This depends on the battery and the type of charging station that is being used, but generally-speaking the range and refuelling times make long-distance driving in an electric car more difficult than with hydrogen or traditional combustion engines. Possibly the largest drawback with electric cars is the range compared to the amount of time it takes to recharge. Cons of Hydrogen and Electric Carsĭespite the advantages afforded by electric and hydrogen cars, there are a number of drawbacks with both types of vehicle, although these can, and are, being addressed by industry. Hydrogen have range extender fuel cells that deliver ranges of over 350 kilometres and charge times of just 5-10 minutes. Hydrogen cars are also much faster to refuel than electric cars, while also offering greater ranges than electric vehicles.
While the process to produce hydrogen gas can be complex, it is the most abundant element in the universe, meaning that hydrogen is a renewable fuel source. Hydrogen cars provide many similar benefits as electric cars, including the all-important lack of polluting emissions. The UK also offers grants towards the purchase and installation of domestic charging points.Įlectric vehicles are also cheaper than hydrogen powered cars, while the cost of recharging is also less during off-peak grid times, making electric vehicles a good long-term investment.Įlectric cars run silently and produce no exhaust fumes, meaning that there is no noise or air pollution, while they also consume no energy when stationary.Įlectric motors are also reliable due to the lack of moving mechanical parts (when compared to combustion engines).
Governments around the world have been investing in infrastructure such as charging stations at existing petrol stations and motorway rest stops, shopping centre car parks and even on the side of some streets. The infrastructure for electric cars is more advanced than that for hydrogen-powered vehicles. There are a number of pros for both electric and hydrogen cars, which relate to the technologies themselves as well as the support and availability of each type of vehicle. Hydrogen fuel cell cars, also known as fuel cell electric vehicles, are refuelled with hydrogen at specific service stations that contain pressurised tanks of the natural gas. The electricity powers the motor while the harmless water vapour is released into the atmosphere. Hydrogen cars also contain an electric motor, which is fuelled by hydrogen fuel cells which allows hydrogen to react with oxygen to create the chemical production of electricity and water vapour. Some types of electric car can also provide themselves with a small recharge when braking by converting the heat that is produced into electricity. The batteries are recharged by plugging into the electricity grid, much as with any other electrical device, such as a computer or telephone. In order to compare the two types of vehicle it is worth understanding how each of the technologies works.Īn electric car is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which supplies power to a motor to power the various parts of the vehicle.
National Structural Integrity Research Centre.Structural Integrity Research Foundation.
0 kommentar(er)
