Hydrogen for Mobility industry-Energy - Hydrogen Power
Hydrogen is poised to become a crucial component in achieving CO2-neutral mobility. This sustainable energy source offers significant advantages over battery technology, primarily due to its reliance on readily available raw materials for pressurized alkaline electrolysis. Unlike battery technology, which often depends on rare earths and expensive precious metals, hydrogen production ensures long-term availability and cost-effectiveness of materials without environmental exploitation. Current infrastructure supports hydrogen with rapid refueling capabilities, making it ideal for both passenger and commercial vehicles. Vehicles using this technology convert gaseous hydrogen into electrical energy via fuel cells, often requiring storage at pressures of up to 800 bar. With electrolysis capacity reaching 1 MW, approximately 20 kg of hydrogen can be generated hourly, allowing a fuel cell passenger vehicle to cover around 2,000 km on a full tank of about 5-6 kg, which can be refueled in just a few minutes. Hydrogen combustion engines also offer solutions for commercial vehicles needing powerful, short-term performance.
We are convinced that CO2-neutral mobility using hydrogen from green electricity without the use of rare earths or expensive precious metals will prevail. In contrast to battery technology, the availability of raw materials for pressurized alkaline electrolysis is assured in the long term and at low cost, as well as without the exploitation of raw materials. The protection of our environment and health as well as sustainability in all areas of life are arguments that will prevail in the long term. The already available infrastructure as well as fast refueling in combination with the demands of passenger and truck traffic will massively increase the demand for hydrogen in the coming years.
More and more vehicles are using hydrogen as the fuel of the future. Here, the energy content in gaseous hydrogen is converted into electrical energy by a fuel cell. To do this, it must be stored at up to 800 bar, depending on its use. The advantages of hydrogen as an energy carrier in vehicles are its rapid refueling and its long ranges. With an electrolysis capacity of 1 MW, about 20 kg of hydrogen can be produced per hour. This is sufficient to drive about 2,000 km with a fuel cell passenger car. Such passenger cars have tanks with a capacity of 5-6 kg, which can be refueled in max. 5 minutes. For commercial vehicles, a hydrogen combustion engine can also be considered. Such engines are particularly suitable for construction vehicles, which require high performance in short periods of time.