Hydrogen car vs. electric car: which should I buy?
There are a few differences between hydrogen and electric vehicles - which one suits you better?
)
What is a hydrogen car?
Hydrogen cars are intricate and are different to combustion and electric cars.
A hydrogen car (or hydrogen fuel cell car) has a tank that hydrogen is pumped into and then stored at a very high pressure.
The hydrogen is then mixed with oxygen inside the fuel cells before the anode and cathode split the hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons.
The protons become water waste, or the ‘emissions’ that hydrogen cars produce, while the electrons become the electricity that powers the car.
A battery stores the electricity and powers the motor. Basically, hydrogen cars are in the middle of the Venn diagram between fossil fuel-powered cars and electric cars because they share characteristics with both.
But crucially, because nothing else is given off other than water, hydrogen cars are environmentally friendly, zero-toxic waste vehicles without tailpipe emissions.
)
Benefits and what to consider about hydrogen cars
Hydrogen cars are an exciting new development and come with many benefits. But as with any emerging tech, there are still some teething problems to consider.
Benefits
Range: On average, hydrogen cars can go about 400 miles on a tank, which gives them impressive range across the board and trumps many EVs.
Fuel economy: Hydrogen cars’ fuel economy is equivalent to around twice of petrol or diesel cars, which makes them much more efficient.
No tailpipe emissions: As already touched upon, unlike conventional internal combustion cars, hydrogen cars don’t produce any harmful tailpipe emissions. The only product is water (H2O).
Things to consider
Build: As you can tell, hydrogen cars are very complex – this makes them extremely expensive to build, even to the point that manufacturers might not break even on the sale.
Hydrogen is volatile: Hydrogen can be a very dangerous substance if not stored properly because it’s highly flammable. It requires experts to know how safely handle it.
Environmental costs: To produce enough hydrogen to power cars, it needs to be produced on an industrial scale. If this isn’t done using renewable energy (which is more expensive), then huge amounts of fossil fuels are needed. So, hydrogen cars might be clean from an emissions point of view, but they aren’t from a manufacturing standpoint.
Less energy efficient than EVs: While hydrogen cars are more energy efficient than petrol or diesel cars, they aren’t nearly as efficient as electric cars. Electric cars can convert 80% of the electricity in the battery into energy, which makes them remarkably efficient. Hydrogen cars can convert a maximum of about 40% currently.
What is an electric car?
 "Nissan_Leaf_charging")
An electric car (EV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV) is a car or vehicle that is powered by electricity only. It’s a 100% electric car.
Electric cars receive external energy that charges the onboard battery. This energy is then converted into power by the electric motor and drives the wheels.
Electric cars don’t have a traditional transmission either because the electric motor produces so much torque.
They require no fuel – instead, you charge an EV with an external power source (charger or charge point).
EVs produce no tailpipe emissions and so are seen as environmentally friendly.
Benefits and things to consider about an electric car
Electric cars are increasing in popularity because there are lots of advantages to be had. However, there are a few things it’s worth bearing in mind too.
Benefits
Environmentally friendly: Electric cars reduce emissions because they have a lower carbon footprint. They reduce fuel usage by running on electricity only and they don’t produce any tailpipe emissions, which helps lower pollution. If their manufacturers are using renewable energy or charging using renewable energy, then the manufacturing process will be more environmentally responsible too.
Lower maintenance costs: Electric cars have fewer moving parts than combustion cars and so you can save on costs like oil changes. You’ll benefit from fewer servicing bills and less worry if you’re not the most confident when it comes to car maintenance.
Energy efficient: Even if you worry about range and your EV has less range than an equivalent petrol or diesel car, each charge is putting more power to the electric motor than filling a tank of fuel would power a comparable petrol car.
Things to consider
Charging times: Charging an electric car obviously takes longer than filling a petrol or diesel car with fuel. Depending on the power of the charger you’re using and the car in question (to name a few factors), charging can take anything from less than 30 minutes to overnight.
Expense: Electric cars tend to have a higher upfront cost than internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, although this should be countered with the potential savings from owning an EV. These include lower maintenance costs, battery warranties and incentives or grants.
Range: Electric cars at the time of writing generally can’t travel as far on a single charge as petrol or diesel cars can on a full tank. Range can be anything between around 100 miles for city cars to more than 400 miles for luxury long-range saloons and SUVs. If you frequently take long trips, you may experience some range anxiety.
)
Hydrogen car vs. electric car - which is better?
Aside from the benefit that hydrogen cars can be filled up in about 5-10 minutes like petrol and diesel cars, they do not have many advantages compared to EVs.
Electric cars are not viewed as perfect, and there’s lots of progress to be made – especially to infrastructure – before they become more widespread.
The expense and need for more renewable manufacturing are work-in-progress situations.
But for drivers and owners, electric cars are a practical and enjoyable alternative to combustion cars and can be a very smart choice in the long run.
Hydrogen cars are generally few and far between and not really a viable option to the everyday driver at this time.
The restrictions around transporting hydrogen is a problem that’s yet to be solved.
Because of these factors, the lack of refuelling infrastructure makes daily driving very difficult, especially because hydrogen cars are less energy-efficient and so need frequent refuelling.
From a logical and practical ownership and driving angle, electric cars are a better option, but who knows what the future holds!