Over the years, the call for eco-friendly energy sources has only gotten louder. As people demand more sustainable options to combat climate change, automakers are looking for other solutions. One popular solution that shows a lot of promise is the switch from traditional internal combustion engines to hydrogen engines.
As its name suggests, a hydrogen engine is a type of engine that uses hydrogen as a clean fuel source. It produces zero carbon emissions, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional engines. There are two types of hydrogen engines, hydrogen internal combustion engines (HICE) and hydrogen fuel cell engines.
While both HICE and hydrogen fuel cell engines use hydrogen, they operate a little differently.
In a HICE-powered vehicle, the combustion process is similar to a traditional internal combustion engine. Instead of fossil fuels, hydrogen is mixed with air and compressed in the cylinders, where a spark plug ignites the mixture. This explosion generates mechanical power that drives the engine’s pistons, powering the car.
Unlike HICE, hydrogen fuel cell engines don’t need combustion to work. Instead, they use fuel cells that convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, water, and heat. The electricity powers the electric motor, while water and heat are expelled from the engine as harmless byproducts.
Upgrading to a HICE or switching to a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) will take a lot of time and money, so it’s best to know for certain what you’re getting into. Consider the advantages of hydrogen-powered cars:
Unlike fossil fuel-based engines, hydrogen engines only produce water and heat as byproducts, making them an eco-friendly alternative to traditional engines.
Driving a hydrogen car feels similar to driving an electric vehicle. It offers smooth power and virtually silent acceleration, thanks to the electric motors providing you with full torque even at low speeds.to
Compared to traditional internal combustion engines, fuel cell engines have higher energy conversion. They consume less fuel while providing a better overall performance.
Charging an EV can sometimes take a long time. With a hydrogen-powered car, however, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Some hydrogen cars only take around three to four minutes to refill the hydrogen tank.
Similar to EVs, hydrogen vehicles have a high range with large battery storage. A single top-up of hydrogen can last around 310 miles. This range isn’t affected by the outside temperature, so you can expect the same range even if it’s winter. However, keep in mind that this can vary depending on your car’s year, make, and model.
Hydrogen cars aren’t cheap, but most manufacturers offer leasing packages that can make up for the initial cost. Some leasing packages include complimentary fuel, service, and maintenance. In California, you might even be eligible for a $4,500 rebate, thanks to their Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
Despite their many advantages, hydrogen cars are still far from being mainstream. This is likely due to the challenges and limitations that come with producing hydrogen engines. Here are a few disadvantages of hydrogen cars:
Hydrogen engines are pricey for a reason. Developing and producing hydrogen engines can be expensive, especially those that need platinum and other costly materials.
Compared to gasoline stations, hydrogen refueling stations can be hard to come by. This can be a hassle, especially if you don’t live near one. You’ll have to schedule your refueling sessions to make sure you don’t run out of hydrogen before you can drive to the nearest station.
Storing and transporting hydrogen is far from easy. Hydrogen is a gaseous substance that needs high-pressure containers or cryogenic storage to stay in good condition.
HICE might seem like a foreign concept, but they’re actually a lot more similar to diesel and natural gas engines than you’d expect.
HICE and natural gas engines operate similarly, and this is because they have almost the same components, namely the engine block, crank, cylinder heads, and ignition system.
HICE and diesel engines aren’t too different either. They also have similar engine blocks, cranks, mounts, and flywheel housings.
Having similar engine components can make it easier to produce hydrogen engines and install them in more types of vehicles.
HICE uses direct injection systems that introduce hydrogen directly into the cylinders. Because hydrogen ignites much easier than gasoline, pre-ignition issues can occur if hydrogen is injected into the intake manifold or ports.
Unlike traditional combustion engines, hydrogen engines are also tuned to run lean. Hydrogen needs twice as much air as fuel does in order to produce less carbon emissions.
Yes, they can. Hydrogen engines look, sound, and work like internal combustion engines, so they’re more than capable of powering medium and heavy-duty trucks. Several fuel cell buses are already operating in different US states, thanks to the continued efforts of the US Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Transportation (DOT) alongside nongovernment organizations.
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