Kyle Beggs Professor Wolcott ENC 1102 24 March 2013 Why Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles are the

Fuel of the Future: Literature Review The Earth is running out of fossil fuels at a rate in which this generations college students would see our supply completely exhausted in their lifetimes. Currently, we are tapping out the fuel source that is necessary for everyday functions, depleting the O-Zone layer, and consequently harming our environment and ourselves. It has been widely advertised that this is not a possibility, but a reality if the world continues to run on such toxic and inefficient energy sources. This is evident by the enormous going green effort across the globe, which currently includes the recent release of battery electric vehicles (EVs) such as the Chevrolet Volt and Tesla Model S. This is mainly due to the fact that the battery-powered concept is not new to the consumer base. Before now, hydrogen power had never been marketed in a way that was readily accessible to the public, and as a result, people seem afraid or distanced from the concept, causing hesitation of support even though extensive research has proved that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are the best choice for the next generation of automobiles. Because of this reluctance, auto manufacturers are disinclined to produce them, opting instead towards the more marketable EVs.

When contemplating why we should make the switch to hydrogen, one might ask, Is it really the best choice? Is it the most efficient, and does it produce the least amount of greenhouses gases (GHGs)? Similarly, when comparing the different fuel options, it is important to consider the entire process, from harvesting the energy, to refining it, and then actually using it. This train of thought is called the Wells to Wheels process (WTW). Fuel cell vehicles prove to be the most environmental friendly because they emit only water as a byproduct from driving. However, producing and then transporting the hydrogen to fuel stations also requires energy input and consequently the release of GHGs. Is this process also more efficient or does it cancel out the gains from actually using the vehicle? Depending on the geography of the area, different methods of manufacturing hydrogen prove to be more efficient than manufacturing gasoline or producing electricity for the battery electric vehicles. (Hwang, Pereira). Is it safe? When hearing the word Hydrogen, many people assume a level of danger especially knowing there is a risk of fire and explosion of the fuel tank. Some may also assume that because hydrogen is a gas, it could leak into the inside of the vehicle and suffocate them. For some, this uneasiness gives reason to cross FCVs off of the list of potential fuels of the future. To assess the probability of these things happening, engineers used computer models to simulate and analyze them. During crashes, fuel tanks often rupture causing leaks. There is no stopping this because creating a tank that is indestructible simply isnt realistic. To solve this problem, a computer model was created and pinpointed where the hydrogen would collect inside the vehicle if a crash were to occur. A simple fix to this problem is to install sensors and a ventilation system so that if hydrogen were to leak inside, the ventilation system would turn on and expel it (Felipe). The major safety concern, however, is the possibility of the explosion of

the leaking hydrogen tank because of exposure to fire after a crash. After completing both a computer simulation and a real-life experiment, researchers concluded that the conditions would have to be absolutely perfect for an absolutely destructive explosion. The risk of this proved to be no higher than the risks you take on a daily basis (SC James). Another factor affecting peoples transition into FVCs is not only concern about its safety and efficiency, but also its price tag. Hydrogen would be competitively priced based off of the price per unit of hydrogen and the efficiency of it (Hwang). Economists report that we are ready for the transition, and a premium would be placed on the vehicle cost for only about 6 years until it receives backing from the full consumer base (Adamson). An entire infrastructure for producing and transporting the hydrogen could be up and running completely within the next 10 years, and when that is complete, the price of hydrogen would come down to that projected competitive price (Pastowski). When it comes to picking a fuel of the future, hydrogen is the obvious choice. The hesitation in the transition and reasoning for the push of battery electric vehicles is due to the fact that the public simply does not know about it and the few that do have pre-conceived notions of danger. Making this possibility a reality is a matter of translating the information to the consumer market. Even though everything else is in place (or easily could be in just a few years) the public needs to be introduced, educated, and comfortable with FCVs in order for them to ever become the fuel of the future.

Works Cited Adamson, Kerry-Ann. "Calculating The Price Trajectory Of Adoption Of Fuel Cell Vehicles." International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy 30.4 (2005): 341-350. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. Felipe Rosa, et al. "Safety Study Of A Hydrogen Leak In A Fuel Cell Vehicle Using Computational Fluid Dynamics." International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy 37.6 (2012): 52995306. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. Hwang, Jenn-Jiang. "Sustainability Study Of Hydrogen Pathways For Fuel Cell Vehicle Applications." Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 19.(2013): 220-229. GreenFILE. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. Pastowski, Andreas, and Thomas Grube. "Scope And Perspectives Of Industrial Hydrogen Production And Infrastructure For Fuel Cell Vehicles In North Rhine-Westphalia." Energy Policy 38.10 (2010): 5382-5387. GreenFILE. Web. 11 Mar. 2013. Pereira, Srgio Ramos, and Margarida C. Coelho. "Life Cycle Analysis Of Hydrogen A Well-ToWheels Analysis For Portugal." International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy 38.5 (2013): 2029-2038. Academic Search Premier. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. SC James, et al. Releases From Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles In Tunnels International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy. 37.1 (n.d.): 715-719. Science Citation Index. Web. 24 Feb. 2013.