Hydrogen technology remains largely unknown to the general public in Spain
Although in Spain there is practically no infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations for use in the automotive industry and only two hydrogen vehicles are for sale, this gas is mentioned as one of the keys to mobility without CO2 emissions in a more or less near future.
With regard to the production of hydrogen for use as an alternative fuel, there are currently several methods. The president of the Spanish Hydrogen Association, Javier Brey Brey, explains to this newspaper which are the most developed and the most “eco”.
A first method is the so-called “steam reforming of natural gas”. This process “combines methane (the main component of natural gas) with water vapor to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen through an endothermic chemical reaction (it requires adding heat to the process).
It has been the traditional method, and the one most commonly used, to produce the hydrogen the industry has been asking for.”
A second method is by electrolysis of water. For example, the water molecule is dissociated into its components (hydrogen and oxygen) using electricity. Known for decades, “it is now making a strong comeback thanks to the improvement in electrolysis and the reduction in the price of renewable electrical energy that we have had in recent years,” said the president of the Spanish Hydrogen Association.
A hydrogen car is an electric car that produces its own electricity on board when hydrogen, stored in high-pressure tanks, reacts with oxygen in the air in a mini-power plant called a fuel cell, arguably the most expensive and most important part of this technology. From the process, all that comes out of the exhaust pipe is water.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers about hydrogen cars:
-What future do you have? In the automotive world, hydrogen will be decisive in the medium and long term in heavy road transport, in urban commercial vehicles and in public vehicles such as taxis and VTC. The slow growth of a network of hydroline stations throughout the Spanish geography will delay the implementation of this technology at the private vehicle level.
-It’s safe? Hydrogen cars have great safety measures, but hydrogen is also very volatile, so that in the event of a leak it would easily disappear without concentrating enough risk. Hydrogen is non-toxic and the models on the market comply with regulations and demonstrate the same safety as a petrol or diesel car. For example, the hydrogen Hyundai ‘Nexo’ received 5 stars in the EuroNcap crash test.
-What are the advantages? At this point and until the electric ones no longer offer autonomy, a hydrogen car makes more kilometers with a charge. They also take much less time to refuel than an electric one as it takes between five and eight minutes to fill their tanks. The batteries don’t have to be as big and heavy as those of a traditional electric one. And hydrogen has a higher heating value to weight ratio than any other fuel.
-Do you have any drawbacks? At the other end of the scale is the price, especially when compared to an equivalent petrol model, as no one can go below 65,000 euros without help. The limited range of models and a hydrogen charging network are also still in their infancy. In Spain there are seven hydrogen stations, the last one opened in Madrid and the only one serving it with a pressure of 700 bar and a purity of 99.9%, but none are for public use. The government has approved the installation of a network of 100 public hydrogen stations by 2030.
-How much does it cost to fill the tank? Today, hydrogen is sold in existing hydroline stations (hydrogenera should be called the place where hydrogen is produced) at a price between 10 and 12 euros/kg. That means that filling the three tanks of a Toyota ‘Mirai’ would cost between 56 and 67 euros, an amount that would allow to travel about 650 kilometers, which is the official autonomy of the Japanese model when homologated with an average WLTP consumption of 0.79 kg every 100 km. Taking this into account, the average fuel cost per 100 km of a hydrogen model would be set at around 9.5 euros. An equivalent petrol model would spend around €7.3 l/100 km, a minimum saving for hydrogen that should increase as demand increases.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
