Leading Japanese automaker foresees the future for hydrogen transport
While the whole world witnesses the growing popularity of electric cars, the Japanese top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. makes bets on hydrogen. And the goal is to rid the atmosphere of carbon dioxide emissions and put an end to the use of fossil fuels.
Toyota Mirai, which means "the future", hydrogen hybrid fuel cell car, was launched in November 2013 at the Tokyo Motor Show. About 4,000 Mirai fuel cell vehicles were sold since the end of 2014. However, the producer aims to sell 30,000 fuel-cell vehicles annually by 2020.
Hydrogen transport does not suffer from a major drawback of analogs driven by an electric engine. The Tesla Model S travels about 480 kilometers for one charge and charges for several hours, while Mirai runs 502 kilometers and refueled as quickly as usual car.
At the recent Tokyo Motor Show Toyota featured a new fuel cell vehicle concept “Fine-Comfort Ride”, which is designed for around 1000 kilometers.
The concept of hydrogen transport is based on the use of fuel cells, which generate electricity necessary to drive the engine.
Hydrogen fuel cells can power cars, trains, buses, trucks and even to supply heat for households.
Unlike an internal combustion engine, the only by-products of a fuel cell are heat and water.
Toyota Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada, the creator of “Prius” the best-selling hybrid car on the planet, believes that hydrogen is an ideal, stable fuel.
“Hydrogen doesn’t exist in the natural world on its own, but you can create hydrogen from various materials,” he said. The idea is to convert energy from renewable sources, for example, wind and solar energy to hydrogen, or even to obtain the gas from sewage waste.
The Hydrogen Council, which counts 28 energy, transport companies and a number of leading automakers, including Toyota, presented a "roadmap" for the transition to hydrogen energy at the International Climate Change Conference COP 23, wrapped up today in Bonn.
According to Council’s estimates, about 10-15 million cars and half a million trucks will travel on hydrogen by 2030. By 2050, transfer to hydrogen fuel will reduce annual CO2 emissions by about six gigatonnes compared to the current level.
The grandiose plans require significant investments - about 20-25 billion dollars a year or about 280 billion dollars until 2030. However, for comparison, the oil and gas sector annually absorbs investments amounting to US$ 650 billion, the development of renewable energy sources – US$ 300 billion and the car industry – over US$ 300 billion.
