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Assuming hydrogen engines become viable, does hydrogen have any feasible distribution mechanism comparable to electricity? With the rollout of EVs, charging sta
by tersers 4y ago
Assuming hydrogen engines become viable, does hydrogen have any feasible distribution mechanism comparable to electricity? With the rollout of EVs, charging stations can be placed pretty much anywhere but we can’t say the same for hydrogen. Are we assuming existing gas stations can be converted or Will natural gas distribution improve to allow people to fill up at home?
- davidkuennen 4y agoThis is the biggest argument for me why EVs are the superior technology. Thinking further with renewable energies, heat pumps and more, soon we'd only need infrastructure for electricity and internet.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- ChrisMarshallNY 4y agoFrom what I Understand, hydrogen is fiendishly difficult to transmit. It can be stored OK, but getting it from Point A, to Point B, is difficult, because of the small atoms. Couplings tend to leak like hell.
- etrautmann 4y agoYep, hydrogen is so small it can diffuse through most solids and find the tiniest of gaps, and it requires high pressure or cryo double walled storage. Very cool if it can be made to work though!
- littlestymaar 4y agoThe distribution mechanism for electric vehicles isn't a solved problem either though: during holidays, with millions of people driving their cars on the highways, we're going to need really beefy charging stations with electric power supply comparable to small cities, and that means building lots of infrastructure that doesn't exist yet. This isn't a theoretical problem (we know exactly what to do), but is a serious practical one.
- yrgulation 4y agoPetrol stations. There are a few available in the uk. Sadly i could only find one hybrid car for sale, a toyota mirai.
- _hypx 4y agoIt’s basically the same idea as natural gas. Pressure is higher and you need to be more careful with material compatibility. But otherwise everything is the same in principle. Ultimately, it’s pretty laughable to think that a society capable of making modern semiconductors cannot figure out basic material science. People who keep bringing these issues up are not debating in good faith.
- taylodl 4y agoYouTube's Engineering Explained channel took a close look at the hydrogen engine Toyota recently unveiled and in doing so explained a lot of problems you can expect with hydrogen engines - including distribution and storage issues. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJjKwSF9gT8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJjKwSF9gT8