The 2024 Paris Olympics claims to chop carbon emissions by 50% in comparison with the 2012 London Olympics. Along with offering vegan meals for athletes and never utilizing air con within the athletes’ village, the occasion has adopted Toyota’s zero-emission hydrogen-powered automobile (additionally referred to as hydrogen fuel-cell automobile or HFCV), the Mirai, because the official automobile of the video games. Nonetheless, some students have identified that present HFCVs usually are not really eco-friendly. Who is correct? On this Kwiksure article, we clarify the position of HFCVs on the Paris Olympics, and the adoption of such autos in Hong Kong.
Low Carbon Olympics
To realize carbon emissions discount targets, the Paris Olympics use 500 Mirai HFCVs offered by Toyota as Olympic autos, transporting athletes, employees, volunteers and others from numerous nations throughout the Olympics and Paralympics. Along with the Mirai, Toyota has additionally deployed its most eco-friendly low-carbon fashions, together with pure electrical autos (EVs), plug-in hybrids, and hybrids. After the Olympics, the Mirai automobiles might be reworked right into a hydrogen-powered taxi fleet in Paris.
Nonetheless, not way back 120 scientists, engineers, and students from universities akin to Cambridge and Oxford issued a public enchantment calling upon the Paris Olympics to withdraw the Mirai because the official automobile of the Video games. The reason being that at the moment, as a lot as 96% of the hydrogen used is produced from fossil fuels akin to methane, which additionally produce enormous portions of carbon emissions within the conversion course of, making it even much less eco-friendly than EVs. Nonetheless, Toyota said that the hydrogen gasoline used on the Paris Olympics is derived from renewable sources akin to water and natural supplies.
What are Hydrogen-powered Automobiles?
Hydrogen is a chemical component and a element in lots of pure compounds, together with water. Many individuals consider that hydrogen-powered automobiles use hydrogen gasoline as a gasoline substitute. Nonetheless, that is an oversimplification.
In a hydrogen-powered automobile, the hydrogen gasoline saved within the storage tank is transported to the gasoline cell, the place it reacts chemically with the battery to supply electrical energy, which powers the motor to drive the automobile–thus the identify ‘hydrogen fuel-cell autos’ or HFCVs. HFCVs mix the traits of conventional gasoline automobiles and electrical automobiles. You’ll be able to consider the hydrogen as gasoline and the gasoline cell because the engine cylinders, with their mixture producing {the electrical} energy that drives the motor.
Within the course of, solely water and warmth are produced, with out producing polluting gasses or substances the way in which gasoline automobiles do. Furthermore, a couple of minutes’ price of refueling is sufficient to energy the automobile for tons of of kilometers. All these make hydrogen essentially the most eco-friendly and possible automobile gasoline.
Shortcomings of Hydrogen as a Gasoline
Hydrogen gasoline is corrosive and extremely flammable, and this makes its transportation troublesome and expensive, leading to a really gradual charge of improve within the variety of refueling stations. Primarily based on knowledge from Taiwan’s Automotive Analysis and Testing Heart, as of the top of 2023, there have been solely 921 hydrogen refueling stations globally, and so they have been primarily present in Germany, South Korea, and Japan. Moreover, since their manufacturing is small in scale and entails handbook steps, hydrogen gasoline cells are pricey to fabricate. Yet one more essential facet is the hydrogen storage tank, which takes up a big quantity of house. For autos with comparatively restricted house, that may be one other problem.
Introducing 4 Hydrogen-powered Automobiles
Toyota Mirai
For the reason that launch of the primary era in 2014, Toyota has been actively growing hydrogen-powered autos and launched the second-generation Mirai in 2020. The brand new era makes use of the TNGA-L platform, and produces 182 ps of energy and 300 Nm of torque. The automobile has 3 hydrogen storage tanks for a complete quantity of 141 liters, which is sweet for a most vary of about 650 km. The refueling may be accomplished in 5 minutes. It’s price mentioning that in August 2022, Toyota managed to drag 1,360 km from only one tank of hydrogen, setting a Guinness World Document.
Hyundai Nexo
Following the ix35 and Tucson, Nexo is Hyundai’s third HFCV, persevering with the SUV fashion custom. The Nexo has a most energy of 161 ps and most torque of 395 Nm. The automobile has a gasoline storage capability of 156 liters and a variety of about 611 km. When it comes to gear, the automobile incorporates a digital instrument panel, blind-spot picture show, central display screen, and extra, which make the automobile fairly superior for a product launched in 2018. The producer has additionally introduced {that a} new era Nexo might be unveiled subsequent 12 months, which we anticipate will provide much more options and even higher efficiency.
Honda CR-V e:FCEV
Honda formally introduced its first hydrogen-powered automobile, the CR-V e:FCEV, earlier this 12 months. The brand new automobile relies on the sixth era CR-V, and is the primary mannequin within the North American market to mix hydrogen gasoline cells and plug-in hybrid know-how. The brand new automobile was launched out there in July through a leasing program. The CR-V e:FCEV has a single motor module on the entrance axle, offering a most energy of 176 ps and 311 Nm in peak torque. Developed in collaboration with Basic Motors, the gasoline cell can present a variety of as much as 600 km.
BMW iX5 HYDROGEN
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen makes use of the fifth era eDrive electrical drive system with a gasoline cell developed in collaboration with Toyota. It boasts a most energy of 406 ps, with the producer claiming a 0 to 100 km/h time of lower than 6 seconds. Though the iX5 Hydrogen has been exhibited and test-driven all over the world, and the primary batch of 100 items have been offered to pick out prospects, the producer has said that they won’t go forward with mass manufacturing simply but. The iX5 HYDROGEN is anticipated to enter mass manufacturing in 2026 on the earliest.
Adoption of Hydrogen Gasoline-Cell Automobiles in Hong Kong
In June 2024, the Hong Kong authorities introduced the ‘Technique of Hydrogen Growth in Hong Kong,’ focusing primarily on the business purposes of hydrogen vitality. This contains the introduction of the primary hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus (Citybus route 20) earlier this 12 months, and plans to check 3 hydrogen fuel-cell avenue sweepers by the top of the 12 months. Different trial tasks embrace bus corporations constructing hydrogen refueling stations at depots, and MTR testing hydrogen-powered trains. Furthermore, Hong Kong’s first public hydrogen refueling station is anticipated to open in Yuen Lengthy by the top of this 12 months. Regardless that HFCVs usually are not but accessible on the market regionally, this alerts we are able to anticipate to see these autos to be launched within the close to future.
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Overview of Adoption of Hydrogen Energy in Hong Kong
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October 2023
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Planning for Hong Kong’s first public hydrogen refueling station is accomplished
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November 2023
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The primary hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus and devoted refueling services are examined
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February 2024
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The primary hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus (Citybus route 20) enters service
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July 2024
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Towngas converts landfill gasoline into inexperienced hydrogen
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Finish of 2024
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The primary public hydrogen refueling station is anticipated to open
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Widespread Questions
Q: How do hydrogen-powered autos work?
A: In a hydrogen-powered automobile, the hydrogen gasoline saved within the storage tank is transported to the gasoline cell, the place it reacts chemically with the battery to supply electrical energy, which powers the motor to drive the automobile.
Q: Are hydrogen-powered autos in use in Hong Kong?
A: In early 2024, Hong Kong’s first hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus (Citybus route 20) entered service, and there are plans to check 3 hydrogen fuel-cell avenue sweepers by the top of the 12 months.