Summary Reader Response (Draft #4 )

Cars that utilize hydrogen fuel-cell engines face significant challenges for mainstream adoption. The intricate process and high costs of manufacturing hydrogen fuel-cell pumps, compounded by difficulties in storing hydrogen, hinder their normalization. Despite potential environmental benefits, such as reduced petroleum usage and water as the sole waste product, the economic and manufacturing obstacles currently outweigh these advantages.

Toyota (2023) introduces the 2024 Toyota Mirai, powered by its unique hydrogen fuel-cell engine, distinguishing itself from market rivals. The Mirai powers itself with a hydrogen fuel-cell stack, unlike electric vehicles and hybrids that use conventional batteries and a mix of electric motors and a petrol engine. According to Hunting (2023), the engine operates by drawing in oxygen through the car’s intake, combining itself with hydrogen stored in undercarriage tanks inside the car’s “fuel cell stack.” This mixing process produces only clean water as waste, which makes an emission count of nought.

There are some features that the hydrogen fuel-cell engine provides for the vehicle. The Mirai includes three hydrogen tanks, connected to the engine for extended range, which according to Leow, (2022), are "so durable that Toyota test developers shot them with guns, resulting in the tanks surviving instead of the bullets". Another unique feature of the engine is the Mirai’s Hybrid Battery Pack. This battery pack, essential to the hydrogen fuel cell engine, boosts power output for improved acceleration and enables regenerative braking. With these features, the Mirai comes with some impressive performance statistics, such as a smoother and quieter ride due to the improvements to the engine made over the years. The upgraded tank offers a driving range of 645 km. The lighter engine block provides a higher horsepower output that allows the Mirai to accelerate to 100km/h effortlessly. Remarkably, Toyota achieved these improvements with parts costing two-thirds of the previous generation Mirai.

One of the key reasons that cars like the Mirai can’t be normalised on the road is due to the process and manufacturing of storage of hydrogen, which is complex and difficult. According to TWI, (2024), hydrogen itself is difficult to store due to its low volumetric energy density, being easily lost in the atmosphere. Hydrogen is also extremely flammable, requiring the utmost safety of those who are handling hydrogen, and complex equipment such as flame detectors is needed to ensure that there are no hazards when hydrogen is being stored. To accomplish this, scaling up decarbonized hydrogen production and fuel cell manufacturing is essential, alongside the development of regulatory frameworks to support storage production. Additionally, technological advancements are needed to reduce costs relating to the storage of hydrogen during transportation, such as boats or tankers carried by trucks, requiring further infrastructure investment. Thus

Another huge disadvantage of using engines that run on hydrogen is the high cost, particularly concerning the construction of hydrogen fuel-cell refuelling stations or pumps, as well as the expense of refuelling a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle compared to other types of vehicles currently on the roads, such as electric vehicles, petrol, or diesel-fuelled cars. The high cost stems from the complexity of storing hydrogen compared to other fuels, requiring substantial investment in research and development for machinery and storage units such as hydrogen fuel pumps and transportation tanks for trucks. For instance, according to Donut Media (2021), the average cost of manufacturing a single hydrogen pump is a staggering US$2 million, whereas a similar electric charging point or fuel pump costs about US$50 thousand and US$300 thousand respectively. Additionally, according to Donut Media (2021), refuelling with hydrogen is notably expensive, estimated at around US$80 to fill a single tank compared to an average of US$32 for a similar-sized tank of conventional fuel. These cost challenges significantly hamper the demand for vehicles utilizing hydrogen fuel cell engines. Statista (2022) reported just 54 hydrogen fuel pumps in the USA and none in Singapore, underscoring the scarcity of these stations due to the financial burdens on construction companies.

There is a glimmering hope of the possible use of hydrogen fuel cell engines, and that is its eco-friendliness and environmental benefit. According to Donut Media (2021), These engines combust hydrogen and oxygen, causing water to be the only by-product, instead of harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide from engines running on petroleum. To further add on, compared to combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cell engines are designed and manufactured to be much more efficient than combustion engines, as well as boasting a faster refuelling time to a full tank.

In summary, hydrogen fuel-cell cars like the Toyota Mirai encounter obstacles to mainstream adoption, mainly due to complex manufacturing, costly fuel-cell pumps, and hydrogen storage challenges. Despite environmental advantages like reduced petroleum usage and minimal waste or emissions, the economic and manufacturing hurdles of sustaining the use of hydrogen fuel-cell cars currently outweigh these benefits.

References

Hunting, B. (2023, March 14). Toyota Mirai proves hydrogen is the future - and always will be. InsideHook. https://www.insidehook.com/autos/review-2023-toyota-mirai-hydrogen-fuel-future/amp

Ju-Len, L. (2022). Toyota’s futuristic Mirai is still stuck in the future. The Business Times. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/toyotas-futuristic-mirai-still-stuck-future

2023 Toyota Mirai. 2023 Mirai. (n.d.). https://www.toyota.com/mirai/

Donut Media. (2021, April 12). Why hydrogen cars flopped. YouTube. https://youtu.be/b88v-WvqzeQ?si=Ro8lq2lgpWurBHkp

Statista. (2024, January 26). Number of hydrogen fuel stations by country in 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1026719/number-of-hydrogen-fuel-stations-by-country/

What are the pros and cons of hydrogen fuel cells? TWI. (2024). What are the pros and cons of hydrogen fuel cells? https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-hydrogen-fuel-cells

Image taken from : Toyota of Clermont