Why hydrogen cars have failed - and will never succeed

In the automotive industry, there's a running joke that hydrogen cars 'are the FUTURE of automotive - and always will be'. But why is that? Why is this technlogy, which offers clear advantages over battery electric vehicles, taking so long to catch on. And will it ever go fully mainstream? Jack explains all.
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[kasperholmj]

PROS:
You can filll the FCEV up in about five minutes.

CONS:
You can only fill the FCEV in five minutes if the filling station haven't filled another FCEV just before.
Extracting H from gas releases carbon into the atmosphere.
Extracting H from water using renewables makes sense but takes up more energy than using the electricity directly in a BEV.
The efficiency of a FCEV is only about 30% whereas a BEV is around 85%
FCEV requires platinum which there simply isn't enough off to go around for all the FCEVs required.

FCEV could be used for lorries, but even here have BEV technology overtaken the evolution.

FCEV could be usefull for planes or even contrainer freight or cruise ships....

PS: That absolutely redicoulus title for this video is unnecessary... This was a good video, don't go down the clcikbait-rabbit hole, you're better than that....

[DarcersTech]

As an engineer, I pray that governments will not start supporting hydrogen cars, because it would be a massive shot in the foot - in terms of the environmental footprint, supply chains, manufacturing, user friendliness, running costs, etc. Hydrogen makes 0 sense on ground transport. Airplanes and ship? Maybe.

[JackFeelsNerves]

As a fuel for passenger vehicles, hydrogen doesn't make sense any more, especially when price parity between BEVs and ICEs is just around the corner. It makes much more sense for large transportation vehicles of people and goods, such as big lorries, trains, buses, ferries, etc.

[SDKb]

It takes more energy to get hydrogen, than it gives back - it’s very inefficient (as you said).
Also it takes about 15 mins for a hydrogen pump to re-pressurise after it has been used, before it can be used again. So it’s not all that quick a process if lots of people are using them.

[alihalabi]

I agree regarding cars, but hydrogen definitely has a huge place for trucks, ships, and planes.

[JustWastedHoursHere]

Five or so years ago hydrogen might have had a chance to catch up with BEVs, but nowadays? No way. By the time they get their kinks worked out BEVs will be charging at about the same speed, have more range than HFCs and none of the disadvantages. And if solid state batteries actually make it to market (finally) then that is 100% game over for HFC.

Toyota and Honda made the mistake of backing hydrogen in the early days of automobile electrification and they invested hundreds of millions of dollars. They should have cut their losses years ago but they didn't. Toyota says they will reveal a solid state battery car in 2022 or 2023 but I will believe it when I see it.

[HairyCheese]

Hard too store, difficult to deploy, belittles steel, inefficient.... Also why would I want to wait at a H2O station waiting to fill up? Overnight charging rocks. Also parking to use facilities for charging makes sense.
I'd like to see government solutions for people who cannot charge at home (flats are the most difficult).
Now AI could solve this, but do we need all supermarkets to provide a dedicated charging area with DC charging?
Also motorways wireless charging....
Ok, so your EV needs an upgrade as does the motorway. It's billions! But trickle charging as you drive? It's infrastructure, like that old chestnut, the train. Charge us by the mile anyway, but also refill the vehicle on the motorway! Wowsers, now smaller batteries and even HGVs driving electric over long distances. When we add self driving to the mix it's gets interesting. I'd no longer need to change vehicles on the way to Scotland from London in a robo taxi for charging...
Now ok, we don't have motorways everywhere, we'd need to start with those and then start looking at A roads....

[abu]

I would much prefer switching to hydrogen rather than battery, especially for long journeys. The fuelling process is much quicker, cars are likely to weigh less and range is better. Besides, it would solve the problem for HGVs and buses. I can't imagine long distance lorries running on batteries.

[hfe]

As of this week in California most of the refueling stations are showing empty, if you find one which is online be prepare for to bring your patience because some of the Mirai owners already on queue and pray that the nozzle will not be frozen or offline if your next on line

[markiliff]

For cars: I'm sure you're right.

For trucks & buses: If you can refuel in the depot, could make some sense

For planes: Empty batteries weigh the same as full ones, so liquid fuels have a huge advantage. (Aero engineers' motto: Add more lightness)

[sevencostanza]

Read in many newer articles that materials used to make batteries for EV's is going to become scarce & therefore full adoption of EV's will not happen, it will just be a niche of the population who are willing to pay 2x more for a EV car.

[RayG]

It will work for ships, busses and planes . In china hydrogen is going pretty much mainstream

[tonyharford]

Here's a thought. Why not hydrogen filled airships for cargo. One airship capable of lifting one shipping container can replace one truck on the road. The airship can fly directly from one point to another without following the road as a truck must do. With modern technology the airship won't even need a pilot, basically a giant drone. Keep the path of the airship over nonpopulated areas so that in the event of a catastrophic failure it won't crash on anyone's house. They could be scaled up to carry more containers as required.

[jimporter]

efficiency - BEVs are at least 3 times more efficient on energy usage

[daviddenley]

Another thing Hydrogen is used for goes: "BANG"
Thermonuclear Style!

[cjkenning]

I think hydrogen is crucial for transforming air travel, but not for cars... Also need to work out how to convert sea water to hydrogen rather than cracking...

[matthewboyd]

Energy density in batteries can go up (and dies 5% compounding yearly) which reduces cost because less material and extends range, hydrogen does not do this, and it's cost to fuel will always be more than electric because it takes electricity to make.

So within a decade will go over 400 miles, and cost less than $35, 000 and that's without a new revolutionary battery.

Not to mention you don't need a network for charging if you have a home charger.

[aidanapword]

FCEV - solving a "problem" which the vast majority of road users don't have.

[lindsayjelleff]

Strangely there was NO mention of how long it takes to charge an electric car, maybe a min of 1 - 8 hours???. I dont have that much spare time, do you? . I'd like to see everyones face when they're in a mad hurry to charge up when there are no charging stations nearby or they're all in use!! (Now what you gonna do?) Just use the Hydrogen station, it takes 5 minutes to fill up. And don't worry, they'll be converting many already existing service stations in time for use. Remember, there aren't very many local electric charging stations and heaps of them are YET to be installed. I don't think you local shopping centre will be forking out millions of dollars to put a charging point for every shopper, get real!! Be careful what you wish for when you URGENTLY need to charge up in an emergency!!

[denisdonoghue]

Transport for London has ordered new fleet of Hydrogen buses being produced By Wright Buses in Northern Ireland, they have converted diesel engines to run on Hydrogen. Hydrogen is the only future to power heavy vehicles, Germany is to carry out trails to use offshore wind turbines to drive hydrogen power production plants.