Hydrogen as a powder: a new opportunity for e-cars with fuel cells?

Created: 07/25/2022, 16:30

By: Marcus Efler

Hydrogen is still in the running as an alternative to batteries for electric cars.

An invention could make it much easier to use in the future.

Not only since the EU-wide ban on combustion engines from 2035 has it been considered certain that the future of transport lies primarily in electromobility.

The question of which type of electric car will prevail also seems to have been decided: the vast majority of suppliers favor the Stromer with a battery, i.e. so-called BEV (“Battery Electric Vehicle”).

Hydrogen as a powder: a new opportunity for e-cars with fuel cells?

Some experts believe that on-board power generation using fuel cells is no longer viable.

But it still has its supporters.

BMW will soon be offering its SUV X5 as a hydrogen vehicle, Renault is working on a prototype, and Toyota has achieved respectable success with the Mirai.

Hydrogen-powered e-cars like the Toyota Mirai could play a bigger role in the future thanks to the new storage technology.

(Iconic image) © Toyota

Fuel cell cars (FCEV: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) could have a good chance, especially in areas where charging infrastructure for electricity is difficult to install.

However, the hydrogen they need is not easy to handle either: for storage and transport, it either has to be heavily cooled or (which is now the more common form) kept under high pressure.

You can find even more exciting automotive topics in the free newsletter, which you can subscribe to right here.

Hydrogen as a powder: There is still a long way to go before it can be used in practice

Scientists from Deakin University in Geelong, Australia, are now addressing this problem.

They developed a process that pulverizes hydrogen - or more precisely: binds it to boron nitrate, a powdered chemical.

This process is relatively easy to carry out with little effort.

also read

At the pump: Why you shouldn't continue to fill up when it clicks

Used electric cars have flat tires – “prices are in freefall”

In order to be able to release and use the bound hydrogen again, it is sufficient to heat the powder.

However, to a few hundred degrees, so it cannot evaporate unintentionally.

Of course, this is still basic research.

It will be a few years before this can really be used in practice for cars, airplanes and other means of transport.