Why I think hydrogen power has it's use
I tend to agree with Elon Musk on this one. Hydrogen cars don't actually make any sense to me. If EVs were further behind and hydrogen were further along in terms of being able to deliver something practical, then I might consider it a stopgap. But hydrogen fuel vehicles as an end game is a repetition of the past.
Yes. Hydrogen is much more sustainable and non-polluting than petroleum based fuel. But, it is more or less and end unto itself. And in that respect it is like gasoline. Betting the farm on single fuel is a fools errand.
Batteries on the other hand much more interchangeable and more of a storage system for energy generated by other means.
To illustrate this, consider my PHEV. The gasoline that goes into it ALWAYS comes from fossil fuels. When I charge it however, depending on when and where that energy may be generated by coal (hopefully not), fossil fuels, LNG, nuclear, hydro, solar, air or even geothermal. And probably others I'm unaware of.
In short, while the car itself only knows the battery and electricity, that stored electricity can come from whatever source makes the most sense in my geographical location. And, most of the dirtier fuel sources are cleaner and more efficient at scale than when shrunk down to power a car. So, if you're ardent defender of the oil industry in, say Alberta... it might still make more sense in terms of cost, and for the environment to have a power station burn that oil to produce energy than to pump it through your car.
And while that wouldn't be a massive step forward in terms of environmental impact. It would be a good step forward nonetheless and it would reduce the direct dependence of the average person on fossil fuels, making it more probable to transition to new sources of energy for the power plants.
It would also have auxiliary benefits. Some cars support bi-directional power, and I expect it to become increasingly more popular. That and household battery storage.
Another win for the average person would be to have something like a Tesla powerwall. But, to charge it from the grid during off peak hours if you don't have something like solar. Then you can charge your car from that. Or, in an emergency use a combination of power from the household solution and the car to power your house for days. Or to simply help mitigate on peak power costs.
But, these solutions make the most sense if they have daily value. And an EV is a part of that equation. A giant battery attached to your house makes a lot of sense if it speeds up or lowers the cost of charging your car at any time of day.
The benefit on the other hand is further reaching. Tapping into off peak power also tends to mean tapping into cleaner energy sources. And, being able to reduce your impact during peak hours or to provide power back to either the grid or your house can lower the cost of energy for everyone.
The ideal role for hydrogen in all of this is to become another source of energy for the grid. And to power cars in that fashion.
Yes. Hydrogen is much more sustainable and non-polluting than petroleum based fuel. But, it is more or less and end unto itself. And in that respect it is like gasoline. Betting the farm on single fuel is a fools errand.
Batteries on the other hand much more interchangeable and more of a storage system for energy generated by other means.
To illustrate this, consider my PHEV. The gasoline that goes into it ALWAYS comes from fossil fuels. When I charge it however, depending on when and where that energy may be generated by coal (hopefully not), fossil fuels, LNG, nuclear, hydro, solar, air or even geothermal. And probably others I'm unaware of.
In short, while the car itself only knows the battery and electricity, that stored electricity can come from whatever source makes the most sense in my geographical location. And, most of the dirtier fuel sources are cleaner and more efficient at scale than when shrunk down to power a car. So, if you're ardent defender of the oil industry in, say Alberta... it might still make more sense in terms of cost, and for the environment to have a power station burn that oil to produce energy than to pump it through your car.
And while that wouldn't be a massive step forward in terms of environmental impact. It would be a good step forward nonetheless and it would reduce the direct dependence of the average person on fossil fuels, making it more probable to transition to new sources of energy for the power plants.
It would also have auxiliary benefits. Some cars support bi-directional power, and I expect it to become increasingly more popular. That and household battery storage.
Another win for the average person would be to have something like a Tesla powerwall. But, to charge it from the grid during off peak hours if you don't have something like solar. Then you can charge your car from that. Or, in an emergency use a combination of power from the household solution and the car to power your house for days. Or to simply help mitigate on peak power costs.
But, these solutions make the most sense if they have daily value. And an EV is a part of that equation. A giant battery attached to your house makes a lot of sense if it speeds up or lowers the cost of charging your car at any time of day.
The benefit on the other hand is further reaching. Tapping into off peak power also tends to mean tapping into cleaner energy sources. And, being able to reduce your impact during peak hours or to provide power back to either the grid or your house can lower the cost of energy for everyone.
The ideal role for hydrogen in all of this is to become another source of energy for the grid. And to power cars in that fashion.
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