What is a Hydrogen Energy Vehicle?
1 Answers
Hydrogen energy vehicles, as the name suggests, are vehicles that use hydrogen as their energy source, converting the chemical energy generated by hydrogen reactions into mechanical energy to propel the vehicle. Hydrogen energy vehicles are divided into two types: one is hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles, which use internal combustion engines to burn hydrogen (usually obtained through methane decomposition or water electrolysis) to generate power to drive the vehicle. The other is hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, where hydrogen or hydrogen-containing substances react with oxygen in the air within the fuel cell to generate electricity that drives an electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. Advantages of hydrogen energy vehicles: excellent combustion performance, quick ignition, a wide flammable range when mixed with air, high ignition point, and fast combustion speed; they rely on a new energy source that is abundant and not dependent on fossil fuels; high calorific value, with hydrogen's calorific value being the highest among all fossil fuels, chemical fuels, and biofuels, except for nuclear fuel. Disadvantages of hydrogen energy vehicles: as a new automotive energy source, hydrogen can only be used in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with the biggest drawback being the high cost of fuel cells. Principle of hydrogen energy vehicles: hydrogen energy vehicles use hydrogen as the primary energy source for mobility. Traditional internal combustion engines typically use diesel or gasoline, while hydrogen vehicles use gaseous hydrogen. Fuel cells and electric motors replace conventional engines, i.e., hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen can replace petroleum as a fuel, with its combustion products being water and small amounts of nitrogen oxides, causing minimal air pollution. Hydrogen can be produced in large quantities from water electrolysis and coal gasification, and it does not require major modifications to automotive engines, giving hydrogen energy vehicles broad application prospects.
