Hydrogen vs. Battery-Based Propulsion Systems in Unipersonal Vehicles—Developing Solutions to Improve the Sustainability of Urban Mobility

Abstract

The percentage of the population in urban areas has increased by ten points from 2000 (46%) to 2020 (56%); it is expected to reach up to 70% by 2050. This undoubtedly will encourage society to use alternative transports. On the other hand, the widespread fear of pandemics seems to be here to stay, and it is causing most people to leave public transport to use private cars, and a few have chosen unipersonal electric vehicles. As a consequence, the decision of using private cars negatively affects the air quality, and consequently urban population health. This paper aims to demonstrate a sustainable solution for urban mobility based on a hydrogen powered unipersonal electric vehicle, which, as shown, provides great advantages over the conventional battery powered unipersonal electric vehicle. To show this, the authors have developed both vehicles in comparable versions, using the same platform, and ensuring that the total weight of the unipersonal electric vehicle was the same in both cases. They have been subjected to experimental tests that support the features of the hydrogen-based configuration versus the battery-based one, including higher specific energy, more autonomy, and shorter recharge time.

Sun, heat and electricity. A comprehensive study of non‐pollutant alternatives to produce green hydrogen

“…Based on the above, the hydrogen production from water is becoming increasingly important 29‐31 ; to the point that, following European directives and reports of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, framed in EU Green Deal and Hydrogen Strategy, 32‐34 research on the production of hydrogen from water becomes a priority, among other alternatives such as biomass, within the technologies proposed to make a transition to more sustainable energy systems 35‐39 …”