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The end of electric cars may be closer than we think. New hydrogen fuel cell technologies are emerging, and a revolutionary hydrogen engine is about to be launched, promising to outperform current electric models.
Check out one of the most exciting innovations in the technology and transportation sector: high temperature hydrogen fuel cells. Promising an energy density four times greater than current cells used in vehicles, this technology has the potential to revolutionize the automotive market and displace electric cars with the arrival of a new hydrogen engine and beyond. Understand how high-temperature hydrogen fuel cells work, their advantages, and the potential impact on aviation and other industries.
Hydrogen could end electric cars?
Hydrogen fuel cells have been seen as the ideal clean energy solution for decades. Recently significant technological advances are turning this vision into reality.
High-temperature fuel cells represent a giant leap in this field, bringing innovative benefits to a new hydrogen engine, unlike low-temperature fuel cells that operate between 65 and 90°C and require complex water cooling systems.
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High temperature cells operate above 200° C and this feature allows the use of air cooling, a much simpler and more efficient solution without the need for heavy cooling systems. These cells are ideal for applications where every gram counts, such as in a new hydrogen engine in Aviation, or for the electric and electrified car sector.
These cells simplify design and increase crucial power density for aircraft. High temperature operation also improves the efficiency of converting hydrogen into electricity, reducing the required amount of fuel and consequently the weight of the tanks.
Understand how new hydrogen technology works
A zeroAvia, a pioneering company in this sector carried out a historic flight with the largest hydrogen electric aircraft in the world in January 2023, using low temperature cells. This feat marked the beginning of a journey to integrate high-temperature cells for longer, more efficient flights.
To understand the high-temperature fuel cell technology of the new hydrogen engine, it is essential to know its main components. Each cell is composed of three elements, namely the bipolar plates, the gas diffusion layers and the electrode membrane.
Bipolar plates hold the cell assembly together and direct the flow of molecules through the system. Made from conductive materials such as graphite or aluminum, these plates withstand a harsh high-temperature environment and conduct electricity efficiently.
ZeroAvia developed special coatings for aluminum plates, making them resistant to corrosion and improving their conductivity. Gas diffusion layers made of fabric or carbon paper ensure that the flow of hydrogen and oxygen is uniform throughout the reaction area. These layers ensure that each molecule reaches its destination efficiently, maximizing the electrochemical reaction within the cell.
The importance of a new hydrogen engine
High-temperature hydrogen fuel cells, which are expected to be used in a new hydrogen engine to replace electric cars, aren't just promising for aviation. They have the potential to transform numerous other industries, from shipping to rail and heavy industrial applications.
The application of this technology in different sectors can significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions and creating a more sustainable future. In maritime transport, for example, a new hydrogen engine could provide the energy needed for large cargo ships, which currently rely on polluting fossil fuels.
Replacing these fuels with hydrogen would drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ocean pollution. At the Railway sector, trains powered by hydrogen fuel cells could replace diesel trains, offering a clean and efficient alternative.
Is this hydrogen fuel cheaper than gasoline?
I've read at least ten news stories about new engines that will revolutionize the automotive market. But they never reach the consumer. The same thing happens with battery technology.
I imagine that much of this news serves the interests of the traditional automotive sector. The truth is that there is no room for increasing the production of these engines in times of awareness
Another microcephalic conspiracy theory follower.
We have to run after it, oil will run out in 40 years