Energetica India Magazine May-June 2021

In an effort to mitigate environmental concerns, the world is witnessing a gradual, but promising transition from In- ternal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles towards Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). However, inadequate driving range due to lower energy density of batteries for a given purchase cost of the Electric Vehi- cles (EVs), and long charging time are among the main barriers to EV adoption, especially, in the medium and heavy ve- hicle segments. In the search for an alternative source of fuel, governments are recognising hy- drogen’s ability to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to abate – personal or collective transportation, freight logis- tics, etc. Hydrogen is also gaining trac- tion in industries like automotive, chemi- cal, oil and gas, and heating, where it is being viewed as a viable alternative for achieving long-term sustainability. Another substitute for ICEs is Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), which can help reduce emissions and petroleum use from on-road vehicles. FCEVs run on compressed liquid hydrogen. The reac- tion between hydrogen and air inside the fuel cell stack powers an electric motor that drives the wheels. Similar to BEVs, they are noiseless and produce zero emissions, apart from having a tank that can be refilled in a few minutes, just like ICE vehicles. In FCEVs, where chemical energy is converted into electric pow- er in the fuel cell and hydrogen fuel is stored in a tank, energy density, and thus the range, is less of a concern. The use of an inefficient energy conversion de - vice is mitigated by the liquid fuel tank’s extremely high energy density. An FCEV can deliver average power at significant - ly higher efficiencies than a combustion engine. However, to deliver peak power, the fuel cell must be large, which makes it costly. Hydrogen as a Fuel Hydrogen is one of the cleanest fuels, with zero vehicular emissions. Depend- ing on the energy source of the pro- duction process, hydrogen can be cat- egorized as blue, grey, and green. For instance, blue hydrogen is produced when natural gas is split into hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2), but the lat- ter is first captured and then stored to mitigate the environmental impacts on earth. Grey hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels without carbon capture and storage. Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water through electrolysis, where the hydrogen can be used and the oxygen can be let open to the atmo- sphere with no negative impact. The cost of green, blue, and grey hydrogen is in the range of 2.5 – 6 USD/kg H2, 1.5 – 4 USD/kg H2, and 1 - 2.5 USD/kg H2, respectively. The large-scale production and distribution of hydrogen along with low-cost renewable energy sources, low- cost electrolyzer and supply chain opti- mization can reduce the cost of green hydrogen significantly. It is estimated that green hydrogen can be produced in the range of USD 0.8/kg – USD 1.6/kg in most of the countries before 2050. Hydrogen as a fuel could play a crucial role in a low-carbon future along with electricity as a fuel, leading to dimin- ished dependence on fossil fuels. Owing to its high energy density as compared to other fuels, it produces more energy at a lesser weight, which explains its viabil- ity for heavy vehicles built for long hauls. When compared to BEVs and ICEs, the refuelling time required for hydrogen is also low, although the former two are way ahead of hydrogen in terms of ma- turity and availability of infrastructure. Drivetrain Comparison: ICE vs FCEV vs BEV Alternative to ICE Powertrain: Battery Electric Vehicle versus Fuel Cells ELECTRIC VEHICLES Dr. Parveen Kumar Senior Manager, WRI India In the search for an alternative source of fuel, governments are recognising hydrogen’s ability to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to abate – personal or collective transportation, freight logistics, etc. Hydrogen is also gain - ing traction in industries like automotive, chemical, oil and gas, and heating, where it is being viewed as a viable alternative for achieving long-term sustainability. 26 energetica INDIA- May-June_2021