Imagine pulling up to a fuel station where, instead of pumping gas, you're filling your tank with hydrogen. Zero emissions, just clean energy ready to go. Sounds like the future, right? Well, the reality is, that the future is already here.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles are on the road, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional gas-powered cars.
The US has around 17,000 hydrogen vehicles operating on its roads. Sadly, the country has just 59 retail hydrogen stations to refuel those vehicles. Do you see the problem? There simply aren’t enough hydrogen fuel stations to keep up with the growing demand.
If the US wants to lead in clean energy, it's time to rev up investment in hydrogen infrastructure, and here’s why.
The human race has managed to make some amazing strides toward electric vehicles (EVs), and there’s no doubt about that. However, no matter how far we go with EVs, we’ll always have room for more green options in the transportation sector. Right now, everyone is looking at hydrogen cars to take up space in this sector.
The thing about hydrogen-powered cars is that like EVs, they produce zero emissions, but, at the same time, they come with their own advantages. For instance, hydrogen vehicles take just mere minutes to refuel. EVs, however, often require lengthy charging times.
Now, despite this mega advantage, driving a hydrogen car in the US feels like playing hide and seek with fuel stations. It’s funny to think about it, but it’s also sad, given how few hydrogen stations we have. With only a handful scattered across a few states, it’s clear that we’re not making it easy for these cars to become mainstream.
Investing in more hydrogen fuel stations would not only solve this issue but also help diversify our clean energy options. More stations mean more accessibility, and more accessibility means more people willing to switch from traditional fuel-guzzlers to hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Hydrogen storage is an essential part of any hydrogen infrastructure, including fueling stations. Traditional storage technologies based on compression or liquefaction are expensive and can raise safety concerns due to the handling of hydrogen at high pressures or extremely low temperatures.
Luckily enough, new technologies are rising to address these challenges. For example, solutions based on solid-state materials (such as Metal Hydrides and MOFs) can offer a valid alternative to pressurized or cryogenic tanks.
According to H2MOF, solid-state technology can provide efficient hydrogen storage at low pressure and ambient temperature, thus mitigating safety concerns associated with traditional methods. Innovations like this will likely support the increasing adoption of hydrogen, making it easier for hydrogen fuel stations to become more widespread across the country.
Don’t get us wrong, electric vehicles are fantastic and we love them. After all, EVs played a huge role in our shift toward cleaner energy. That being said, you can’t place all your bets on EVs alone. It’ll be like putting all your money on one horse in a race with so many other capable contenders, including one powered by hydrogen.
Now, a hydrogen-powered horse is not real, but hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) are. These FCEVs also offer something that EVs just can’t match: a longer range and shorter refueling times.
If you enjoy long road trips, you know the pain of having to stop and charge your EV for half an hour mid-journey. FCEVs, on the other hand, can be refueled in about the same time it takes to fill up a regular car with gas.
More options mean more competitive pricing and better technology for everyone.
The world is already moving towards hydrogen in a big way. Japan has been pouring investments into hydrogen fuel stations and infrastructure for years, positioning itself as the global leader in the clean energy movement. If the US doesn’t follow suit, we risk being left behind in this critical area of innovation.
By investing in hydrogen fuel stations now, the US can establish itself as a leader in clean energy technology. The country can then attract international investments and foster job creation in green tech sectors.
The time to invest in hydrogen fuel stations is now. Not next year, not ten years down the road – right now. As hydrogen storage systems become safer and more efficient, the barriers to widespread hydrogen adoption are falling away. Also, with hydrogen fuel cells offering a fast, reliable, zero-emission alternative to gasoline and EVs, there’s no reason not to expand our hydrogen infrastructure.
The US has the opportunity to diversify its clean energy portfolio by investing in more hydrogen fuel stations, and it must take it diligently.
