12-10-2021, 08:58 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-10-2021, 08:59 AM by Reckless Rat.)
The law of conservation of energy comes into any calculations regarding the manufacture of electricity, from whatever source. It never comes for free. The hydrogen gas is manufactured by the process of the electrolysis of water. In order to split water into its two component elements (water and oxygen) a HUGE amount of electricty is needed. Where does that come from? Then, having created a stock of hydrogen you need an infrastructure to store, distribute and dispense it, plus the recipient vehicles have to be capable of storing liquid hydrogen under vast pressure.
The hydrogen atom is the smallest element in the universe and it is not easily contained. Normal steel or aluminium or plastic vessels are incapable of preventing hydrogen loss by osmosis, and as hydrogen is explosive when mixed with air the safety issues are immense.
The use of hydrogen as a fuel, reverses the process by recombining the hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell, which results in electricity plus water. I am very sceptical about the overall "greenness" of a hydrogen vehicle given what is necessary to produce the fuel, store it and then use it in a transport situation. I shudder to think of the consequences of some numpty not connecting up properly at a distribution station and the resulting devastation from an event akin to the Hindenburg airship disaster happening at your local Tesco.
I'll stick to diesel or unleaded, thanks.
The hydrogen atom is the smallest element in the universe and it is not easily contained. Normal steel or aluminium or plastic vessels are incapable of preventing hydrogen loss by osmosis, and as hydrogen is explosive when mixed with air the safety issues are immense.
The use of hydrogen as a fuel, reverses the process by recombining the hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell, which results in electricity plus water. I am very sceptical about the overall "greenness" of a hydrogen vehicle given what is necessary to produce the fuel, store it and then use it in a transport situation. I shudder to think of the consequences of some numpty not connecting up properly at a distribution station and the resulting devastation from an event akin to the Hindenburg airship disaster happening at your local Tesco.
I'll stick to diesel or unleaded, thanks.