Adoption of Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles in Hong Kong and a Take a look at 4 Fashions

The 2024 Paris Olympics claims to chop carbon emissions by 50% in comparison with the 2012 London Olympics. Along with offering vegan meals for athletes and never utilizing air con within the athletes’ village, the occasion has adopted Toyota’s zero-emission hydrogen-powered automobile (additionally known as hydrogen fuel-cell automobile or HFCV), the Mirai, because the official automobile of the video games. Nevertheless, some students have identified that present HFCVs will not be really eco-friendly. Who is correct? On this Kwiksure article, we clarify the function of HFCVs on the Paris Olympics, and the adoption of such autos in Hong Kong.

Low Carbon Olympics

To realize carbon emissions discount targets, the Paris Olympics use 500 Mirai HFCVs supplied by Toyota as Olympic autos, transporting athletes, employees, volunteers and others from varied international locations through the Olympics and Paralympics. Along with the Mirai, Toyota has additionally deployed its most eco-friendly low-carbon fashions, together with pure electrical autos (EVs), plug-in hybrids, and hybrids. After the Olympics, the Mirai automobiles might be reworked right into a hydrogen-powered taxi fleet in Paris.

Nevertheless, not way back 120 scientists, engineers, and students from universities reminiscent of Cambridge and Oxford issued a public appeal calling upon the Paris Olympics to withdraw the Mirai because the official automobile of the Video games. The reason being that at the moment, as a lot as 96% of the hydrogen used is produced from fossil fuels reminiscent of methane, which additionally produce big portions of carbon emissions within the conversion course of, making it even much less eco-friendly than EVs. Nevertheless, Toyota said that the hydrogen gas used on the Paris Olympics is derived from renewable sources reminiscent of water and natural supplies.

What are Hydrogen-powered Automobiles?

Hydrogen is a chemical ingredient and a part in lots of pure compounds, together with water. Many individuals imagine that hydrogen-powered automobiles use hydrogen gasoline as a gasoline substitute. Nevertheless, that is an oversimplification.

In a hydrogen-powered automobile, the hydrogen gasoline saved within the storage tank is transported to the fuel cell, the place it reacts chemically with the battery to supply electrical energy, which powers the motor to drive the automobile–thus the title ‘hydrogen fuel-cell autos’ or HFCVs. HFCVs mix the traits of conventional gasoline automobiles and electrical automobiles. You’ll be able to consider the hydrogen as gasoline and the gas cell because the engine cylinders, with their mixture producing {the electrical} energy that drives the motor.

Within the course of, solely water and warmth are produced, with out producing polluting gasses or substances the way in which gasoline automobiles do. Furthermore, a couple of minutes’ price of refueling is sufficient to energy the automobile for a whole lot of kilometers. All these make hydrogen probably the most eco-friendly and possible automobile gas.

Shortcomings of Hydrogen as a Gas

Hydrogen gasoline is corrosive and extremely flammable, and this makes its transportation troublesome and dear, leading to a really gradual price of improve within the variety of refueling stations. Based mostly on information from Taiwan’s Automotive Research and Testing Center, as of the top of 2023, there have been solely 921 hydrogen refueling stations globally, they usually had been primarily present in Germany, South Korea, and Japan. Moreover, since their manufacturing is small in scale and includes guide steps, hydrogen gas cells are pricey to fabricate. One more essential side is the hydrogen storage tank, which takes up a big quantity of area. For autos with comparatively restricted area, that may be one other problem.

Introducing 4 Hydrogen-powered Automobiles

Toyota Mirai

Because the launch of the primary technology in 2014, Toyota has been actively growing hydrogen-powered autos and launched the second-generation Mirai in 2020. The brand new technology makes use of the TNGA-L platform, and produces 182 ps of energy and 300 Nm of torque. The automobile has 3 hydrogen storage tanks for a complete quantity of 141 liters, which is sweet for a most vary of about 650 km. The refueling may be accomplished in 5 minutes. It’s price mentioning that in August 2022, Toyota managed to tug 1,360 km from only one tank of hydrogen, setting a Guinness World Report.

Hyundai Nexo

Following the ix35 and Tucson, Nexo is Hyundai’s third HFCV, persevering with the SUV type custom. The Nexo has a most energy of 161 ps and most torque of 395 Nm. The automobile has a gas storage capability of 156 liters and a spread of about 611 km. By way of gear, the automobile contains a digital instrument panel, blind-spot picture show, central display, and extra, which make the automobile fairly superior for a product launched in 2018. The producer has additionally introduced {that a} new technology Nexo might be unveiled subsequent 12 months, which we anticipate will provide much more options and even higher efficiency.

Honda CR-V e:FCEV

Honda formally introduced its first hydrogen-powered automobile, the CR-V e:FCEV, earlier this 12 months. The brand new automobile relies on the sixth technology CR-V, and is the primary mannequin within the North American market to mix hydrogen gas cells and plug-in hybrid know-how. The brand new automobile was launched out there in July by way of a leasing program. The CR-V e:FCEV has a single motor module on the entrance axle, offering a most energy of 176 ps and 311 Nm in peak torque. Developed in collaboration with Normal Motors, the gas cell can present a spread of as much as 600 km.

BMW iX5 HYDROGEN

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen makes use of the fifth technology eDrive electrical drive system with a gas cell developed in collaboration with Toyota. It boasts a most energy of 406 ps, with the producer claiming a 0 to 100 km/h time of lower than 6 seconds. Though the iX5 Hydrogen has been exhibited and test-driven around the globe, and the primary batch of 100 models have been offered to pick out prospects, the producer has said that they won’t go forward with mass manufacturing simply but. The iX5 HYDROGEN is predicted to enter mass manufacturing in 2026 on the earliest.

Adoption of Hydrogen Gas-Cell Automobiles in Hong Kong

In June 2024, the Hong Kong authorities introduced the ‘Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong,’ focusing primarily on the industrial purposes of hydrogen vitality. This contains the introduction of the primary hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus (Citybus route 20) earlier this 12 months, and plans to check 3 hydrogen fuel-cell avenue sweepers by the top of the 12 months. Different trial tasks embody bus firms constructing hydrogen refueling stations at depots, and MTR testing hydrogen-powered trains. Furthermore, Hong Kong’s first public hydrogen refueling station is predicted to open in Yuen Lengthy by the top of this 12 months. Regardless that HFCVs will not be but out there on the market domestically, this indicators we will anticipate to see these autos to be launched within the close to future.

Frequent Questions

Q: How do hydrogen-powered autos work?

A: In a hydrogen-powered automobile, the hydrogen gasoline saved within the storage tank is transported to the gas cell, the place it reacts chemically with the battery to supply electrical energy, which powers the motor to drive the automobile.

Q: Are hydrogen-powered autos in use in Hong Kong?

A: In early 2024, Hong Kong’s first hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus (Citybus route 20) entered service, and there are plans to check 3 hydrogen fuel-cell avenue sweepers by the top of the 12 months.