What fuel is used in hydrogen-powered car engines?
3 Answers
Hydrogen-powered car engines actually come in two types: hydrogen-fueled engines and fuel cell engines. Engines that use pure hydrogen fuel or hydrogen-blended fuel both belong to the hydrogen-fueled engine category. By making corresponding modifications to current gasoline engines, they can be adapted to burn hydrogen, offering strong practicality. Moreover, hydrogen can either premix with air before entering the cylinder or be directly injected into the cylinder to form a combustible mixture. The other type, fuel cell engines, primarily consist of components such as the fuel cell stack, engine controller, hydrogen supply system, and air supply system. Their core lies in the fuel cell engine system, which is crucial for the vehicle's operational safety and significantly impacts whether fuel cell vehicles demonstrate mature and reliable performance. Hydrogen-fueled cars use hydrogen as their primary energy source for propulsion. The greatest advantage of using hydrogen as an energy source is its reaction with oxygen in the air, producing water vapor as exhaust, effectively reducing the air pollution issues caused by traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use pure hydrogen as fuel, which I'm particularly passionate about learning. The hydrogen is stored in high-pressure tanks and then fed into the fuel cell to react with oxygen, generating electricity to power the electric motor. The entire process is super efficient because the only emission is water vapor, with absolutely no harmful gases. I've test-driven several models, and refueling takes just a few minutes, similar to traditional gasoline refueling, with a range exceeding 500 kilometers. Some models use hydrogen internal combustion engines that directly burn hydrogen to power the engine, but fuel cells are more mainstream. Hydrogen can be produced through electrolysis of water using renewable energy, such as solar-powered hydrogen plants, achieving a closed-loop, eco-friendly system. However, challenges lie in storage safety and maintaining high-pressure systems, given that hydrogen molecules are small and prone to leakage. I believe this technology is still evolving and may replace petroleum in the future.
The fuel for hydrogen-powered vehicles is pure hydrogen, let me discuss it from an environmental perspective. As someone who cares about the planet, I really appreciate this zero-emission design—hydrogen combustion or electrochemical reactions only produce water, unlike gasoline vehicles that release a bunch of pollutants. Hydrogen can be produced using solar or wind energy, reducing carbon footprints and helping combat climate change. The driving experience is quiet and smooth, with good acceleration response, making it convenient for daily use. However, the key is sustainable hydrogen production, and currently, the infrastructure is insufficient, with few hydrogen refueling stations limiting travel. In the long run, government investment in expansion can make it more widespread. I believe promoting hydrogen energy is very beneficial for improving air quality.
