The safety of hydrogen fuel cell cars

Hydrogen fuel cell cars are becoming increasingly promising as the technology develops. The shipping and goods transportation industries as well as heavy industries such as mining and steel making are making hydrogen a more popular fuel.

The fuel transition in small vehicles has been mostly about rechargeable electric battery powered options. There are currently only a few types of hydrogen cars around the world. The available models have storage tanks for the hydrogen and function by converting it into electricity which powers their drive wheels. The only emission resulting from this process is water, making it eco-friendly and attractive for that reason.

Hydrogen is still (mistakenly) perceived as a highly explosive fuel. However, hydrogen fuel cell cars are considered considerably safer than cars powered by gasoline. Primarily, if there is a gasoline leak, there is a significant fire risk. However, in the event of a hydrogen leak, the gas simply dissipates harmlessly.

hydrogen fuel cell cars

The tanks that contain hydrogen are thick walled and carefully designed to prevent leaking, even after a substantial crash. For example, should the tanks ever be punctured, the device allows for a managed venting of the gas. Sensors throughout the vehicle also work to detect unexpected gas presence to shut everything down and bring the vehicle to a stop before anything can be permitted to ignite.

Many experts believe that hydrogen fuel is actually safer than gasoline because of the way it behaves in the event of a leak. In contrast to gasoline, which poses a significant fire risk in the event of a leak, hydrogen gas dissipates harmlessly into the air. As a result, hydrogen fuel cell cars are designed with safety at the forefront of their engineering, including the use of thick-walled tanks and relief devices to prevent leaks or explosions.

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ALSO READ THE SHIFT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTS TO FUEL CELL VEHICLES

UH2 projects

Our work with hydrogen

UH2 works with solutions for production of green hydrogen, through electrolysis with zero carbon emissions, to then be stored and distributed, so it can be used to heat buildings, manufacture steel or go into fuel cells for trucks and ships.

Able to provide the full project needs, we strive to add value through rapid acquisitions in strategic locations, implementing ongoing technology improvements and innovative solutions, as well as creating bankable value chains.

We are currently developing H2 and NH3 projects in Canada, Sweden, Spain, Portugal and Brazil.

Check out our project here.

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