Debunking the myths: why you shouldn’t fear hydrogen powered cars – topspeed.
While electric cars have been grabbing headlines in recent years for their zero-emission capabilities, hydrogen-powered cars have quietly but steadily made their presence known. These are powered by hydrogen fuel-cell stacks which produce electricity, allowing them to travel great distances with zero emissions.
Hydrogen cars have been widely stigmatized despite their advantages due to inaccurate and misleading statements about the technology and lack of infrastructure. At this point, when the world is looking for ways to go green, many people continue to express their doubts about hydrogen cars.
For some, the thought of driving a fuel-cell-powered vehicle is very intimidating. With only about 15,000 hydrogen-powered cars currently on U.S. roads – all in California – they remain rare compared to an estimated 2.5 million electric cars sold in the U.S. since 2015. While some of these hydrogen myths are understandable—mostly due to the lack of information on the matter—let’s take a moment to dig a bit deeper and unearth the truth behind these hydrogen-powered cars.
A hydrogen fuel-cell car works similarly to an electric car. It operates by an electric motor powered by a fuel-cell stack, where pure hydrogen is mixed with oxygen from the air to generate electricity. This process produces water vapor as a byproduct, making them an environmentally friendly option.
Unlike gasoline-powered vehicles, HFCVs produce no emissions of harmful pollutants and have a relatively short refueling time, just five minutes, compared to the longer charging time typically required for electric cars. Three hydrogen cars are currently available for sale: the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the Toyota Mirai Hydrogen.
Honda has ended production of all models of the Clarity, while the Nexo has sold fewer than 1,500 SUVs. Meanwhile, Toyota has sold around 10,700 Toyota Mirai Hydrogen sedans across two generations in the U.S. but had to resort to substantial discounting to move them. The main issue people have with hydrogen cars is that they fear the risk of hydrogen explosions due to the flammable nature of the gas.
However, this is a myth because hydrogen needs a spark from a flame or an electrical spark to ignite and create an explosion. Vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells are much safer than traditional gas-powered cars, and manufacturers have worked hard to ensure they remain this way as technology advances.
When it comes to hydrogen-powered cars, they are fitted with special shielding to prevent any ignition in case of a leak, and hydrogen safety regulations require these cars to be over-pressurized, so the gas cannot escape. The high-pressure tanks are tailored to survive even the highest-speed crashes without leaking or breaching, and no injuries or deaths related to the hydrogen components have been recorded.
Hydrogen cars are safer than traditional cars because they produce significantly fewer emissions. Furthermore, hydrogen fuel stations have redundant safety systems in place, like over-pressurization and explosion-proof technology, to make sure that it’s nearly impossible for an HFCV to overcharge.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Debunking The Myths: Why You Shouldn’t Fear Hydrogen-Powered Cars, June 3, 2023
