With petrol and diesel-powered cars contributing so heavily to climate change, it’s no surprise that consumers and governments are calling for more sustainable alternatives.
electric vs hydrogen cars. Credit: buffaloboy & ezps / Shutterstock
Credit: buffaloboy & ezps / Shutterstock
For at least the last decade, electric vehicles (EVs) have stood up as the most viable option, with the infrastructure required to support this new technology continuing to develop at a rapid rate. But going electric isn’t the only alternative that's being explored. Another potential solution is the use of hydrogen. This gas produces no CO2 when burned, unlike petrol/diesel, making it an inherently cleaner alternative.
But how do hydrogen-powered cars compare to their electric counterparts, and which vehicle will leave the most positive impact on the environment? In this post, we explore some of the pros and cons of each, to determine which type is the more sustainable option.
Emissions
Both hydrogen and electric vehicles will produce zero tailpipe emissions when on the roads. This is because no harmful fossil fuels are being burned to provide power for the cars. But, that’s not to say that these greener vehicles don’t have any environmental impacts when it comes to emissions.
There are still harmful aspects to the respective manufacturing processes that will have a huge impact on the overall eco-credentials of these two vehicles. Sourcing raw materials, burning fossil fuels, and transporting products around the world will all affect the environment in different ways.
Fortunately, there are lots of ways the manufacturing processes of both vehicle types can be made more environmentally friendly, and this will start with the adoption of circular principles within the industry. This concerns placing a greater emphasis on reusing existing materials, rather than creating new products from scratch.
Research conducted by Capgemini found that the use of remanufactured engines could result in up to an 87% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to using traditional methods to build a new one. Taking this greener approach into account could be key to ensuring both hydrogen and electric cars can be more sustainable and efficient for future generations.
Trevor Walker
Trevor Walker is a freelance writer, researcher and digital content creator.
Fuel
On top of the manufacturing processes, and the pros and cons of these vehicles being on the road, it’s also useful to compare the fuel sources used to power them. Electric cars are typically seen as a cleaner alternative to traditional cars, since on the surface, no fossil fuels are being burned to provide power to the vehicles.
However, not all electricity is created equal – some forms are greener than others. For EVs to become even more environmentally friendly, it’s key that green electricity is used to power the battery, rather than that generated through fossil fuels. Green electricity can be generated at home, by installing renewable sources, or from using eco-conscious providers and switching to a green energy tariff.
Meanwhile, with water being the only byproduct of burning hydrogen, the use of this gas in cars will also be better for the environment than traditional fuels. But the major hurdle that’s preventing the widespread use of hydrogen cars is the lack of infrastructure in place, limiting its availability. What’s more, traditional methods used to create hydrogen are very carbon-intensive, which has to be considered in the overall footprint of the cars they’re used in. Whilst technological advancements are improving the distribution channels, there’s still a long way to go before it can become a wholly eco-friendly option.
Conclusion
In this post, we’ve explored the eco credentials of both hydrogen and electric-powered cars. Whilst both still have some way to go to improve their sustainability ratings even further, it’s clear that these are two of the most viable alternatives to petrol and diesel-powered motors. Right now, with the infrastructure that’s already in place, electric cars appear the most sustainable option on the market.
However, with greater investment into infrastructure, it’s likely that soon the technology will be in place to improve the accessibility of hydrogen. This will mean that hydrogen-powered cars will be able to compete with their electric counterparts, and could even be the cleaner option for drivers of the future.
- The author, Trevor Walker is a freelance writer, researcher and digital content creator.
Back to Homepage
Back to Transportation