The planet’s health is at the forefront of nearly everyone’s mind. Environmental conservation organizations set global sustainability goals to minimize climate change, and countries are evaluating their largest pollution-producing sectors to find sustainable solutions.

One of the largest polluters is the automotive industry. Environmentalists are advancing clean fuel technologies to reduce transportation emissions in this sector, which generates surface-level and atmospheric pollution worldwide.

Scientists are assessing hydrogen fuel cells’ compatibility with personal and public transportation processes. New technological breakthroughs in hydrogen production could expand the sector and make the Earth a bit cleaner.

Challenges in the Oil and Gas Market

Gas prices continue to rise as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues. Russia supplies many countries with oil and gas, and the conflict in Ukraine utilizes nearly 3 million barrels of oil every day. This leaves less of a supply for the rest of the world. Some countries, like the U.S., stopped purchasing gas from Russia out of solidarity with Ukraine. Limited fuel supplies are increasing global prices.

People are struggling to fund their transportation needs as prices increase. They are searching for alternative transportation methods to minimize financial stress. Many eco-consumers are investing in electric vehicles (EVs) for environmental and economic reasons.

EVs produce zero emissions and do not rely on fossil fuels. However, some individuals predict challenges in the industry and are looking at hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as alternatives. Diversifying the clean transportation sector can help regions meet sustainability goals. 

Sustainability Issues With EVs

Eco-consumers are turning to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to minimize EV pollution. One of the indirect forms of contamination comes from electricity sourcing. Conventional level two EVs use 7.2 kilowatts of electricity for each charge.

Most EV electricity sources produce greenhouse gas emissions, which impact their carbon footprints. Nearly 80% of the global power supply comes from coal, oil and other fossil fuels. EVs may produce zero direct emissions, but they still have sizable indirect carbon footprints.

Another sustainability limitation of EVs is their batteries’ materials. EVs rely on lithium to store electricity and power their trips, but mining harms the environment. Miners pollute natural water sources and blow-up mountainsides to acquire lithium.

It is also difficult to recycle and replace EV batteries. Most lithium-ion batteries contribute to electronic waste (e-waste).

Pure Compressed Hydrogen

Environmentalists are increasing hydrogen production to minimize society’s EV reliance. They discovered a method that generates compressed hydrogen through a Caustic Aqueous Phase Electrochemical Reforming (CAPER) procedure.

CAPER is a production breakthrough in the clean transportation sector. It converts aqueous-phase ethanol into high-purity, high-pressure hydrogen. This technique is sustainable because the caustic electrolyte solution captures and processes any greenhouse gas emissions.

The CAPER process intensifies hydrogen development for compression and purification. Producing clean fuel with ethanol, water and electricity is more sustainable than fossil fuel power. Ethanol creates about 87% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuel sources.

Advanced hydrogen production processes increase clean fuels’ compatibility with fueling stations. Professionals can make hydrogen at fueling stations using the CAPER model.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

Environmental engineers developed fuel cell vehicles to increase transportation sustainability. The cars rely on hydrogen to power their electric motors, which process hydrogen and oxygen, producing electricity directly under the hood.

Fuel cell vehicles are more sustainable than gas-powered cars because they release water and heat as byproducts. They also generate zero tailpipe emissions, which shrinks the transportation sector’s carbon footprint. Drivers can refill their hydrogen-powered vehicles’ tanks in 10 minutes or less.

Currently, drivers must visit designated hydrogen refueling stations to power their fuel cell vehicles. The CAPER advancements could increase these cars’ compatibility with the conventional transportation system. Adding fuel cell vehicles to the transportation sector could significantly reduce emissions and e-waste.

Fuel cell cars do not use lithium-ion batteries. They also produce clean water through transit instead of greenhouse gas emissions. Expanding the global hydrogen supply may diversify the transportation sector and improve sustainability.

Hydrogen Storage Technologies

Another hydrogen advancement supporting the fuel cell vehicle market is storage systems. Storing hydrogen for future uses is essential as the industry grows. One startup in Australia is producing and storing clean hydrogen using large-scale batteries.

“Solar sponge” batteries rely on renewable sources to acquire electricity. They directly connect to solar panels and move energy through a hybrid inverter. A direct current converter moves electricity through an electrolyzer, which converts solar power into hydrogen.

Sponges move hydrogen through fuel cells as the electricity demand increases, and energy professionals can also store hydrogen and renewable energy in them. The storage system may increase the power sector’s support for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

It also supports renewable energy’s compatibility with hydrogen production. Increasing solar power supplies may help regions meet their renewable energy production goals.

Environmental Benefits of Hydrogen-Fueled Transportation

Different hydrogen production methods have unique environmental impacts. Three major types of hydrogen can support fuel cell vehicles, the most common of which is gray hydrogen.

Gray hydrogen is the least sustainable type on the color palette. It comes from a steam methane reformation process, which releases 7 kilograms (kg) of carbon for each kg of hydrogen.

Another common hydrogen form is blue hydrogen. It’s created with fossil fuels, which produce greenhouse gas emissions. The manufacturers capture and store emissions to reduce environmental impacts.

Green hydrogen is the most sustainable type since it comes from renewable energy sources and has the smallest carbon footprint. The CAPER process can use sustainable power to produce green hydrogen supplies. Powering fuel cell vehicles with green hydrogen is more eco-friendly than other transportation options.

Hydrogen Production and Economic Impacts

Adding fuel cell vehicles to the transportation sector has economic benefits. Regions can use hydrogen cars and generators to minimize limitations during power outages. Using hydrogen as a backup power source during blackouts prevents financial losses.

American businesses lose nearly $150 billion each year from power outages. Relying on alternative energy sources can prevent interference. Green hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles can also avoid price changes from political influences.

More Hydrogen Is Needed to Support Transportation

Current hydrogen supplies are minimal and unable to support fuel cell vehicle expansion. Increasing the global hydrogen supply would increase the transportation sector’s compatibility with eco-friendly vehicles. The power sector can also use the CAPER process to create more clean hydrogen.

Increasing the number of fuel cell vehicles on the road may significantly improve environmental conservation. Eliminating tailpipe emissions can protect the global ecosystem and human health, and hydrogen fuel cells could be the answer.