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By Jan-Luca – This article is part of the Sustainability series from Andernach‘s English class. Enjoy !
What are hydrogen cars and why are they so special?
Hydrogen cars are cars that use hydrogen as their main power source. They generate electricity by using a fuel cell. This process is called reversed electrolysis. This process needs hydrogen and air. The electricity that’s created with this process powers electric motors that move the car around. The energy that is not needed is stored in a battery like in an electric car but smaller. That process also creates heat and water steam that leaves the car through an exhaust system without causing emissions. Hydrogen cars can also generate energy by braking the car, the resulting movement energy is then converted to electric energy and is used when needed.
What are the advantages of a hydrogen car?
The driving experience from a hydrogen and an electric car are nearly the same. Hydrogen cars also have shorter fill up time than electric cars. Hydrogen cars have the availability and flexibility as traditional cars. Hydrogen cars also have about the same range as electric cars depending on model. They also have the same range if it is cold or warm unlike traditional cars. Hydrogen can also be made synthetically in special factories.
What are the risks of a hydrogen car?
There is always the risk of uncontrolled airflow that can cause an explosion when it reacts with hydrogen. Hydrogen is also flammable when there’s a big crash and hydrogen starts to leak that causes an explosion. A hydrogen car can only be filled up at special stations.
Are hydrogen cars expensive?
Yes, they are because hydrogen cars use a lot of platinum to make fuel cells, and hydrogen is very expensive. It costs around 14 Euros per kilogram which is around 100 kilometers of range. Hydrogen is expensive because it is difficult to produce and it takes a lot of energy.
Conclusion
Hydrogen cars are environmentally friendly and cause no emissions, but it takes a lot of resources to produce them, and they also can be very dangerous when there’s a leak.