Although fuel cells have their own advantages, the storage and transportation of the fuel itself can be a headache. Even though a fuel cell itself pollutes less, if it still needs to be refueled, how is it different from existing fuel trucks?
The most critical part of a battery car is the mobility of its energy platform. The power grid is distributed in every corner and the cost is low. Therefore, electric vehicles can add energy at any time. The power supply can only be supplemented via the grid. However, fuel cells are not very different from previous gasoline and kerosene vehicles. In addition to improving environmental protection, the effect of promoting overall economic development is not obvious.
The reason why electric vehicles have become a major trend is not due to changes in the source of electricity, but due to the mobility of the car itself as a mobile platform. This is the most important part of electric cars. If fuel cells work, why not use the fuel to generate electricity so that the electricity can be transmitted through the grid to electric vehicles? Even if fuel cells were successful now, how would they help the economy? If there is no cost advantage, what is the difference from traditional fuel vehicles?
Hydrogen fuel cells: The volumetric energy density is defective and hydrogen is not easy to transport. Advantages: Various hydrogen production channels.
Lithium battery: Insufficient weight energy density. Advantages: The transmission network is relatively developed and there are more energy sources.
Internal combustion engines: Petrochemical energy is limited and polluting. Advantages: No problem with energy density.
Fuel cells are not a new technology. They have experienced half a century of technological improvements. It is basically at the same time as lithium batteries. Lithium batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, who will be the ultimate winner?
Infrastructure determines the popularity of technology. For example, charging piles are now very large, so lithium batteries must have advantages over hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen gas stations and hydrogen fuel preparation have not yet fully developed into an industrial chain. Therefore, at this stage, it must be based on lithium batteries supplemented by hydrogen fuel cells.
Hydrogen fuel cells are more suitable for short-term public transportation. Because of its zero emissions, hydrogen production can use off-peak electricity at night when large amounts of industrial by-product hydrogen are present. Bus transportation can be charged in the middle of the night and then run on a cycle throughout the day. It can even be completely autonomous.
For private use, it is still recommended to use lithium batteries at this stage, and it is also recommended to use lithium batteries for a long time in the future. Because it is difficult for hydrogen refueling stations to be as popular as gas stations.
The model dominated by lithium batteries will not change easily, and even internal combustion engines still maintain many advantages over new energy vehicles powered by lithium batteries. The world is not that easy to change. By the time Tesla's electric supercar emerged, various traditional car companies had accumulated enough battery technology, but they were still stuck in the internal combustion engine. Because the era of the internal combustion engine is not over yet. The same market dominated by lithium batteries will not change easily in the future.