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English 2010

English 2010 -- Research Paper -- EV vs Hydrogen

What is an EV? An EV is an abbreviation for an Electric Vehicle. There is a list of

the current EVs on the market in 2020 in the sources section. Each year more

companies announce their EVs as “concept cars”. Which is another way of saying

“Here’s one of our ideas for an electric car, and we might make it.” A great example of

this was at CES 2020 (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, Nevada; held in

early January of each consecutive year. At CES 2020 Sony introduced, to consumers,

their concept car. Sony stated that the car was their concept car, but most likely not

going into production.

To understand an EV most know they are electric vehicles that are battery

powered from lithium ion batteries; the similar batteries in our phones, computers,

watches, etc. These vehicles' goals are to provide an eco-friendly way of transportation.

We hear this often in the term as: sustainable alternatives. The reason EVs have started

to become an importance is due to the rise in carbon levels in our atmosphere that is

immensely contributing to global warming or climate change. Climate change is the long

term effect, while global warming is the short term effect. The reason the world is

looking for alternative forms of energy is due to ICE vehicles being a major contributor

to the pollution. (ICE: Internal Combustion Engine). There are so many in the world. We

all own one or more of these ICE vehicles, or we know someone that does own one, or
even been in one very recently. ICE vehicles are and have been the mode of

transportation from point A to Point B since the invention of cars dating back to Harrison

Ford’s Model T, starting production in 1908. That’s 112 years of ICE vehicles. 112 years

of pollution. It has also come time to not only find alternative fuels, but it’s time for a

revolution in the automotive industry, in electric and hydrogen fuel celled cars. Which

we’ll get into later on and truly find out if they are really eco friendly.

First we must learn the history of ICE vehicles or cars. ​Karl Friedrich Benz was

the first to file the patent for the first Gasoline powered vehicle in 1885/1886.

“(GASOLINE / Automobile powered by an internal combustion engine: three wheeled,

four cycle, engine and chassis form a single unit. Germany Patent DRP No. 37435)”.

Instead, what's more interesting, is that in the years between 1832 and 1839, in

Scotland, Robert Anderson patented the first electric car. Roughly forty or so years give

or take before the first gasoline powered vehicle.

Instead, if electric cars were ahead of their time almost 200 years ahead. Why

are we still using gas powered vehicles and how did they become more advanced? At

the time of the invention both Europe and America were still developing. There were few

proper roads. Both electric and gas powered vehicles suffered while in development

due to the lack of proper roads. Not to mention the current technology wasn’t feasible

for the task. Even the gas powered vehicle took till Ford’s Modelt T to make production

to the masses. At the time the cost for either was extremely high. Even the lack of a

charging network made it difficult and still makes it difficult today. Let alone the lack of

consistent powerful enough electricity at the time. Gas was easily able to be
transported; at the time gas powered vehicles made sense to use as fuel. After all we

were coming from using horses and steam or coal powered locomotives, trains, to travel

great distances.

Fast forward to 2020. Today gasoline powered vehicles are still in the majority of

the market and only in the last two to three years have electric cars been tackling the

automotive industry. Today companies like Tesla, and others, with their own electric car

models are slowly taking over. With the rise in popularity, success, and technology

advancement in electric sustainable vehicles. The question holds. What other

alternative fuels are there? Excluding gasoline powered vehicles and electric battery

celled vehicles sits Hydrogen vehicles. Hydrogen vehicles aren’t very popular, and are

also a new technology being developed. Hydrogen powered vehicles can offer far more

than an electric vehicle and can be just as convenient as a gasoline powered vehicle. “A

hydrogen car is an electric vehicle with a small onboard battery that is continuously

charged from a hydrogen fuel cell that pulls stored hydrogen gas, mixes it with oxygen

from the atmosphere, and runs it through a proton exchange membrane, releasing

electricity along the way. The only byproduct of this process is water, making the vehicle

essentially just an electric vehicle that gets its power from a different type of onboard

battery drivetrain.” What this means is a hydrogen powered car is just as convenient as

an electric car; with similar technology. Most hydrogen fueled vehicles receive

approximately 300 miles of range. Every few hundred miles there tends to be a need for

a refuel station like a gas station or a charger. Another problem that comes with using

Hydrogen fuel is the technology is still not advanced enough to be more effective.
Currently the Hydrogen vehicles available on the market either under perform from EVs

or ICE vehicles or they don’t beat them. The same issue happened with EVs and now

EV technology, or more battery chemistry, has improved making EVs a better

competitor over ICE vehicles. Currently Hydrogen vehicles aren’t ready for the masses,

and need more time like EVs did. Another issue with Hydrogen is the lack of refueling

stations. In the United States only the state of California has Hydrogen fueling stations

across the state. To use any fuel: electric, gas, hydrogen, etc. There needs to be a

network of fuel stations to keep the vehicle gowing. It doesn’t matter how impressive a

vehicle is without its source of fuel.

Currently the only proper refueling network besides gas stations is Tesla’s

supercharging network. Tesla’s supercharging network is an efficient way of refueling

an EV. Tesla currently has “1,870 supercharging stations with 15,585 superchargers.”

Stations are the equivalent to gas stations while the individual superchargers are the

equivalent of a gas pump. Charging a Tesla is very easy. It can take between 5 - 30

minutes to have enough charge to get to the driver's next destination. One of the best

things is that each station is located in a walking proximity to a plethora of restaurants or

activities areas. Which means if a driver and the occupants need to charge for long

periods of time. There are nearby areas that can keep them busy.

EVs often get criticized for not being able to have enough range for a road trip.

With current battery technology for many cases that's true. So many opt for a gas car

during road trips since the refuel time is only minutes and there are far more gas

stations. While we stop at a gas station to refuel, on road trips, most often spend
between 10 - 20 minutes either refueling, checking snacks out, and using restrooms. In

all that time, in an EV, the EV can be topped off by then. Maybe even more charge than

expected. This is due to newer charging technologies. Especially in Tesla’s Version 3

superchargers, or referred to as V3 chargers. These are newer chargers that can get a

Tesla from a low charge to a high charge in the matter of 5 - 10 minutes. Current

chargers are at a V2 status rendering a charge from a low state to a high state

anywhere between 20 - 40+ minutes. Not to mention Tesla is adding new and more

superchargers each week. Tesla has their network across North America, Eastern Asia,

Europe, and parts of the Middle East. Growing into many new regions and countries.

Not just Tesla, but other EV charging companies are expanding their neworks. The term

“range anxiety” will tend to fade once more of these charging stations are known and

seen more often. Not to mention with Teslas, in specific, Tesla offers an app that

connects with the owners phone that can navigate their routes and will let the driver

know when and where to charge. The trip calculator, on the phone and on the giant

iPad like screen, will also prompt information based of how much charge the driver will

have arriving at the charger and when leaving. It's known for being fairly accurate. EVs

are becoming more useful and not to be afraid to own because of the fueling network

expanding. Currently only Tesla has an impressive EV charging network. Along with

third party chargers across the globe. Tesla's own CEO, Elon Musk, has even offered to

other manufacturers that Tesla is willing to open the supercharging network and

technology to other cars to take advantage. But yet no manufacturers have taken the

offer.
 Currently between a Hydrogen powered vehicle and an EV. EVs have come a

long way in technology advancement. Not to mention Tesla has seemed to take a rise in

pop culture. As they referenced in multiple Hip-Hop/Rap songs. A great example of this

is Yung Gravys’ “Whip a Tesla” song from his Sensational album in 2019. EVs have

started to become very reliable and stylish. Currently Tesla is ahead in the

technological, fueling, and popularity aspect of the next generation vehicle market.

Tesla is often talked about due to it. There are many companies that have “concept”

vehicles that are still attempting to pose a rivalry. One notable company is “Rivian”.

Rivain is an EV truck manufacturer based in Michigan. Whose goal is to provide reliable

EV trucks. Possibly even rival Tesla’s Cybertruck.

There’s still a lot to talk about between EVs and Hydrogen fueled vehicles. As

more and more EVs are produced and sold to the masses. What will happen to older

EVs and their batteries? Will they be recycled are there companies in place to solve this

issue arising on the horizon. How do we produce enough Hydrogen for practical use

across the globe similar to how gas is so prominently available?

Recycled EV batteries can be manufactured with recycling in mind. Making the

batteries useful for a longer period of time, and can save money from gathering new

materials. Not to mention, “​used batteries ​can​ typically hold and discharge up to

80 percent of the power it did when it was brand-new.” Unfortunately the

batteries used in EVs today aren’t easily recyclable leading them to be

harmful to the environment. There still aren’t proper companies recycling

these batteries, but the manufacteries are taking the batteries to properly
dispose of them. This goes for other major tech companies that use batteries

to power their products. Looking at Hydrogen​ Hydrogen isn’t harmful to the

environment and can even be beneficial improving air quality, but scientists are only

working on little information and little understanding. ”​A hydrogen fuel-cell economy

would almost certainly improve urban air quality, it has the potential unexpected

consequences due to the inevitable leakage of hydrogen from cars, hydrogen

production facilities, the transportation of the fuel.​” What this means is Hydrogen

isn’t ready because scientists still don’t know the long term effects. Still,

though EVs can be harmful to the environment, they can be made to be not as

harmful and those problems can be worked around. The same thing can be

applied on Hydrogen vehicles as they’re further developed. Another issue is

the supply of the Hydrogen fuel to keep a proper fleet afloat if Hydrogen is to

be yet another solution from ICE vehicles. “Currently, about 96% of global

Hydrogen is produced by reforming methane, which produces carbon dioxide

as a waste product.” There still isn’t a proper form of mass producing an

environmentally friendly Hydrogen fuel.

What we should know, as consumers, EV vehicles and Hydrogen

vehicles are two of the current answers we have to solving climate change

and its lasting effects on our ecosystems and planet. Currently with our

current advancements in Hydrogen technology. The alternative fuel is yet to

be sustainable for the foreseeable future. For now EVs are the answer to the

revolution in the car industry and new technologies in the industry. As Tesla

goes on to expand their fleet with the upcoming Model Y, Semi, Cybertruck,

and Roadster in 2020 and beyond (as of the time of writing this paper). Along

with concept car companies. The future is yet to impress.

Sources:

1. Tindol, R.T. (June 12, 2003). Hydrogen economy might impact Earth’s

stratosphere, study shows. Cal Tech. Retrieved from:

https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/hydrogen-economy-might-impactearths-strat

osphere-study-shows-722

2. Utah EV Gov, U.E.G, (n.d.). EV Incentives. Utah, Retrieved from:

https://utahev.org/ev-101-utah/incentives

3. News Team, N.T. (2018, August 12). Hydrogen Fuel Cell & Battery Electric

Vehicles - Technology Rundown. Retrieved from:

https://energymetalnews.com/2018/08/12/hydrogen-fuel-cell-battery-electric-vehi

cles-technology-rundown/

4. Field, K.F. (2018, August 11). Hydrogen Fuel Cell & Battery Electric Vehicles -

Technology Rundown. Retrieved from:

https://cleantechnica.com/2018/08/11/hydrogen-fuel-cell-battery-electric-vehicles-

technology-rundown/

5. Library of Congress, Who invented the automobile? (n.d.). Retrieved from:

https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/who-invented-the-automobile/

6. Supercharger: Tesla. (n.d.). Retrieved from ​https://www.tesla.com/supercharger

7. Utah incentives for charging equipment. (n.d.). Retrieved from:

https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savings-energy-choices/electric-vehicles/ut

ah-incentives.html
 8. Calma, J. (2019, November 6). The electric vehicle industry needs to figure out

its battery problem. Retrieved from:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/6/20951807/electric-vehicles-battery-recyclin

9. Hydrogen economy might impactEarth's stratosphere, study shows. (n.d.).

Retrieved from:

https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/hydrogen-economy-might-impactearths-strat

osphere-study-shows-722

10. Can we produce enough green hydrogen to save the world? (n.d.). Retrieved

from:

https://horizon-magazine.eu/article/can-we-produce-enough-green-hydrogen-sav

e-world.html

List of current EVs in 2020 (US): Audi E-Tron, BMW i3, Chevrolet Bolt, Honda Clarity,

Hyundai Ioniq & Kona, Jaguar I-Pace, Kia Niro, Mini Cooper SE, Nissan Leaf, Porsche

Taycan, Volkswagen E-Golf, and Tesa: Model S, 3, X, Y, Roadster, Semi, and

Cybertruck.