen is still years away from being the fuel of choice in performance vehicles.
Lack of Infrastructure
One of the primary reasons hydrogen fuel cells have not taken off in the automotive industry is the lack of infrastructure to support them. Unlike gasoline, which has a well-established fueling station network, there are currently very few hydrogen fueling stations in operation (have you heard about any?). Even drivers of electric vehicles are now finding it increasingly easier to find a charging station to replenish depleted batteries. It’s a different story with hydrogen-fuelled cars. Owners will find it rather challenging to find refuelling points. This alone is enough to drive away potential customers looking for alternatives to cars with combustion engines or electric powertrains.
High Cost
Another significant barrier to the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells is their high cost. While the price of fuel cells has been steadily decreasing, they are still significantly more expensive than traditional gasoline engines or electric set-ups, for that matter. This makes hydrogen-powered vehicles more costly to produce and purchase. Automakers will have to recoup that investment somehow, and passing it on to customers is a gamble many of them are unwilling to take, not when there are other options to consider.
Limited Range
Significant advances have been made in increasing the range of hydrogen-powered vehicles. However, the limited range is still a very real constraint in the adoption of hydrogen as the fuel of choice. According to the manufacturer, the hydrogen-fuelled Hyperion XP-1 boasts a range of 1,016 miles (1,635 km). It’s truly impressive and more than what any electric or gasoline-powered car can match. However, the limited range is still an issue because of the earlier-mentioned refuelling challenges once the hydrogen runs out. On the contrary, a gasoline car can have almost unlimited range due to readily available fueling stations.
Safety Concerns
Safety concerns associated with hydrogen fuel cells still need to be fully addressed. Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas, and there is the potential for explosions or fires in the event of a crash or other accident. While safety measures have been put in place to prevent these incidents, there is still a perception among some consumers that hydrogen-powered vehicles are less safe than gasoline-powered vehicles.
Limited Production
The production of hydrogen fuel cells for use in automobiles is far from widespread. Carmakers like Toyota and Hyundai have invested heavily in hydrogen technology. In February 2023, BMW even introduced the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, a pilot project that could potentially lead to series production of hydrogen cars in future. However, there has yet to be any large-scale breakthrough in the production of hydrogen vehicles. They are only still being produced in limited quantities. This makes it challenging to scale up production and bring down the cost of fuel cells, which can make them more accessible to consumers.
In conclusion, while hydrogen fuel cells have the potential to be a sustainable alternative to gasoline engines in automobiles, several barriers have prevented them from becoming the fuel of choice. Some of them have been mentioned here. While efforts are being made to address these issues, it may be some time before hydrogen-powered vehicles become a viable option for the majority of consumers.
Tolu Akinshete
