Toyota and Hydrogen

The global automotive industry has made a massive turnaround in the past few years, with an onslaught of EVs from every brand, and some like Jaguar who plan to ditch combustion engines altogether. It's safe to say that with EVs on the rise and e-fuel production still in its infancy, the future of the internal combustion engine has never been more uncertain. 

However, Toyota is adamant on finding alternate paths to vehicular propulsion. Their first attempt was the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Toyota Mirai, which barely dented EV demand due to the problems associated with hydrogen tanks and the rarity of fuel stations.

However, Toyota hasn't given up on hydrogen. They learned from the Mirai's shortcomings and took an all-new approach with how they use hydrogen as a fuel, eventually coming up with the hydrogen combustion engine. Unlike a fuel cell which acts as a battery and drives an electric motor, the hydrogen combustion engine does exactly what the name suggests. 

Toyota took a regular Corolla engine, modified its internals, and used liquid hydrogen instead of gasoline as the fuel. The results? Carbon-free emissions and performance that's on par with a gasoline engine. However, it's an oversimplification compared to the merits that hydrogen brings over EVs, ten of which will follow.

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With fossil fuels being a limited resource that's already depleting at a rapid rate, there's always the distant fear of what will happen once the oil reserves do run out. Synthetic fuels and e-fuels are clearly not widespread enough to help mitigate the problem. 

That's where hydrogen – being the most abundant element in the universe – comes in handy. The idea of hydrogen acting as a fuel that can not only power future ICE cars but also existing and older engines through a conversion, is truly exciting.  READ MORE...

Hydrogen Vehicles

Green energy is where the world is headed. Even though hydrogen isn’t as popular as EVs are, the energy source is booming with potential and seems far more practical than other zero-emission alternatives. 

While hydrogen is popular in its fuel-cell guise, an internal combustion version is perhaps not as familiar. Although previous hydrogen engine attempts have made headlines, it’s JCB that's really pushing the engineering boundaries here.

JCB’s newly-developed hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine is a zero-emission alternative to electric cars and fuel cells. As a manufacturer of heavy-duty machinery, JCB is well aware of the issues with electrifying an excavator or a backhoe loader. 

Mind you, the company has multiple working electric and fuel-cell machines in their lineup. So it’s not like they haven't tried them.

The British heavy equipment manufacturer reckons hydrogen engines can bridge the gap between utilizing existing combustion technology while keeping things simple, inexpensive, and emissions-free. 

In this latest Harry’s Garage video, JCB explains how their hydrogen technology is almost production-ready and that it's the future of all such heavy machinery. Who knows, it might even, one day, trickle down to passenger cars.  READ MORE...

Hydrogen Versus Electric Vehicles

Both electric cars and hydrogen cars bring improvements in terms of carbon gas emissions and also in performance, but they also have their own complications.

Compared to EVs, hydrogen-powered vehicles have some benefits. They have a 300-mile range, while EVs have a range of roughly 200 miles and in cold conditions, the EV range decreases, while the range of hydrogen-powered vehicles does not. Most critically, a hydrogen engine produces only pure water vapor as exhaust. As a result, there are no emissions. 

That is to say: “Irrespective of the time of year and the outside temperatures, the hydrogen fuel cell drive combines the best of both drive worlds: the locally emission-free mobility of an electric vehicle and the unrestricted suitability for everyday use” says Jürgen Guldner, Head of BMW Group Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology.

These eco-friendly alternatives also come with some downsides, as evacuation roads do not have any charging stations, which could be a considerable disadvantage for EVs when facing evacuation due to a natural disaster. Hydrogen, on the other hand, ​​​​​is flammable and therefore dangerous if not properly stored or handled. It is heavily compressed for road use, increasing its complexity even more.

There's another bold aspect to consider regarding electric and hydrogen cars. As these energy supplies are relatively new in the market, there's not enough infrastructure to support fuel demand and other features such as price competitiveness. So far, finding a hydrogen fueling station can still turn into much of a headache for some areas in the US. 

Besides, hydrogen handling is an intricate process and therefore, expensive. Conversely, hydrogen fueling is pretty fast and quicker when comparing it to electric charging. A car powered by hydrogen could take up to 10 minutes to get completely fueled, while an electric vehicle can take up to 45 minutes to charge.

The amount of EV charging stations does not meet the market's demand either. Michelle Krebs, an executive analyst for Cox Automotive, affirms. Most EV users already use an integrated unit, which governments can help to finance, to charge their vehicles at home. 

For those who reside in apartment complexes or multifamily homes, though, that is less feasible and less likely to occur. Despite the fact of these issues, electric charging is still way cheaper than hydrogen fueling.  READ MORE...

Electric Vehicles VERSUS Hydrogen Vehicles

Transportation will definitely suffer some major changes in the next few decades. Carmakers are looking at all potential energy sources at the cost of abandoning gas-powered technologies, which, as we know, has a great impact in terms of carbon emissions. Although there might be a possible rivalry between the energy source, we can say that overall, whether it's hydrogen or electric, zero-emission vehicles are now starting to take over the market.

Both have advantages and both have disadvantages, distinguishing characteristics, and various development methods. Some of them are being implemented without even having the necessary market competitiveness and even without adequate infrastructure. Be it as it may, customers will most certainly have to choose between electric and hydrogen automobiles in a few years when they replace their current diesel or gas-powered car.

But now the question is, which one is better? Which is cheaper or safer? Let's review the pros and cons of acquiring either an electric or hydrogen-powered car.

Pros And Cons: Performance And Risks
Both electric cars and hydrogen cars bring improvements in terms of carbon gas emissions and also in performance, but they also have their own complications.

Compared to EVs, hydrogen-powered vehicles have some benefits. They have a 300-mile range, while EVs have a range of roughly 200 miles and in cold conditions, the EV range decreases, while the range of hydrogen-powered vehicles does not. Most critically, a hydrogen engine produces only pure water vapor as exhaust. As a result, there are no emissions. 

That is to say: “Irrespective of the time of year and the outside temperatures, the hydrogen fuel cell drive combines the best of both drive worlds: the locally emission-free mobility of an electric vehicle and the unrestricted suitability for everyday use” says Jürgen Guldner, Head of BMW Group Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology.  READ MORE...