Today, almost all global automakers are actively developing vehicles that run on environmentally friendly fuels. Experts say that in 15-20 years the world will completely switch to this type of transport. While leadership in this business is retained by Toyota. After the release of the famous Primus, the Japanese decided to go further and develop another environmentally friendly clean car - Toyota Mirai with a hydrogen engine. In today's article, we will consider all the features of this new product, as well as list all the advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen machines.
Characteristic
Toyota Mirai is one of the first sedans Japanese made, which the company decided to mass-produce. By the way, the decision to call this model Mirai was quite justified, because in Japanese this word means “Clean Future”.
The manufacturer claims that the first serial hydrogen Toyota differs from its counterparts in a large power reserve, which will be 480 kilometers. This is quite enough for daily operation within the city, and for family trips over long distances. But as far as long trips until it is possible to make them on such a car. And here the question is not about the reliability of the design (as always, the Japanese made the car with high quality and “for centuries”), but about the lack of the necessary gas stations. But we will talk about this a little later.
It is worth noting that the Mirai is not the world's first hydrogen-powered car. Toyota is developing hybrid models cars since 1997. It was then that the world public saw a hydrogen-powered concept SUV of the FCHV model. However, the Japanese did not dare to launch it into large-scale mass production. More often this jeep could be found in government agencies and organizations that tested this type of transport. By the way, combines BMW and Toyota. The Germans signed a contract with Japanese engineers and by 2020 they plan to create a new environmentally friendly bmw sedan Hydrogen 7 series.
Pros of a hydrogen car
Let's start with the benefits. To begin with, a hydrogen-powered engine does not emit any pollutants, unlike diesel and gasoline. It is worth noting the low cost of operating this type of transport. The fuel itself (hydrogen) can be produced on both small and large scales. This will significantly stabilize the situation with constantly changing fuel prices and distribute it more rationally in the world.
What are the disadvantages of a hydrogen fuel engine?
Now let's talk about the disadvantages. The main disadvantage of this type of transport is that the hydrogen engine (including Toyota FCV) is more explosive than classic diesel and gasoline counterparts. This is due to the special chemical composition hydrogen. By the way, in addition to explosiveness, it is highly volatile. This characteristic greatly complicates the transportation and refueling of vehicles with hydrogen. Experts also say that the maintenance of such an installation will be more expensive than, for example, the repair of a diesel engine (due to the small number of workers who know a lot about this area). And, of course, the lack of hydrogen filling stations. There are only a few of them in the world, therefore it is very difficult to use such cars now (especially since such a car can be refueled only with the help of special equipment).
Supply issues
Main problem hydrogen cars- the lack of gas stations where they could be filled. That is why electric cars are more relevant to the world, as they are charged from an ordinary outlet and even on the go, if there is solar battery. But the production of hydrogen stations is already gaining momentum. It is already known about plans to build 20 such gas stations in California. If sales continue to grow, the number of gas stations will double. By the way, this state was chosen for a reason - it is in California that sales of hydrogen-powered Toyotas will begin. But we'll talk about sales at the end of the article, but for now let's look at the exterior of the novelty.
Design
The appearance of the new Toyota Mirai is very impressive. A massive aggressive “front end” with a harsh wide bumper and slanting headlights immediately catches your eye. The radiator grill is perhaps the smallest and most insignificant element in the exterior.
But even on such a small piece of plastic, the Japanese managed to place their company logo made in chrome style. The car has a good glass area. This is especially true for the windshield. The driver will not feel dead zones”, since all the events around are now visible at a glance. The body has both angular and smooth, aerodynamic features. All this makes appearance sedan is very fresh, modern and unique.
Interior
The inside of the car is like part of a spaceship - a mass of buttons, screens, sensors and all sorts of other things. Interestingly, the Japanese did not dare to spend money on the development of two interior layout options - for the European and for the domestic market. They solved the problem with the rearrangement of the steering wheel very simply by placing all the important information devices in the middle of the torpedo.
The panel itself is placed right next to windshield and stretched across its entire width. Further from it is a massive on-board computer, which is equipped with a built-in navigator function. Below it, there is another display. And they are separated by two wide air ducts. The same ones are duplicated on the sides of the mirrors, only with a chrome trim in the corner. Steering wheel also equipped with buttons remote control. There is no gear knob in the cabin - most likely, a variator or automatic transmission is used. The speakers are located in the doors, as are the power window controls. The steering wheel has a comfortable grip. In general, the layout of the cabin is very ergonomic. And even despite the mass of buttons (especially since half of them are touch-sensitive), it is not overloaded with unnecessary elements and seems ascetic to some extent.
Specifications
Toyota has released a car with a hydrogen engine that has large stock power. The power plant, according to the manufacturers, will have 153 horsepower, which is quite enough for a car of this class. The Japanese do not talk about other engines, and, most likely, only one modification of the novelty with a 153-horsepower environmentally friendly unit will enter the market. The hydrogen engine (2015 Toyota Mirai) runs on special fuel cells. Inside the latter, a reaction takes place in which hydrogen and oxygen take part. As a result of chemical interaction, powerful energy is generated that feeds the electric motor.
Dynamics and operating costs
The manufacturer says that dynamic characteristics The hydrogen-powered Toyota is no different from its gasoline counterparts. Acceleration from zero to "hundreds" is estimated at 9 seconds. At the same time, engineers note the low cost of travel.
The price of refueling a tank for 1 kilometer will be only 10 cents. Thus, to drive a car a hundred kilometers, you need to spend only 10 dollars. And you can fill up your car in just 5 minutes.
How does a hydrogen engine work?
Surely each of us thought about the principle of operation of this unit. Well, let's take a look at how a hydrogen engine actually works.
The main driving force of these machines is an electrochemical generator (some Japanese call it FC Stack. Inside electrochemical generator a reaction takes place, as a result of which hydrogen is oxidized. It is during this period that the necessary energy is generated, which is then redirected to a compact battery. The latter performs the function of powering the electric motor, which drives the machine. In what form does a hydrogen engine produce waste? "Toyota Mirai" is not in vain called an environmentally friendly car, since it does not come from at all poisonous gases, but ordinary water.
All this is very good, but there is a force hindering the development of this type of transport. The main problem is that the processes for making fuel for hydrogen cars on this moment underdeveloped and require large financial outlays. Moreover, when creating hydrogen, components such as coal and methane are involved. They pollute the atmosphere very much, and therefore there is no point in using such engines for the sake of "preserving the environment". Of course, there is no waste from the combustion of this fuel ( pure water), but to cook it, you need to significantly spoil the atmosphere with dirty emissions. Therefore, more and more specialists are looking for a replacement for the current internal combustion engine in solar panels.
Incidentally, hydrogen is not a unique type of fuel that can only be used in one type of engine. Studies have shown that this product is quite realistic to use on classic motors with internal combustion. However, after such a reaction, there are consequences. The fact is that hydrogen, when burned in an internal combustion engine, releases only 1/3 of the energy that it would produce in a specialized unit. True, the engineers managed to correct this shortcoming. Thanks to the modified ignition system, the efficiency of such engines does not decrease, but, on the contrary, increases by almost 1.5 times from the usual one, which makes the operation of this fuel more favorable and reasonable from an environmental and financial point of view.
But still, troubles were noticed not only in the field of efficiency. And if the engineers managed to increase the efficiency by improving the ignition system, then they cannot cope with such problems as high combustion temperature in the chamber, burnout of pistons and valves. By the way, at long work hydrogen is able to react with other components of the motor, including lubricant. And without it, the engine wears out very quickly. In addition, hydrogen, due to its volatility, can penetrate into and ignite there. Concerning rotary internal combustion engines, due to their simple design and large distance between the collectors, they are more favorable for using such fuel as the main one. On this question, how the hydrogen engine works, can be considered closed.
About cost
According to the manufacturer, the start of sales of Toyota Mirai cars will take place in the spring of 2015. At first, the novelty will be available only on the domestic market, and in the summer it will appear on the European and American markets. The starting price of a hydrogen-powered Toyota is $57,500. In addition, the company offers to purchase this car on credit with a monthly payment of 500 US dollars. The bonus will be the opportunity free refueling car for a year at gas stations in California.
So far, the Japanese Toyota has no competitors among hydrogen cars. At least that will be the case until 2016. The fact is that in March 2016, a new hydrogen car Honda FCV enters the market. But we won’t predict how popular it will be, but for now we’ll wait for the start of sales of the new Toyota Mirai.
Conclusion
So, we found out why it is so special and how the hydrogen engine works. Toyota is one of the first automakers to seriously consider mass-producing its "environmentally friendly product." True, until the problem with gas stations and a cheaper way is solved, the company is unlikely to have great success in the sale of such cars.
Traditional engine internal combustion(ICE) has a number of significant drawbacks, which makes scientists look for him worthy replacement. The most popular option for such an alternative is the electric motor, but it is not the only one that can compete with internal combustion engines. This article will focus on the hydrogen engine, which is rightfully considered the future of the automotive industry and can solve the problem of harmful emissions and the high cost of fuel.
Short story
Despite the fact that the preservation of the environment has only now become a mass problem, about changing standard engine internal combustion, scientists have thought about it before. So, a hydrogen-powered motor “saw the world” back in 1806, which was facilitated by the French inventor Francois Isaac de Rivaz (he produced hydrogen by electrolysis of water).
Several decades passed, and in England the first patent for a hydrogen engine was issued (1841), and in 1852 German scientists designed an internal combustion engine that could run on an air-hydrogen mixture.
A little later, during the blockade of Leningrad, when gasoline was a scarce product, and hydrogen was available in sufficient quantities. in large numbers, technician Boris Shelishch suggested using an air-hydrogen mixture for the operation of barrage balloons. After that, all internal combustion engines of balloon winches were transferred to hydrogen power, and the total number of hydrogen-powered machines reached 600 units.
In the first half of the 20th century, public interest in hydrogen engines was not great, but with the advent of the fuel and energy crisis of the 1970s, the situation changed dramatically. In particular, in 1879 BMW company released the first car that ran quite successfully on hydrogen (without explosions and water vapor escaping from the exhaust pipe).
Following BMW, others began to work in this direction major automakers, and by the end of the last century, almost every self-respecting car company already had the concept of developing a hydrogen-powered car. However, with the end of the oil crisis, public interest in alternative sources fuel, although in our time it is starting to wake up again, fueled by environmentalists fighting to reduce toxicity exhaust gases cars.
Moreover, energy prices and the desire to gain fuel independence only contribute to theoretical and practical research by scientists from many countries of the world. The most active companies are BMW, General Motors, Honda motor, Ford Motor.
Interesting fact! Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe, but it will be very difficult to find it in its pure form on our planet.
The principle of operation and types of hydrogen engine
The main difference between a hydrogen plant and traditional engines is the method of supplying fuel fluid and subsequent ignition of the working mixture. At the same time, the principle of transformation of the reciprocating movements of the crank mechanism into useful work remains unchanged. Considering that the combustion of petroleum fuel occurs rather slowly, fuel-air mixture fills the combustion chamber before the piston reaches its extreme top position(so-called top dead center).
The rapid reaction of hydrogen makes it possible to move the injection time closer to the moment when the piston begins to return to bottom dead center. It should be noted that the pressure in the fuel system will not necessarily be high.
If ideal operating conditions are created for a hydrogen engine, then it can have a fuel supply system closed type when the mixing process will take place without the participation of atmospheric air currents. In this case, after the compression stroke, water vapor remains in the combustion chamber, which, passing through the radiator, condenses and turns back into ordinary water.
However, the use of this type of device is possible only when the vehicle has an electrolyzer that separates hydrogen from water for its re-reaction with oxygen. At the moment, it is extremely difficult to achieve such results. For stable operation of engines, it is used, and its evaporation is part of the exhaust gases.
Therefore, the trouble-free start of the power plant and its stable operation on explosive gas without the use of atmospheric air– is still an impossible task. There are two options for automotive hydrogen plants:units operating on the basis of hydrogen fuel cells, and hydrogen internal combustion engines.
Power plants based on hydrogen fuel cells
The principle of operation of fuel cells is based on physical and chemical reactions. In fact, these are the same lead batteries, only the efficiency of a fuel cell is slightly higher than that of a battery, and is about 45% (sometimes more).
A membrane (conducts only protons) is placed in the body of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, separating the chamber with the anode and the chamber with the cathode. Hydrogen enters the anode chamber, and oxygen enters the cathode chamber. Each electrode is pre-coated with a catalyst layer, which is often platinum. When exposed to it, molecular hydrogen begins to lose electrons.
At the same time, protons pass through the membrane to the cathode and, under the influence of the same catalyst, combine with electrons coming from outside. As a result of the reaction, water is formed, and the electrons from the anode chamber move to the electrical circuit connected to the motor. Simply put, we get an electric current, which feeds the engine.
Fuel cell-based hydrogen engines are currently used on Niva vehicles equipped with the Antel-1 power plant and Lada 111 vehicles with the Antel-2 unit, which were developed by Ural engineers. In the first case, one charge is enough for 200 km, and in the second - for 350 km.
It should be noted that due to the high cost of metals (palladium and platinum) included in the design of such hydrogen engines, similar installations have a very high cost, which significantly increases the price of the vehicle on which they are installed.
Do you know?Toyota began working with fuel cell technology 20 years ago. Around that time, the Prius hybrid car project also started.
Hydrogen internal combustion engines
This type of power plant is very similar to propane engines common today, so to switch from propane to hydrogen fuel, it is enough to simply reconfigure the engine. There are already many examples of such a transition, but it must be said that in this case the efficiency will be somewhat lower than when using fuel cells. At the same time, less hydrogen energy is required to obtain 1 kW of hydrogen energy, which fully compensates for this disadvantage.
The use of this substance in a conventional internal combustion engine will cause whole line problems. Firstly, the high compression temperature will "cause" the hydrogen to react with the metal parts of the engine or even the engine oil. Secondly, even a small leak on contact with a hot exhaust manifold will definitely cause a fire.
For this reason, only power units rotary type, as their design reduces the risk of fire due to the distance between the intake and exhaust manifolds. In any case, all problems have so far been overcome, which makes it possible to consider hydrogen as a fairly promising fuel.
A good example of a hydrogen-powered vehicle is the experimental BMW 750hL sedan, a concept that was unveiled back in the early 2000s. The car is equipped with a twelve-cylinder engine that runs on rocket fuel and allows you to accelerate the car to 140 km / h. Hydrogen in liquid form is stored in a special tank, and one supply is enough for 300 kilometers. If it is completely consumed, the system automatically switches to gasoline power.
Hydrogen engine in today's market
Recent research by scientists in the field of operating hydrogen engines has shown that not only are they very environmentally friendly (like electric motors), but they can be very efficient in terms of performance. Moreover, by technical indicators hydrogen power plants outperform their electric counterparts, which has already been proven (for example, Honda Clarity).
Also It should be noted that, unlike Tesla Powerwall systems, hydrogen analogues have one significant disadvantage:
charge the battery with solar energy will no longer work, but instead you will have to look for a special gas station, which today, even on a global scale, there are not so many.
Now Honda Clarity has been released in a fairly limited batch, and you can buy a car only in the Land of the Rising Sun, since the vehicle will appear in Europe and America only at the end of 2016.
Interesting to know!Power Exporter 9000 generator (may be part of complete set of Honda Clarity) is able to power all home appliances for almost a whole week.
Also in our time, other vehicles using hydrogen fuel. These include the Mazda RX-8 hydrogen and BMW Hydrogen 7 (hybrids running on liquid hydrogen and gasoline), as well as Ford E-450 and MAN buses. lion city bus.
Among cars the most prominent representatives of hydrogen vehicles today are cars Mercedes-Benz GLC F cell(there is the possibility of recharging from a conventional household network, and the total power reserve is about 500 km), Toyota Mirai(works only on hydrogen, and one refueling should be enough for 650 km of travel) and Honda FCX Clarity(the declared power reserve reaches 700 km). But that's not all, because hydrogen-powered vehicles are also produced by other companies, such as Hyundai (Tucson FCEV).
Advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen engines
With all its advantages, it cannot be said that hydrogen transport is devoid of certain disadvantages. In particular, it must be understood that the combustible form of hydrogen at room temperature and normal pressure is in the form of a gas, which causes certain difficulties in the storage and transportation of such fuel. That is, there is serious problem designing safe reservoirs for hydrogen used as a fuel for cars.
In addition, cylinders containing this substance require periodic inspection and certification, which can only be carried out by qualified and licensed personnel. Also, the high cost of servicing a hydrogen engine should be added to these problems, not to mention the very limited number of filling stations (at least in our country).
Don't forget that the hydrogen plant increases the weight of the car, which may make it not as maneuverable as you would like it to be. Therefore, given all of the above, think carefully: is it worth buying a hydrogen vehicle, or is it better to wait with it for now.
However, it must be said that there are many advantages in such a solution. Firstly, your car will not pollute the environment with toxic exhaust gases, Secondly, mass production of hydrogen could help solve the problem of fluctuating fuel prices and disruptions in the supply of conventional fuel liquids.
In addition, pipeline networks for methane have already been built in many countries, and it is not difficult to adapt them for pumping hydrogen with subsequent delivery to gas stations. Hydrogen can be produced both on a small scale, that is, on local level, and massively - in large, centralized enterprises. The growth in hydrogen production will serve as an additional incentive to increase the supply of this substance for domestic purposes (for example, for heating homes and offices).
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The modern automotive industry is developing with an emphasis on the production of more environmentally friendly vehicles. This is due to the worldwide struggle for the purity of atmospheric air by reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The constant rise in gasoline prices is also forcing manufacturers to look for other sources of energy. Many leading automakers are gradually moving to serial production cars running on alternative fuel, which in the very near future will lead to the appearance on the roads of the world enough not only electric cars, but also cars with engines powered by hydrogen fuel.
How hydrogen cars work
A hydrogen-powered car is designed to reduce atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide, as well as other harmful impurities. The use of hydrogen to propel a wheeled vehicle is possible in two different ways:
- the use of a hydrogen internal combustion engine (VDVS);
- power plant electrical unit working from hydrogen elements(VE).
VVS is an analogue of the engines widely used today, the fuel for which is propane. It is this model of the engine that is easiest to reconfigure to work on hydrogen. Its principle of operation is the same as gasoline engine, only liquefied hydrogen enters the combustion chamber instead of gasoline. A car with renewable energy is, in fact, an electric car. Hydrogen here is only a raw material for generating electricity needed to power an electric motor.
The hydrogen element consists of the following parts:
- corps;
- a membrane that allows only protons to pass through - it divides the capacity into two parts: anode and cathode;
- an anode coated with a catalyst (palladium or platinum);
- cathode with the same catalyst.
The principle of operation of VE is based on a physicochemical reaction, consisting of the following:
Thus, when the car is moving, no carbon dioxide is emitted, but only water vapor, electricity and nitric oxide.
Key Features of Hydrogen Cars
The main players in the automotive market already have prototypes of their products using hydrogen as fuel. You can definitely highlight the individual technical characteristics of such machines:
- maximum developed speed up to 140 km/h;
- the average mileage from one refueling is 300 km (some manufacturers, for example, Toyota or Honda, declare twice the figure - 650 or 700 km, respectively, on hydrogen alone);
- acceleration time to 100 km / h from zero - 9 seconds;
- power plant power up to 153 horsepower.
This car can accelerate to 179 km / h, and up to 100 km / h the car accelerates in 9.6 seconds and, most importantly, it is able to travel 482 km without additional refueling Quite good parameters even for gasoline engines. There has not yet been a shift towards the Air Force using liquefied H2 or vehicles powered by renewable energy, and it is not clear which of these types of engines will achieve the best specifications and economic indicators. But today, more models of machines with an electric drive, powered by renewable energy, have been produced, which give greater efficiency. Although the consumption of hydrogen to obtain 1 kW of energy is less in the VDVS.
In addition, re-equipment of internal combustion engines for hydrogen in order to increase efficiency requires a change in the ignition system of the installation. The problem of rapid burnout of pistons and valves due to the higher temperature of hydrogen combustion has not been solved yet. Here everything will be decided by the further development of both technologies, as well as the price dynamics during the transition to mass production.
Pros and cons of cars running on hydrogen
Among the main advantages of hydrogen vehicles are:
- high environmental friendliness, consisting in the absence of most harmful substances in the exhaust typical for the operation of a gasoline engine - carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide and dioxide, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons;
- more high efficiency, compared to gasoline cars;
In general, the car has ambitions to conquer the whole world. - less noise from the engine;
- lack of complex, unreliable fuel supply and cooling systems;
- the possibility of using two types of fuel.
In addition, air-powered vehicles have less weight and more useful volume, despite the need to install fuel tanks.
The disadvantages of hydrogen cars include:
- the bulkiness of the power plant when using fuel cells, which reduces the maneuverability of the car;
- the high cost of the hydrogen elements themselves due to the palladium or platinum they contain;
- imperfection of the design and uncertainty in the material for the manufacture of tanks for hydrogen fuel;
- lack of hydrogen storage technology;
- lack of hydrogen filling stations, the infrastructure of which is very poorly developed throughout the world.
However, with the transition to the mass production of cars equipped with hydrogen power plants, most of these shortcomings will most likely be eliminated.
Which hydrogen-powered vehicles are already in production
The world's leading automotive companies such as BMW, Mazda, Mercedes, Honda, MAN and Toyota, Daimler AG and General Motors are engaged in the production of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Among the experimental models, and some manufacturers already have small-scale ones, there are cars that operate only on hydrogen, or with the possibility of using two types of fuel, the so-called hybrids.
Such models of hydrogen vehicles are already being produced, such as:
- Ford Focus FCV;
- Mazda RX-8 hydrogen;
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class;
- Honda FCX;
- Toyota Mirai;
- MAN Lion buses city bus and Ford E-450;
- hybrid car for two types of fuel BMW Hydrogen 7.
Today we can definitely say that, despite the existing difficulties (the new always makes its way with difficulty), the future belongs to more green cars. Autocars running on hydrogen fuel will be worthy competition electric vehicles.
Automakers are doing their best to offer us environmentally friendly vehicles. At this time, world oil reserves are declining, and concerns about the consequences of global warming remain relevant. As a result, there began to appear interesting technologies engine production. At first it was hybrid cars with gasoline and electric motors. Then there were all-electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S.A latest novelty in this direction have become hydrogen cars.
Hydrogen is an affordable and renewable energy source. To date, there are only two stock car from famous companies– Toyota Mirai and Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. We decided to tell you about 10 things you should know about cars that run on hydrogen.
1. Power = water
Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell does not have traditional engine under the hood. Its place is taken by a fuel cell, as the name of the crossover suggests. It gets oxygen from the air outside the car and hydrogen from the tank in the car, resulting in a chemical reaction needed to make the electrodes that power the car. The only production waste is H2O, that is, water.
Interested in power? Check it out! Zero emissions? Yes, it's reality!
2. They are silent...almost
Get in a hydrogen car, turn on the ignition (with a simple push of a button in Hyundai's case) and you won't hear anything. Like electric cars, there is no engine sound in such cars. Well, almost non-existent.
If you get out of the car on a relatively quiet street, you will hear the minimal hum of the fuel cell doing its job. In urban traffic, this sound is generally impossible to notice. While driving, you will hear only the usual noise of the wheels. When you press the accelerator pedal, you will not hear anything, but you will feel real power.
3. Go, go, go
All this may seem too good to be true. The question may arise as to what the owners of hydrogen cars will have to sacrifice. Some people think that power is weakness such machines. But one has only to press the gas pedal and the result will obviously not disappoint you.
Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell is a front-wheel drive crossover, so it was clearly not designed for installation speed records. But pressing the accelerator pedal leaves only positive impressions- the body begins to pleasantly cling to the seat.
4. There is also a battery here
The car itself runs on gas, but also accumulator battery installed in it. It is necessary for starting and initial acceleration, as there is a small (less than 1 second) delay between pressing the pedal and obtaining the necessary output from the fuel cell.
The battery is recharged using the kinetic energy generated during braking.
5. No tachometer, only power
Hydrogen cars do not have an internal combustion engine and a traditional gearbox. Here we use something similar to automatic transmission. Therefore, instead of the tachometer familiar to all of us, a power scale is installed on the instrument panel.
Yes, power! The harder you press the accelerator pedal, the higher the arrow on the power scale will rise. Looks a little silly, but fun! just look at this part dashboard by pressing the pedal and enjoy.
6. Autonomy
One of the most significant problems that owners of electric cars face is the limited mileage on a single battery charge. In this regard, cars with traditional internal combustion engines are more competitive.
But in the case of hydrogen cars, things are not so bad. You do not have to make many stops for refueling during long trips. So, Toyota Mirai will be able to drive about 500 kilometers without refueling, but Hyundai claims that the ix35 Fuel Cell will overcome up to 594 km on one tank of hydrogen. And this is very, very good indicator for an environmentally friendly car!
7. Refueling - fast, but very problematic
The process of refueling takes place as in conventional cars - you need to open the fuel tank hatch and insert a special "pistol" to fill the tank with hydrogen. It is noteworthy that you can fill the tank in only 3-5 minutes (depending on the volume), and this is much faster than even the most fast charging electric car (about half an hour).
This is more convenient, but there is one very, very a big problem: Finding a gas station that sells hydrogen is almost impossible today. For example, even in the UK there are only 4 public stations designed for refueling hydrogen vehicles.
According to forecasts, in the UK the number of such stations will increase to 65 by 2020, but even in such a developed country this will be a very small network. There are currently over 8,000 conventional filling stations in the UK. There can be no question of any comparison. What can we say about Russia ...
8. Infotainment system
It may seem that a hydrogen car cannot be very powerful, but do not worry - there is enough power for fast acceleration, and to play your favorite audio and video content.
As in ordinary car, in the cabin of hydrogen “ iron horses” has a complete set of modern electronics. Climate control, synchronization with a smartphone via Bluetooth, navigation, parking sensors, cruise control, rear view camera - all this can be installed in such a car.
9. Only four wheels
Four wheels are a standard feature of every car. But you will have to forget about the niche for the spare wheel, because all the space was “eaten” fuel tank. The hydrogen storage tank takes up a lot of space, so you either have to learn how to use it repair kit or carry to luggage compartment spare in case. Most likely, the best solution would be to buy a suitable "stowaway".
10. It's not cheap...yet
As mentioned earlier, there are only two production hydrogen vehicles on the market today - the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. In Europe, the price of the “Korean” is about $76,000, but for the Toyota model you will have to pay about $57,500.
This is not cheap at all, especially considering such a limited number of places where you can fill up such a car. Hyundai notes that it plans to release more compact model with such a power plant. Most likely, it will differ in a more affordable price. Yes and others automotive manufacturers seriously took up the study of new technology.
What do you think about hydrogen cars? Do they have a future in the world and on Russian roads in particular?
About 45% of the oil produced in the world is used as fuel for cars. Oil reserves are limited and are not renewable, so the search for a universal source of energy that can be obtained in conditionally unlimited quantities is, of course, an urgent task.
Hydrogen as a fuel for engines is considered among the most promising substances. The reserves of hydrogen on Earth are practically inexhaustible, since it can be easily isolated from ordinary water. The storage and transportation of this gas, although associated with certain difficulties, is feasible. And, most importantly, with equal masses, burning hydrogen releases 3 times more energy than burning gasoline.
The first patent for a hydrogen power plant was issued in England back in 1841. In 1852, an internal combustion engine powered by a mixture of hydrogen and air was built in Germany, and Zeppelin's infamous Hindenburg airship was equipped with travel motors, working on lighting gas - mixtures of gases with a fifty percent share of hydrogen.
Interest in hydrogen engines resumed in the seventies, with the advent of the fuel and energy crisis.
After the end of the oil crisis, interest in alternative energy sources did not disappear. Currently, it is being intensively heated by environmentalists who are fighting to reduce harmful emissions in atmosphere. In addition, ever-increasing energy prices and the desire of many countries to become fuel independent contribute to the continuation of theoretical and practical research on how to use hydrogen in vehicles.
The most active research on the development of hydrogen engines is General Motors, Honda Motor, Ford Motor, BMW and others.
Types and principle of operation of hydrogen engines
Modern power plants are divided according to the principle of operation into two types: electric motors powered by hydrogen fuel cells and internal combustion engines powered by hydrogen.
Power plants based on hydrogen fuel cells
The principle of operation of fuel cells is based on a physical and chemical reaction. Essentially, fuel cells resemble conventional lead batteries. The difference is that the efficiency of a fuel cell is significantly higher than the efficiency of a battery and is 45% or more.
A membrane conducting only protons is installed in the housing of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. It separates two chambers with electrodes - an anode and a cathode. Hydrogen is supplied to the anode chamber, and oxygen is supplied to the cathode chamber. Each electrode is coated with a catalyst layer, such as platinum. Molecular hydrogen under the influence of a catalyst deposited on the anode loses electrons. Protons are conducted through the membrane to the cathode, and under the influence of a catalyst, they combine with electrons (the flow of electrons is supplied from the outside), as a result of which water is formed. The electrons from the anode chamber go into an electrical circuit connected to the motor, that is, in everyday language, an electric current is formed that feeds the electric motor.
The current models of a car with a fuel cell power plant are the Niva with the Antel-1 power plant and the Lada 111 with Antel-2, developed by Ural engineers. On one charge, the first car can cover 200 km, the second - 350 km.
Hydrogen internal combustion engines
When using hydrogen in a conventional internal combustion engine, a number of problems arise. First, at high temperature and compression hydrogen reacts with the metal of which the engine is made, and even with engine oil. In addition, in the event of even a small leak, upon contact with a hot exhaust manifold, it will inevitably catch fire. Therefore, by the way, to work on hydrogen they use rotary engines, the design of which implies remoteness intake manifold from the outlet, which reduces the risk of fire. However, all these problems, including the need to change the ignition system, somehow manage to get around, which allows engineers to consider hydrogen as a promising fuel.
An internal combustion engine running on hydrogen has an efficiency lower than that of fuel cell engines, but the fact that less hydrogen is needed to produce 1 kW of energy than gasoline makes it possible to put up with a reduced efficiency.
An excellent example of a hydrogen-powered car is the experimental BMW 750hL sedan produced by limited edition and available to buyers. It contains 12 cylinder engine, running on rocket fuel (hydrogen + oxygen), allowing to accelerate to 140 km / h.
Liquefied hydrogen is stored in a special tank at a low temperature. The supply of hydrogen is enough for about 300 kilometers. If it is used up, the engine automatically switches to power from additional tank with gasoline. The price of BMW Hydrogen 7 is comparable to the cost of the usual "seven" and is about 93 thousand dollars.
Problems and tasks of development of hydrogen engines
There are a number of technological and environmental barriers to mass conversion to hydrogen as a fuel.
The production of hydrogen fuel today costs 4 times more than the production of gasoline.
And the process of obtaining hydrogen from water is still too expensive. Therefore, most of its volume is currently produced from methane. Its transportation and storage is associated with high costs.
In the case of the mass introduction of such power plants, the amount of hydrogen in the atmosphere will increase dramatically, which can lead to the destruction of the Earth's ozone layer, since hydrogen engines emit much more nitrogen oxides than gasoline engines.
The level of commercial payback of such power plants is visible only in the long term.
However, exactly the same problems arose in due time during the development of gasoline, electric and gas engines. It remains to be hoped that in 15-20 years the situation will change, and the appearance of a hydrogen car on the roads will become commonplace.
