Driving on Hydrogen and overview filling stations

Science moves on. Where cars used to run only on diesel, petrol or gas, electric cars have now successfully made their appearance. Students at the TU have been experimenting with solar-powered cars for some time. Relatively new is the emergence of driving on hydrogen. You can fill up with hydrogen just as quickly as with a fossil fuel, while only water comes out of the exhaust. Would you like to know what hydrogen is, how it is produced and how a hydrogen car works? Are you curious whether there are enough filling stations to fill up with hydrogen? Read all about it in this article.

What is hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe. Many stars consist of hydrogen. Hydrogen is an odourless, tasteless, colourless but highly flammable gas. It is not poisonous. It is referred to as a chemical element as H1 (Hydrogenium).
It does not exist in pure form on Earth because the molecule binds directly to oxygen, forming water (h2O). This is why hydrogen has to be produced in a different way. This can be done using coal or natural gas, but this method is not sustainable. It releases CO2 (carbon dioxide). Nevertheless, hydrogen is mostly produced this way. It is also called grey hydrogen.
When grey hydrogen is produced but the released CO2 is stored in underground tanks, it is called blue hydrogen. At present blue hydrogen can be produced more cheaply than green hydrogen in most countries (see below). The development of green hydrogen is still in its early stages.
Fortunately, hydrogen can be produced in a more sustainable way by means of electrolysis. No CO2 is released. However, electricity is needed for this method. When this electricity is generated entirely from solar or wind energy, it is called green hydrogen.
Since hydrogen is the most common element and since its combustion releases water, a shortage of hydrogen is highly unlikely. That is a pleasant thought and guarantees energy security for all of us and for our descendants in the future.

Hydrogen, is it safe?

The use of hydrogen is no more dangerous or safer than the use of other fuels. The use of energy always involves some risk. However, the properties of hydrogen differ greatly from those of other fossil fuels. These rather different properties (such as high pressure) must be learned to deal with.
Hydrogen is not toxic. In the unlikely event that it is inhaled, there is no danger. Because hydrogen is odourless, colourless and tasteless, it cannot be detected by humans.
In industry, hydrogen has been used safely for decades. Hydrogen is a safe energy carrier.

The main safety risks of hydrogen are related to its volatility, low ignition energy and high pressure.
Hydrogen is explosive in enclosed spaces where both oxygen and an ignition source are present.
Although the volatility of hydrogen may cause leaks from storage tanks, pipes or pressure vessels, in the event of a fire or other calamity, it can be drained quickly. This is because hydrogen is 14 times lighter than air.
If manufacturers make good material choices in accordance with calibrated standards, leakage or ignition in hydrogen installations can be prevented.
Therefore, smoking and other ignition-causing activities are not allowed in hydrogen installations and, of course, there are strict fire safety regulations. At hydrogen filling stations, external influences such as collisions are prevented by concrete constructions. Did you know that hydrogen tanks in vehicles are subject to bullet and shell tests?

Driving on hydrogen

Since only pure water is released as a residue, hydrogen is a very promising option for mobility. There are already buses and cars running on hydrogen. Driving on hydrogen offers great advantages. There is no air pollution and hydrogen cars produce virtually no noise.

Furthermore, the long range (600 kilometres or more) and fast refuelling time are a big plus in comparison with electric cars, where the charging time is at least 30 minutes and the range is up to 400 kilometres.
Hydrogen cars are relatively expensive to buy.
The degradation of a Lithium-ion battery is bad for the environment.
Recycling a hydrogen car has only a minor impact on the environment because they only have a very small battery. This is in contrast to electric cars.
If you buy a hydrogen car for yourself, you will not have to pay any motor vehicle tax. If you are a business driver, then in 2020 you will only have to pay 8% of additional tax. Entrepreneurs could count on no less than 36% environmental investment deduction in 2020.

Hydrogen filling stations Netherlands

There are currently nine operational hydrogen filling stations in the Netherlands. This is not so surprising in view of the still small market share of vehicles running on hydrogen and the exorbitant operating costs. The construction of a small hydrogen filling station easily amounts to some one million euros.
The number of hydrogen filling stations in the Netherlands and Belgium is expected to at least double in the next few years. Subsidies for some 20 new hydrogen filling stations have already been granted by Europe.
Germany has some 87 hydrogen filling stations.

Three operational hydrogen filling stations are also available in Belgium.

How much does it cost to fill up with hydrogen?

As is the case with ordinary filling stations, the price of a kilo of hydrogen varies from one hydrogen filling station to another. The average price for a kilo of hydrogen is currently around € 11. Converted into kilometres, the price of hydrogen lies somewhere between the prices of diesel and petrol. With one kilo of hydrogen the range is just over 100 kilometres. Many hydrogen cars have a tank capacity of at least five kilos.