What are the cars a hydrogen? What characteristics distinguish them? The hydrogen cars I’m not one Announcements but they have been produced in small series for about 20 years. First in the form of prototypes and then as cars on the market. Over the years, numerous manufacturers have created fuel cell cars with this alternative power supply a zero emissions for which there are very few refueling points (hydrogen station): only water and water vapor comes out of the drain for a perfect sustainable mobility.
However, since hydrogen is not directly available in nature, it must be obtained with processes that consume energy like theelectrolysis or the methanol reforming. Consequently, if instead of fossil fuels to produce hydrogen, the renewable energy sourcesthe environmental impact is very minimal.
Hydrogen car how it works, 2 types HICEV and FCEV
How the hydrogen car works? First of all, the builders focused on the so-called HICEV hydrogen cars (Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle), where hydrogen burns as a fuel inside a traditional thermal engine.
After that there are the named hydrogen cars FCEV, 100% electric cars equipped with a fuel cell or fuel cell powered by hydrogen, where a reaction with oxygen inside the fuel cell, produces electricity that powers the electric motor. Unlike a ‘electric car the hydrogen one allows longer distances with autonomy up to 800 / 1,000 km.
What are hydrogen cars?
To retrace the history of hydrogen car in Europe we go to Germany. In particular, it was the first to focus on this diet in 2000 Opel HydroGen1 based on the Zafira minivan. He mounted a 55 kW electric motor and 251 Nm that pushed it up to 140 km / h. Two years pass and Mercedes-Benz presents the A-Class F-Cell which had a range of only 160 km. Following the Bavarian BMW Hydrogen 7such as HICEV presented in 2007 (we drove it from Verona to Munich airport where at the time there was the only service station in Europe). This is the first car of this type put into circulation in small series, about a hundred copies.
Then we come to 2010, when Mercedes-Benz puts the B-Class F-Cell on the market. Car produced in small series with a 100 kW engine and a range of 400 km, it was only available for hire.
Another German, in the form of a concept, is the Volkswagen Golf HyMotion built in 2014, with a fuel cell of 136 hp and a range of 500 km. Likewise from the VAG groupL’Audi A7 Sportback h-tron concept, followed by the SUV Audi h-tronseen in Detroit in 2016. The fuel cell is made up of 330 individual elements capable of developing 150 hp. Fuel cell and lithium-ion accumulator power two electric motors, maximum speed of 200 km / h.
Hydrogen vans
Similarly to the history of hydrogen cars, there is no shortage of commercial vehicles such as fuel cell vans. For example, the GM Electrovan from 1966, it is the first hydrogen vehicle in history, with a peak fuel cell power of 160 kW.
Instead from Stuttgart in 1994 the Mercedes Necar 1on the base of van Mercedes-Benz MB 100. Among the vans currently on the market, in 2017 Renault he presented Kangoo And Hydrogen master.
Hydrogen cars for sale
What are the models of hydrogen cars on sale today? From South Korea they arrived on the market between 2013 and 2019 i Hyundai ix35 Hydrogen and Nexo SUV (the first registered in Italy in March 2019) with a distance of 670 km, a total power of 163 hp and a price of 69,000 euros. The Nexo also recorded an autonomy record of 880 km, which was then beaten by Toyota with the Mirai which covered 1,000.
Still an SUV there Mercedes GLC F-Cell which is offered with the rental formula with a monthly fee of 799 euros in Germany and Japan. In particular, it is a unique vehicle of its kind because it is also Plug-In Hybrid thanks to the 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Not to mention the Rising Sun where two proposals come from. There Honda FCX (from 34,000 euros), and the Toyota Mirai launched in 2015 and completely renovated in 2020. During the apostolic journey to Japan of Pope francescoToyota has set up a Mirai in popemobile version.
Hydrogen cars FCEV HICEV what are their characteristics
BRAND | TEMPLATE | PRICE | ENGINE POWER | FUEL CELL | TYPE |
Audi | A7 h-tron | Concept | 199 kW | 110 kW | FCEV |
Audi | h-tron four | Concept | 320 kW | 110 kW | FCEV |
BMW | Hydrogen 7 | Rental | 191 kW | – | HICEV |
Hyundai | ix35 Hydrogen | € 69,000 | 80 kW | ND | FCEV |
Hyundai | Nexo | € 69,000 | 120 kW | ND | FCEV |
Honda | Clarity | € 60,000 | 130 kW | FCEV | |
Honda | FCX | from € 34,000 | 130 kW | ND | FCEV |
Opel | HydroGen1 | Concept | 55 kW | 120 kW | FCEV |
Mazda | RX-8 Hydrogen RE | Concept | 80 kW | – | HICEV |
Mercedes-Benz | Class A F-Cell | Concept | ND | ND | FCEV |
Mercedes-Benz | Class B F-Cell | 780 € month | 100 kW | ND | FCEV |
Mercedes-Benz | GLC F-Cell | 799 € month | 155 kW | ND | FCEV |
Toyota | Mirai | € 78,750 | 113 kW | 114 kW | FCEV |
Volkswagen | Golf Hterdam | Concept | ND | 100 kW | FCEV |
Advantages of hydrogen cars
In conclusion, when we talk about this engine we must not forget about the hydrogen cars what are the advantages and disadvantages. In particular the most obvious advantage it is the abatement of emissions if the hydrogen production cycle is excluded. Another advantage is the ability to recharge the on-board battery quickly, thanks to the power of the fuel cell.
Among the advantages we mention the refueling speed which varies between 3 and 5 minutes, the time required to fill the cylinders.
Hydrogen cylinder
Hydrogen is stored inside a cylinder similar to those of gas and methane in form but considerably more sophisticated. Hydrogen is in liquid form at -253 ° C. To transport it on cars, special cylinders are used that work between 200 and 700 bar. They can be made of composite materials. Just think that sheet steel cylinders for methane with a capacity of 85 liters that store about 14-15 kg of methane weigh almost a quintal.
The hydrogen cylinders used on cars are made of composite materials and work at pressures of 700 bar. There BMW iX5soon to be released, has 2 cylinders of 6 kg at 700 bar.
Autonomy with hydrogen
What is the autonomy of a hydrogen car? With a full tank of hydrogen you can cover a distance of about 500 kilometers.
Hydrogen car disadvantages, because it is not worth buying it
Instead it downside more evident than a hydrogen car is certainly the purchase cost of the car, but fortunately there are rental solutions. Another difficulty consists in finding a hydrogen distributor, there are only 6 in our area. From the mechanical point of view, a hydrogen car weighs more than a traditional one due to the fuel storage cylinders, while in terms of consumption they are on average comparable.
They might interest you (indeed I recommend them)
👉 Hydrogen cars what they are
👉 News and updates on hydrogen cars
👉 Mobility of the future hydrogen car
👉 Toyota Mirai hydrogen car autonomy record 1,000 km
👉 Audi and Hyundai agreement for hydrogen cars
👉 Hydrogen car Bosch works on fuel cells
👉 Visit EV Driving
Visit EV Driving
👉 I notify: to stay updated and receive latest news on your mail subscribe to the automatic Newsauto newsletter HERE
👉 Leave a comment below or on ours FORUM where we invite you to subscribe!
COMMENT WITH FACEBOOK
#Hydrogen #cars #type #prices #characteristics #sale