Netherlands – Team NIPV drives to victory on hydrogen
Last month, a team from the NIPV participated in the Hydrogen Challenge and won! In this blog post, researcher-advisor Margreet Spoelstra reflects on the adventure: a 24-hour, 1,100-kilometer journey, and a healthy dose of team spirit, innovation, and hydrogen safety.
The Hydrogen Challenge is no ordinary race. For 24 hours, teams drive hydrogen cars to as many locations as possible, both domestically and internationally, to collect points. The team with the most points wins, but the main goal is to experience how hydrogen mobility can contribute to a sustainable future. Our team focused on three key objectives:
- Promoting hydrogen safety
- Promoting the NIPV
- Experience this unique competition.
Last summer, the Energy and Transport Safety research group was asked to contribute to quizzes for the Hydrogen Challenge. I created questions about hydrogen safety and a photo quiz about measures at hydrogen refueling stations. Participating in the Hydrogen Challenge is one thing, but participating is more fun, and the management gave the green light: it was a knowledge-based activity where we could share our expertise and gain experience at the same time.
My colleagues Ben Riemersma and Johan Reinders and I formed team NIPV. We drove a white Toyota Mirai, provided by the organizers of the 24-hour Hydrogen Challenge. Our route took us to strategically chosen hotspots in the Netherlands and Belgium to score as many points as possible. Therefore, we deliberately left Luxembourg and Germany out of the race.
During the ride, we combined efficiency with enjoyment: we stopped at zero-emission zones, took photos with other teams, and visited the far north of the country. We also made time for personal moments, such as a birthday greeting in Delft, breakfast with family in Gytsjerk, and visits to partners in Eindhoven and Deventer.
Our route ran from Utrecht via Eindhoven and Antwerp, on to Rotterdam and Delft, past The Hague, Alkmaar, and Amsterdam, via Gytsjerk and Lauwersoog to Groningen, Assen, Zwolle, Deventer, Schaarsbergen, and Waalwijk, ending in Raamsdonksveer.
The Toyota Mirai drove smoothly and quietly, comparable to an electric car. However, there is room for improvement: the interior space is limited by the hydrogen tanks (our tall colleague Ben Riemersma really struggled with this), and the refueling infrastructure isn’t yet reliable everywhere. Some teams experienced problems due to limited hydrogen availability or outages at hydrogen refueling stations, highlighting that hydrogen mobility is still developing. A widespread breakthrough for hydrogen passenger cars is still a long way off due to high costs and a limited number of refueling stations in the Netherlands. For heavier vehicles, hydrogen does offer advantages, such as long operating times and compliance with strict emissions regulations.
The pub quiz revealed that there’s still much to learn about hydrogen safety: for example, about half of the participants didn’t know that hydrogen doesn’t explode at the lower explosion limit (4 vol.%), but only ignites. A good reason to check out the NIPV’s Hydrogen Toolbox .
We achieved our goals with this challenge:
- We have highlighted hydrogen safety.
- Making the NIPV more visible as a knowledge institute.
- And won the Hydrogen Challenge!
With a well-thought-out strategy, thorough preparation, and strong collaboration, we achieved first place as a team, but the Hydrogen Challenge also provided us with new insights and collaborations. These directly contribute to ongoing research, such as the development of a NTA (Netherlands Technical Agreement) for hydrogen generators and studies on the safe transport of hydrogen via existing natural gas pipelines.
Margreet Spoelstra,
senior researcher-advisor for energy and transport safety
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Netherlands – Team NIPV drives to victory on hydrogen, source
