Urja Khabar
Kathmandu : The energy-focused column "Urja Gyan", published every Friday by Urja Khabar, this week explores vehicles powered by green hydrogen. Last week, we provided insights into electric vehicles, highlighting their benefits and drawbacks.
1. Hydrogen Vehicle:
In this vehicle, an electric motor is used instead of the conventional engine. The crucial difference is in the manner that the motor is powered. This car utilizes a special machine known as a fuel cell to generate electricity using hydrogen and oxygen, which in turn powers the motor. Such a vehicle is called a fuel cell vehicle (FCV).
Into the future: In future, especially through to 2040, the electric vehicle market is likely to continue an upward trend in growth. After that, fuel cell vehicles ( FCVs) may be more pronounced, particularly for use in larger vehicles like buses. In the years to come, it would not be surprising to see the development of even more efficient fuels; it is too early to say for sure. However, the indicator for fossil fuel-powered cars does not look good, primarily because of air pollution concern.
2. Advantage of Hydrogen Vehicle:
• Zero Emissions (FCEVs): The main argument is that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are green because they only emit water vapor, and the fact that they are a key option for reducing greenhouse gases.
• Quick Refueling: The quick refueling of hydrogen vehicles for 3-5 minutes similar to other traditional gasoline or diesel vehicles gives them an edge on the long queuing times when charging BEVs.
• Long Driving Range: They are usually the longer range than BEVs and a lot of versions are already capable of exceeding 300 miles on one fill-up.
• Energy Efficiency: Fuel Cells turn chemical energy directly into electricity so they are way more efficient than internal combustion engines that waste so much energy in the burning process.
• Reduced Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Hydrogen can be formed from renewal resources helping to lower the dependence on oil and natural gas.
• Silent Operation: Along with BEVs, FCEVs run in muffled noise and thus decrease noise pollution.
• Versatility Across Sectors: Hydrogen-powered cars, in particular, are a good fit for heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, buses, and trains that have weight and range technology constraints.
3. Disadvantage of Hydrogen Vechicle:
• Infrastructure Limitations: Hydrogen refuelling stations are few and far between, especially in comparison with gasoline or charging networks for electric cars.
• High Production Costs: When it comes to manufacturing hydrogen vehicles and fuel cells are now even more costly than BEVs or traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
• Hydrogen Production Challenges: Most hydrogen today is produced from natural gas, which produces CO2 and defeats the environmental benefits that make it worthwhile. Green hydrogen production (via electrolysis) is both costly.
• Storage and Distribution Problems: Hydrogen is a low-density gas which requires high-pressure tanks and often cryogenic storage. This adds complexity and cost as well as risk.
• Energy losses in production: Electrolyzed hydrogen produces electricity from hydrogen again, which means that energy losses will prevent it from being as cost effective and widely applicable as standard batteries.
• Safety Hazards: Hydrogen is very flammable, requiring advanced safety measures for storage, transportation and use so modern systems, though finely designed to ward off any danger chances.
• Competition for BEVs: Today, the rapid development of battery technology and charging infrastructure makes BEVs a strong competitor which could very well overshadow hydrogen vehicles within the passenger car market.
• Limited Model Range: There are fewer hydrogen vehicle models available compared to BEVs or gasoline-powered vehicles, which limits consumer choice.
Multiple-choice QAs
1. What should be done to reduce electricity consumption at home?
(a) Use ordinary bulbs
(b) Use CFL lamps
(c) Use tube lights
(d) Use LED lights
Answer: Use LED lights
2. How should batteries be connected to increase voltage?
(a) Parallel
(b) Series-parallel
(c) Series
(d) None of these
Answer: Series
3. What does power factor depend on?
(a) Frequency
(b) Voltage
(c) Load
(d) Current
Answer: Load
4. Two batteries having unequal emf:
(a) can not be connected in series.
(b) can not be connected in parallel.
(c) can be connected in parallel only.
(d) can be connected in series only.
Answer: can be connected in series only.
5. The energy capacity of storage battery rated in
(a) Kwh
(b) Kw
(c) Ampre Hour
(d) Joules
Answer: Ampre Hour
6. The conductors of overhead line are
(a) Solid
(b) Stranded
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) None of them
Answer: both (a) and (b)
7. The rating of fuse is expressed in term of
(a) Volt
(b) Ampre
(c) VAR
(d) KVA
Answer: Ampre
