Car drive: hydrogen and fuel cells as alternatives?

the theoretical advantages of hydrogen in the transport sector are the possible ones great coveragethe quick refueling and (under certain circumstances) his environmental friendliness. Unlike diesel or petrol engines, vehicles with fuel cell technology do not emit any fine dust, nitrogen oxides or CO during operation₂ water (vapor) is the only waste product. hydrogen is a good source of energythe calorific value of one kilogram is 33 kilowatt hours, three times as high as the energy content of a liter of diesel or petrol. In addition, hydrogen can long stored become, his resources are basically infinite.

Since hydrogen does not exist unbound, it must first be be obtained with energy expenditure. Therefore, it is expensive and problematic to manufacture and transport; it is only really environmentally friendly if it is produced with regenerative energy. Fuel cell hydrogen propulsion in transport is developing, but is far from ready. Hydrogen is only at very few gas stations are available accordingly hardly any models with fuel cells on the market. It’s a bit like the hen and the egg: the volume manufacturers hesitate because the infrastructure is missing – and vice versa.

A fuel cell vehicle is a electric carwhere the electrical power not stored in big, heavy batteries, but generated while driving becomes. For that are a hydrogen tank and a fuel cell on board. In simple words, react the hydrogen (chemical symbol H) and atmospheric oxygen (O) as in reverse electrolysis with each other. arise Heat and especially energywith which the electric motor is operated, as well as water (H₂O) as harmless waste product. This is also called “cold combustion”.

The fuel cell in vehicles is usually one Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Unit (PEM), into which the hydrogen stored in gaseous form in high-pressure tanks is fed. A single one cell consists two areasthat through a separator are separated from each other. At the anode Put simply, the hydrogen is divided into ions and electrons on. The ions migrate through the separator to the side of the cathode, where they combine with the oxygen to form water. The electrons also want to get to the cathode on the other side, but cannot get through the separator. Therefore, they have to make a detour via the Power line to the electric motor take. Arrived on the other side, the circuit is closed.

Hydrogen is considered by many to be a beacon of hope for one climate-neutral energy production. But it’s not that easy. Because he is always just as clean as its production. The types of extraction are divided by color. Currently used for global industrial use to 99 percent gray hydrogen produced. In this process, natural gas – mostly from gas or coal – is split under heat, hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO₂). It is also controversial blue hydrogenin which the evolved CO₂ is captured and stored in geological deposits (Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS). Also turquoise hydrogenin which instead of CO₂ Fixed carbon produced as a by-product has many disadvantages.

Germany currently consumes around 1.65 million tons of hydrogen per year, but predominantly in the chemical and steel industries or as a coolant. The need will build up to for the year 2045 targeted climate neutrality still increase.

That is a myth. Although hydrogen is combined with oxygen at an H₂-Proportion of 4 to 75 percent ignitable. Explosive However, the mixture is only from one Share of 18 percent as oxyhydrogen. And since hydrogen is 14 times lighter than air, evaporated he extreme quickly. Therefore, a vehicle with a hydrogen tank and fuel cell by no means explosive than one with a liquid tank.

in one hydrogen engine becomes H₂ not converted into energy by fuel cells, but directly used as fuel. BMW built the first hydrogen four-cylinder as early as 1979, but discontinued development in 2012 with the Hydrogen 7 (E68).