Sid Celery

Hydrogen is a Trojan horse for the fossil fuel industry. It is constantly promoted as the future of clean transport. But most hydrogen produced today comes from fossil fuels, particularly natural gas. And producing hydrogen from natural gas releases emissions. Even so-called “blue hydrogen” relies on fossil gas, with carbon capture technology that doesn’t eliminate all emissions. But here’s where hydrogen cars become completely ridiculous. To produce just 1kg of green hydrogen through electrolysis requires roughly 50-55kWh of electricity, BEFORE compression, storage and transportation. That 1kg of hydrogen might get a hydrogen fuel cell car around 60-70 miles. Meanwhile, put that same 50-55kWh of electricity directly into an electric car and you could travel around 180–220 miles. The same electricity. THREE TIMES the distance. Why would we use renewable electricity to manufacture hydrogen, compress it, transport it to a filling station and then convert it BACK into electricity inside a car? When we can simply put that electricity straight into the battery? The the real question is why are fossil fuel companies so enthusiastic about hydrogen? Because hydrogen offers them an opportunity to continue selling natural gas, investing in infrastructure and maintaining their influence over the energy industry. Hydrogen absolutely has a role in decarbonising industries where direct electrification is difficult. But pushing hydrogen as a mainstream alternative to electric cars makes very little environmental or economic sense.