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The 2024 Paris Olympics claims to chop carbon emissions by 50% in comparison with the 2012 London Olympics. Along with offering vegan meals for athletes and never utilizing air-con within the athletes’ village, the occasion has adopted Toyota’s zero-emission hydrogen-powered car (additionally known as hydrogen fuel-cell car or HFCV), the Mirai, because the official car of the video games. Nevertheless, some students have identified that present HFCVs should not truly eco-friendly. Who is true? On this Kwiksure article, we clarify the position of HFCVs on the Paris Olympics, and the adoption of such automobiles in Hong Kong.
Low Carbon Olympics
To attain carbon emissions discount objectives, the Paris Olympics use 500 Mirai HFCVs supplied by Toyota as Olympic automobiles, transporting athletes, workers, volunteers and others from numerous nations in the course of the Olympics and Paralympics. Along with the Mirai, Toyota has additionally deployed its most eco-friendly low-carbon fashions, together with pure electrical automobiles (EVs), plug-in hybrids, and hybrids. After the Olympics, the Mirai vehicles shall be remodeled right into a hydrogen-powered taxi fleet in Paris.
Nevertheless, not way back 120 scientists, engineers, and students from universities akin to Cambridge and Oxford issued a public enchantment calling upon the Paris Olympics to withdraw the Mirai because the official car of the Video games. The reason being that at present, as a lot as 96% of the hydrogen used is produced from fossil fuels akin to methane, which additionally produce large portions of carbon emissions within the conversion course of, making it even much less eco-friendly than EVs. Nevertheless, Toyota acknowledged that the hydrogen gas used on the Paris Olympics is derived from renewable sources akin to water and natural supplies.
What are Hydrogen-powered Automobiles?
Hydrogen is a chemical ingredient and a part in lots of pure compounds, together with water. Many individuals imagine that hydrogen-powered vehicles use hydrogen gasoline as a gasoline substitute. Nevertheless, that is an oversimplification.
In a hydrogen-powered automotive, the hydrogen gasoline saved within the storage tank is transported to the gas cell, the place it reacts chemically with the battery to supply electrical energy, which powers the motor to drive the automotive–thus the title ‘hydrogen fuel-cell automobiles’ or HFCVs. HFCVs mix the traits of conventional gasoline vehicles and electrical vehicles. You possibly can consider the hydrogen as gasoline and the gas cell because the engine cylinders, with their mixture producing {the electrical} energy that drives the motor.
Within the course of, solely water and warmth are produced, with out producing polluting gasses or substances the best way gasoline vehicles do. Furthermore, a couple of minutes’ value of refueling is sufficient to energy the car for lots of of kilometers. All these make hydrogen probably the most eco-friendly and possible car gas.
Shortcomings of Hydrogen as a Gasoline
Hydrogen gasoline is corrosive and extremely flammable, and this makes its transportation tough and dear, leading to a really sluggish price of improve within the variety of refueling stations. Primarily based on knowledge from Taiwan’s Automotive Analysis and Testing Heart, as of the tip of 2023, there have been solely 921 hydrogen refueling stations globally, and so they had been primarily present in Germany, South Korea, and Japan. Moreover, since their manufacturing is small in scale and includes guide steps, hydrogen gas cells are expensive to fabricate. One more essential side is the hydrogen storage tank, which takes up a big quantity of area. For automobiles with comparatively restricted area, that may be one other problem.
Introducing 4 Hydrogen-powered Automobiles
Toyota Mirai
Because the launch of the primary technology in 2014, Toyota has been actively growing hydrogen-powered automobiles and launched the second-generation Mirai in 2020. The brand new technology makes use of the TNGA-L platform, and produces 182 ps of energy and 300 Nm of torque. The automotive has 3 hydrogen storage tanks for a complete quantity of 141 liters, which is sweet for a most vary of about 650 km. The refueling might be accomplished in 5 minutes. It’s value mentioning that in August 2022, Toyota managed to drag 1,360 km from only one tank of hydrogen, setting a Guinness World Report.
Hyundai Nexo
Following the ix35 and Tucson, Nexo is Hyundai’s third HFCV, persevering with the SUV fashion custom. The Nexo has a most energy of 161 ps and most torque of 395 Nm. The automotive has a gas storage capability of 156 liters and a spread of about 611 km. When it comes to gear, the automotive includes a digital instrument panel, blind-spot picture show, central display, and extra, which make the automotive fairly superior for a product launched in 2018. The producer has additionally introduced {that a} new technology Nexo shall be unveiled subsequent 12 months, which we count on will supply much more options and even higher efficiency.
Honda CR-V e:FCEV
Honda formally introduced its first hydrogen-powered car, the CR-V e:FCEV, earlier this 12 months. The brand new automotive is predicated on the sixth technology CR-V, and is the primary mannequin within the North American market to mix hydrogen gas cells and plug-in hybrid expertise. The brand new automotive was launched available in the market in July by way of a leasing program. The CR-V e:FCEV has a single motor module on the entrance axle, offering a most energy of 176 ps and 311 Nm in peak torque. Developed in collaboration with Common Motors, the gas cell can present a spread of as much as 600 km.
BMW iX5 HYDROGEN
The BMW iX5 Hydrogen makes use of the fifth technology eDrive electrical drive system with a gas cell developed in collaboration with Toyota. It boasts a most energy of 406 ps, with the producer claiming a 0 to 100 km/h time of lower than 6 seconds. Though the iX5 Hydrogen has been exhibited and test-driven around the globe, and the primary batch of 100 models have been offered to pick clients, the producer has acknowledged that they won’t go forward with mass manufacturing simply but. The iX5 HYDROGEN is predicted to enter mass manufacturing in 2026 on the earliest.
Adoption of Hydrogen Gasoline-Cell Automobiles in Hong Kong
In June 2024, the Hong Kong authorities introduced the ‘Technique of Hydrogen Growth in Hong Kong,’ focusing primarily on the industrial purposes of hydrogen power. This contains the introduction of the primary hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus (Citybus route 20) earlier this 12 months, and plans to check 3 hydrogen fuel-cell road sweepers by the tip of the 12 months. Different trial initiatives embody bus firms constructing hydrogen refueling stations at depots, and MTR testing hydrogen-powered trains. Furthermore, Hong Kong’s first public hydrogen refueling station is predicted to open in Yuen Lengthy by the tip of this 12 months. Regardless that HFCVs should not but out there on the market regionally, this indicators we are able to count on to see these automobiles to be launched within the close to future.
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Overview of Adoption of Hydrogen Energy in Hong Kong
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October 2023
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Planning for Hong Kong’s first public hydrogen refueling station is accomplished
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November 2023
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The primary hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus and devoted refueling services are examined
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February 2024
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The primary hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus (Citybus route 20) enters service
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July 2024
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Towngas converts landfill gasoline into inexperienced hydrogen
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Finish of 2024
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The primary public hydrogen refueling station is predicted to open
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Widespread Questions
Q: How do hydrogen-powered automobiles work?
A: In a hydrogen-powered automotive, the hydrogen gasoline saved within the storage tank is transported to the gas cell, the place it reacts chemically with the battery to supply electrical energy, which powers the motor to drive the automotive.
Q: Are hydrogen-powered automobiles in use in Hong Kong?
A: In early 2024, Hong Kong’s first hydrogen fuel-cell double-decker bus (Citybus route 20) entered service, and there are plans to check 3 hydrogen fuel-cell road sweepers by the tip of the 12 months.
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