Our planet Earth is getting hotter, and we are all witnessing its impact on human life. Climate change has become a reality that every nation and government are accepting today. As we strive towards a sustainable future, we are also looking out for sustainable mobility solutions. Hydrogen cars are seen as an environment-friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuel-driven cars by many tech enthusiasts and car manufacturers.

In this article, we will understand more about hydrogen cars, the need for this technology, and its benefits as a cleaner fuel.

What are Hydrogen Fuel Cars?

Hydrogen-powered cars run on hydrogen gas as their primary source of fuel, unlike traditional cars that run on fossil fuels like petrol and diesel. Hydrogen is considered a cleaner fuel because the only byproducts released during the operation of a hydrogen fuel car are water vapor and air. It is to be noted that the hydrogen for these cars should be created from cleaner sources of energy; only then will India be able to move towards sustainable and planet-friendly mobility.

What are The Needs for Alternate Fuels in India?

Since India is committed to sustainable development goals and the Paris climate agreement, it is accountable for adopting environmental best practices. Due to rapidly changing and unpredictable climatic conditions, it has become a need of the hour to look out for alternate fuels for automobiles. This will help in:

• Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reducing pollution levels.
• Better public health due to a cleaner environment.
• Less dependence on non-renewable energy resources.
• Boosting economic growth due to technological advancements 

How Green Hydrogen Car Works?

From hydrogen storage to emissions, operating a hydrogen car has following stages:

• High-pressure tanks are installed in the vehicle to store hydrogen gas.
• A fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. Hydrogen gas is passed into a fuel cell stack, which is made up of multiple fuel cells.
• Hydrogen gets split into protons and electrons when it passes through the anode. Electrons are made to follow an external circuit to produce current, and protons move through the electrolyte membrane. At the cathode, oxygen from the surroundings is passed, which combines with protons and electrons to produce water (H2O). This reaction is known as oxidation-reduction.
• The electricity produced after oxidation-reduction powers the electric motor, which propels the car.
• The by-products in this process are only water vapor and warm air, thus making it a cleaner fuel.

Benefits of Green Hydrogen Cars

Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen that is produced from plant-based or renewable resources. Replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen fuel comes with multiple benefits. Some of these benefits include:

Clean Resource of Energy: The by-product produced during the operation of hydrogen cars is water, making it a clean alternative to fossil fuel-based cars.

Zero Emissions: We know that a hydrogen car produces no greenhouse gases. But if the hydrogen used in these cars is also produced from renewable resources, then there will be a huge cut in greenhouse gas emissions, making it more sustainable.

Better Efficiency: Hydrogen cars use fuel cell stacks, which are more efficient than internal combustion engines used in petrol and diesel cars.

Noiseless Operation: Hydrogen cars produce less noise than internal combustion-based cars, making the operation smooth.

Less Dependence on Fuel Imports: India fulfills its fuel demand by importing it from global companies. Hydrogen cars will reduce our dependence on petroleum imports and will make India self-reliant. 

Upcoming Hydrogen Cars in India

India is a big market for many automobile manufacturers. Be it national or international players, many companies are eyeing the Indian marketplace, as it has huge potential. Although this is an early stage, some of the automakers showing interest in the Indian market are:

Tata Motors: Tata Motors is actively working on hydrogen fuel cell technology. It has announced its plan to develop hydrogen-based vehicles, but there is no clarity on the timeline.

MG Fuel Cell Vehicle: MG Motor is expected to launch a hydrogen-based car in global markets and India, and it is gearing up for this technology. Although the launch time is not sure, if they find enough demand in India, this may happen soon.

Toyota Mirai: This model comes with three hydrogen tanks, which can be filled up in just 5 minutes and cover a range of 650 km, making it an attractive option. There is no clarity on the launch of the Toyota Mirai in India, but expectations are high.

Infrastructure Requirements for Hydrogen Cars

Hydrogen-based vehicle manufacturing is still in the developing stage. To launch hydrogen cars in India, we will need to establish a robust infrastructure, which includes:

Generation of Hydrogen: Multiple green hydrogen generation plants will be required to meet the huge demand in our country.

Storage and Distribution: Hydrogen gas has a low energy density, which requires effective storage systems. For better distribution, a strong network of hydrogen gas pipelines, tankers, etc. will have to be in place.

Refueling Stations: This is one of the major challenges. To encourage people to switch to hydrogen cars, trouble-free access to refueling stations must be provided.

Safety & Regulations: To manufacture and handle hydrogen gas production and distribution, the proper implementation of safety regulations is a must.

Policies and Initiatives for Hydrogen Cars by the Government

The Indian government is taking some active steps to encourage the manufacturing of hydrogen cars in India. Below are some important initiatives taken by the government:

The National Green Hydrogen Mission: To make India self-reliant through clean energy, the Indian government initiated the National Green Hydrogen Mission. This is a step towards reducing India’s carbon footprint and dependence on crude oil imports.

Global Collaboration: India is partnering with global leaders for technology sharing that will help in meeting the aspirations of its National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Support for Research and Development: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued guidelines to extend their support for the research and development of hydrogen-based transport systems. Many Indian companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra have shown their interest in manufacturing H2 cars.

Difference Between Hydrogen cars and Electric cars

Some of the key differences between hydrogen cars and electric cars are:

FAQs

Q. What time does it take to refuel a hydrogen car?

A: It generally takes 3-5 minutes to refuel a hydrogen car.

Q. Which is the more expensive hydrogen car or petrol/diesel car?

A. Hydrogen car is a new concept and is in the developing stage, making it costlier at present. But the prices are expected to go down with technological advancements.

Q. What is the range of a hydrogen car?

A hydrogen car can cover 480-650 km depending upon the model of the car.