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With a robust biofuels infrastructure, abundant renewable energy, and the boom in electric cars, Brazil may not be ready to embrace hydrogen-powered vehicles. Discover the challenges and future of this technology in the country.
Have you ever imagined a car that emits only water vapor as waste? This is the promise of hydrogen-powered vehicles, a technology that has been discussed for years as a sustainable alternative for the automotive sector. But does this idea make sense for Brazil? With our robust infrastructure for biofuels and the advancement of electric cars, perhaps not so much – at least for now.
What are hydrogen cars and how do they work?
According to the website Eixos, hydrogen cars use fuel cells that convert hydrogen gas into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen. This generates enough energy to power the electric motor and releases only water vapor through the exhaust. Sounds like a dream, right? After all, the process is quick, taking around five minutes to fill up, and guarantees a range of up to 600 km.
But the global reality tells another story. Even with big bets like the Toyota Mirai, the numbers are still not impressive. In 2023, only 17 hydrogen vehicles were on the road in the United States, compared to more than 3 million electric cars. High costs and lack of infrastructure are major barriers.
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Comparison: Hydrogen vs. Battery Electric in Brazil
In Brazil, where the electrification of transportation has been gaining momentum, the competition between these technologies already appears to have a winner. Battery-electric cars are more efficient in using renewable energy, while hydrogen vehicles face significant losses in energy conversion.
The cost of batteries has fallen dramatically in recent years, making electric vehicles more affordable. Brazil, with its vast renewable energy generation capacity, such as wind and solar, has more to gain investing directly in electric vehicles rather than in a complex infrastructure for hydrogen.
The Brazilian reality: Biofuels and electrification
If hydrogen faces challenges in Brazil, the same cannot be said for biofuels. As a world leader in the production of ethanol and biomethane, the country already has a consolidated infrastructure that serves a large part of its fleet. It is no wonder that hybrid models, such as those from BYD, are on the rise, combining electricity with the use of ethanol.
Meanwhile, sales of electric cars grew 146% in 2023, reinforcing the national preference for more practical and economically viable solutions.
Futuristic Scenarios: Can This Technology Gain Strength?
Still, hydrogen could find its place, especially in specific sectors such as heavy-duty transportation. Fuel-cell trucks, for example, could take advantage of the advantages of range and fast refueling.
Projects like those of Shell and Toyota, which convert ethanol into hydrogen directly at gas stations, show that the technology can adapt to reality Brazilian. Advances in green hydrogen production and improvements in fuel cell efficiency could also be game-changers in the future.
