Is a World Without Smog Possible? Experts Say Yes.
Imagine living in a world where semi-trucks rolling down the freeway no longer emit smelly, black exhaust smoke into the atmosphere–pollution that more heavily impacts lower-income neighborhoods that border the interstates. Wouldn’t it be ideal for long-haul truckers to enjoy smooth rides as they traverse the thousands of miles on their routes every year while breathing in clean, zero-emission air? These scenarios are achievable and represent the reality we’ll see as hydrogen fuel becomes more readily available throughout the United States.
Will hydrogen fuel cell vehicles become mainstream?
Many consumers are aware of a current “battle” between alternative fuel solutions, namely plug-in electric batteries versus hydrogen fuel cells. The truth is, both green energy solutions are good, yet each one provides different benefits for vehicle drivers. For consumers, particularly those currently residing in Southern California, the choice of driving a hydrogen fuel cell versus plug-in electric vehicle yields similar benefits. However, for commercial vehicles and mass transportation units, the differences are dramatic.
While drivers of hydrogen-powered commercial cars notice considerably more “get up and go” power than similar plug-in electric vehicles, this additional power that hydrogen fuel cells provide is essential to commercial vehicle drivers. Another difference is the size and weight requirement of the battery units. Electric batteries would add up to a third of the load to a freight vehicle’s weight. Lastly, electric vehicles require time for charging–valuable time that commercial vehicle operators
don’t have. Refilling a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is almost identical to filling a diesel truck.
In fact, many communities across America have been using hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for their bus transportation and utility truck fleets for a long time. Drivers, maintenance crews, riders, and community members all report strong positive support for the technology. With continued development, experts believe that hydrogen fuel can replace the 44.6 billion gallons of diesel used by the transportation sector each year.
What does the future hold for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles?
Interest in hydrogen-powered vehicles is growing, and a group of researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory created a consortium dedicated to developing hydrogen fuel cells for commercial uses. Members of the consortium represent a wide range of public and corporate partners, including Ford and General Motors, 3M, Advent Technologies, Georgia Tech, and the University of Tennessee. Some of our countries top scientists from national laboratories are heading up the efforts with assistance from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
The consortium has their work cut out for them. Their goal is to create a fuel cell with a lifespan of one million miles. It may be a pretty audacious goal, but the team keeps it in the forefront of the minds by naming their project “The Million-Mile Fuel Cell Truck.” Best of all, the team believes this technology will be available in the near term, not some distant pipedream for decades down the road.
The only hurdle in the way of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles becoming mainstream is infrastructure. That’s where PowerTap Hydrogen comes in. PowerTap Hydrogen gives fuel station owners the ability to generate fuel on-site with a small footprint and reasonable investment.
Don’t you want your business to be ready for the future of transportation?
The Andretti Group and PowerTap Hydrogen allow fuel station owners to produce hydrogen fuel on-site, with a production unit taking up less than 1,000 square feet of space. Our units can produce over 1,250 kg of pure hydrogen each day using only city water, natural gas, and electricity. With PowerTap Hydrogen, it’s possible to produce fuel at less than $2 per kilogram–that’s about $9 to $11 less than purchasing hydrogen fuel from a wholesaler or creating it onsite via alternative solutions.
It’s only a matter of time until a portion of your customers will need hydrogen fuel. If you’re interested in diversifying your current product mix or would like to begin a journey in the exciting future of alternative energy solutions, contact our team at the Andretti Group today. We’d love to show you how easy it is to be a part of the hydrogen fuel revolution.