Hydrogen and biofuel cars: two alternatives to electric cars

While the EU requires new cars and light vans to reach zero emissions from 2035 onwards, countries such as China, Korea and Japan have set themselves the target of achieving zero emissions in the decades after 2035.

And it seems that, if all these agreements hold, it would be possible to achieve zero emissions by the year 2100. At least, so says the Global update report: Paris Agreement Turning Point.

What are the alternatives to current propulsion systems for achieving zero emissions?

Among the most promising options for replacing electric cars are hydrogen-based and biofuel-based propulsion systems. Both approaches have unique features and significant benefits that could transform the future of mobility, but they also have drawbacks.

In this article, we will explain the pros and cons of these two alternatives.

Hydrogen-based propulsion systems

Hydrogen-based propulsion systems work primarily through fuel cells, which convert the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy.

This process takes place in several key stages:

1. Hydrogen storage: hydrogen is stored in high-pressure tanks in the vehicle. These tanks are designed to be extremely safe and impact resistant.
2. Supply to the fuel cell: the stored hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell, where it is combined with oxygen from the air.
3. Electrochemical reaction: inside the fuel cell, the hydrogen is separated into protons and electrons. The protons pass through an electrolytic membrane, while the electrons create an electric current by flowing through an external circuit.
4. Energy production: the electric current generated is used to power the vehicle’s electric motor, while the only by-product of this reaction is water, which is expelled as steam.

Benefits of hydrogen vehicles

Hydrogen-based propulsion systems offer multiple benefits for both the environment and energy efficiency:

1. Zero emissions: the main advantage is that they emit no greenhouse gases or pollutants except water vapor. This significantly reduces the carbon footprint and improves air quality in urban areas.
2. High efficiency: hydrogen fuel cells can be more efficient than traditional internal combustion engines, especially under variable load conditions.
3. Fast refueling: hydrogen vehicles can be refueled within minutes, similar to gasoline or diesel vehicles, which contrasts with the long refueling times of electric vehicle batteries.
4. Renewable energy storage: hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy, which allows storing surplus energy from sources such as solar and wind. This type of hydrogen is called green hydrogen.

Drawbacks of hydrogen vehicles

However, it’s not all benefits. Hydrogen vehicles also have some disadvantages.

On Earth, hydrogen is hardly available in its natural state and has to be produced from water, through the process of electrolysis or from hydrocarbons.

This hydrogen liquefies at -253ºC, which makes it difficult to store in liquid form, and there are few public refueling points.

These two factors directly influence the production price of vehicles based on this technology.

The role of biofuels in the sustainable automotive industry

Biofuels are fuels derived from biomass, i.e. renewable organic matter.

Among the most common are bioethanol and biodiesel. Their operation in engines is quite similar to that of traditional fossil fuels, which facilitates their integration in today’s vehicles:

1. Production: bioethanol is produced from the fermentation of sugars present in crops such as corn or sugar cane. Biodiesel is obtained from vegetable oils or recycled animal oils.
2. Combustion: Both biofuels can be blended with traditional fossil fuels (gasoline and diesel) and used in internal combustion engines with little or no modification. In engines, they are burned to generate mechanical power.

Benefits of biofuel vehicles

Biofuels offer several advantages that make them a viable sustainable automotive option:

1. Reduced CO2 emissions: being plant-based, biofuels contribute to a closed carbon cycle. Plants absorb CO2 during their growth, which is released again when the biofuel is burned, resulting in a net reduction of CO2 emissions compared to fossil fuels.
2. Biodegradability: Biofuels are more biodegradable and less toxic than fossil fuels, which reduces the environmental impact in case of spills.
3. Diversification of energy sources: the use of biofuels reduces dependence on fossil fuels and can boost the agricultural economy, promoting rural development.
4. Compatibility with existing infrastructure: biofuels can be used in existing engines and infrastructure, facilitating their large-scale adoption without the need for large investments in new technologies.

Biofuel drawbacks

A University of Michigan study concludes that the increasing use of biofuels is associated with a net increase in global warming carbon dioxide emissions.

Biofuel is less efficient than petroleum-based fuels and the expansion of biofuel crops can lead to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

Furthermore, the cultivation of biofuel feedstocks can compete with land dedicated to food production, increasing the cost of food production.

Conclusion

Hydrogen-based propulsion systems and biofuels represent complementary approaches to a more sustainable automobile, but they are far from perfect.

Hydrogen offers a zero-emission solution with high efficiency and fast refueling, although adapting the car’s mechanics to this element significantly increases the cost of the fleet.

Biofuels, on the other hand, provide an alternative that can be easily integrated into the current infrastructure and technology, but are not as harmless as first thought.

Be that as it may, both have drawbacks that still need to be solved until they become a truly beneficial alternative not only for the environment but also for the economy of each country.

REMSA PRODUCTS

Get to know our range of products for cars and commercial vehicles: brake pads, brake disc, brake shoes.

REMSA CATALOGUE