Hydrogen mobility

How to shape the future of mobility?

After the Dieselgate scandal, many cities such as Paris, Madrid, Oslo, Athens and Mexico have announced their intention to ban thermal engines. Hydrogen mobility could be the solution. By 2030, the market share of hybrid or electric vehicles is expected to increase from 1% to 30%. By 2035, 450 million electric cars will be on the market. For now, global hydrogen consumption is still low, less than 2% of global energy. But according to the Hydrogen Council, this consumption could reach 25% by 2050.

01. Benefits

Advantages and benefits of hydrogen

The prospects for the hydrogen economy are good. It could play a major role in the energy transition since it has a high energy efficiency, emits no pollutants locally and can contribute to massively reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Zero emission: the only emission from a fuel cell vehicle using hydrogen is water steam. Hydrogen is thus a clean fuel for cars without emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
  • Fast refuelling: hydrogen charging stations are quite similar to the traditional filling stations. As hydrogen vehicles don’t need to be plugged in to charge - unlike battery powered electric cars - the process of refuelling is quick.
  • Long driving range: fuel-cell vehicles also have a longer range than battery powered electric cars. They now have a range of 500 to 800 km.

02. Definition

What is hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in the universe. It is a simple, gaseous body that enters into the composition of water. It's not a direct source of energy but rather an energy carrier. It serves primarily as a means of storing energy, especially for renewable energy when all their production can not be consumed. It can also be used to produce energy, to power hybrid vehicles or autonomous energy production systems. The heat produced during the hydrogen production process can also be used locally to heat buildings for example.

03. Solutions

Hydrogen mobility solutions

The Solar Impulse Label is granted to innovative solutions for hydrogen mobility that meet high standards of sustainability and profitability. Each solution goes through a strict assessment process performed by independent experts.

HyLighter
Sep 2024

HyLighter

Automated airships for long range and precise inspections for safe infrastructure management

  • Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods
HydroSil
Jun 2019

HydroSil

A unique liquid carrier facilitating the transport and storage of hydrogen

  • Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
  • Mobility
Eco H2
Apr 2024

Eco H2

A process to produce renewable H2 from carbon-based materials

  • Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
AEROPAK G
Nov 2018

AEROPAK G

Ultralight fuel cells and hydrogen energy storage for electric-powered aircraft

  • Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods
  • Mobility
View more

04. Implementations

Hydrogen mobility solutions implementations

Green Hydrogen Mobility by HYPE implemented by Enhywhere in Paris (France) in 2023

Green Hydrogen Mobility by HYPE implemented by Vinci Concessions in Paris (France) in 2024

Electric-Hydrogen Propulsion by GreenGT implemented by Migros Geneva in Geneva (Switzerland) in 2023

Electrolyser station by Atawey implemented by Hympulsion in Chambéry (France) in 2020

Hydrogen Power Module by Genevos implemented by Orkney Ferry in Kirkwall (United Kingdom) in 2021

HydroSil by HSL Technologies implemented by Port of Amsterdam, Evos, Electriq Global, Hydrogenious in Amsterdam (Netherlands) in 2021

05. Challenges

Challenges & disadvantages

  1. Polluting production process: today, most hydrogen is produced in a conventional way, resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels, which releases a large amount of CO2. The main challenge is therefore to produce hydrogen using renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels. This is the huge step towards green hydrogen that needs to be taken.
  2. Lack of charging stations: there are only few charging stations in the world. Even if some governments have the will and invest in the construction of hydrogen charging stations, the demand is still low and these terminals do not generate enough profit for the moment.
  3. Costly and highly inflammable: compared with the production of hydrogen from natural gas, the production of hydrogen through renewable energies is very expensive and less efficient. Moreover, huge investments in lithium-ion battery technology are rapidly driving down the price of this segment of electric vehicles.

This causes a decline in the prices of conventional electric cars compared to electric hydrogen cars.In addition, hydrogen remains extremely explosive. It must be stored and transported under pressure in bulky containers. This poses problems of security, logistics and profitability that still hinder its use.

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pauline.michiels@solarimpulse.com