The Truth about Hydrogen
Real Engineering5 HN recommenders · recommended in 5 months, 2018–2021
explainer · general · 2018–2021 on HN
Real Engineering examines the efficiency of hydrogen as an energy carrier. It follows production, storage and fuel cell conversion losses and compares hydrogen cars with battery electric vehicles.
HN links it in hydrogen threads as a clear breakdown of why compounded inefficiencies make hydrogen a poor fit for cars, though one commenter calls it outdated.
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8 comments from Hacker News
▶ this video This video gives a good breakdown on how the inefficiencies in hydrogen fuel cell based cars add up. The best case scenario for hydrogen based land transport I can think of is probably in the trucking industry where engine weight, range and refuelling time are important factors
Hydrogen is not a good (at the moment at least) source of energy or fuel for cars or industry (chemically speaking, obviously much better together with Deuterium and Tritium for fission, though we are still from such a technology). Steam reforming, which is currently the most common way of hydrogen production, uses natural gas and water and produces plenty of CO2 [1]. Nice summary as for cars fuel application here [2]. [1] link [2] ▶ this video
Now I'm curious how Hyundai or the stations actually produce the hydrogen fuel. Edit: this video had a good overview of the various production methods, including on-site at the fuel station ▶ this video
I am sorry you are so misinformed. Lithium is a common abundant resource and battery packs are easily recycled but more importantly there is a financial incentive to do so. Manufacturing technology for cells is improving rapidly. Much faster than the pace of innovation in Hydrogen fuel cells. Most are focusing on reducing Cobalt and other techniques to reduce or eliminate chemicals and energy used in wet electrode processes. Hydrogen is pretty much DOA for cars. This is a good video on the subject: ▶ this video
Storing energy as hydrogen is much less efficient than storing energy in batteries. The channel Real Engineering explains: ▶ this video ; link
> Finally, electric cars charge at ~96% efficiency, while hydrogen is something like 40%. >> This claim has little substance and credibility. The efficiency of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles versus battery vehicles is considered in some detail in this video [1]. The conclusion [2] is that, in the best case, the energy efficiency from power generation to road for existing or near future hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is about 25%, compared to about 65% for typical existing battery vehicles. [1] ▶ this video [2] ▶ this video
This vid ▶ this video kinda says the same I like the H2 idea but it's really more complex than all electric it seems. And also late to the game. ps: to be fair, electric batteries and cars required a lot of faith to evolve and progress... who knows if someone won't come with a few innovations for H2 storage and distribution.
link Li-ion batteries are very poorly recycled if at all. There is poor financial incentive to recycle batteries, and in fact you lose more money than you get back for many components. Pace of hydrogen fuel cell innovation is moving at warp speed: link We could see FCEVs no more expensive than ICEVs. > Hydrogen is pretty much DOA for cars. This is a good video on the subject: ▶ this video It's a nonsense youtube video, citing claims that are a decade out of date.