[Report] Hydrogen and mobility

Hydrogen energy is one solution to the clean mobility challenge, to power cars, buses and trucks, as well as trains, boats and even planes.
According to a report by McKinsey for the Hydrogen Council, at the global level hydrogen-powered vehicles could represent:

• 3% of new light vehicle sales by 2030 and up to 35% by 2050
• 500,000 trucks on the road by 2030
• 30% of bus traffic by 2050.

A reliable alternative to combustion engines

With a charging time of less than five minutes and a range in excess of 500 km, hydrogen-powered cars are an efficient alternative to combustion engine vehicles in the fight against CO₂ emissions in the transportation sector. 

Hydrogen-powered vehicles are electric vehicles equipped with a fuel cell which transforms hydrogen into electricity. The result: zero CO₂ emitted, zero particulates and zero noise; these vehicles only emit water.

Discover how these new generation vehicles and their fuel cells work

Air Liquide is contributing to making the use of hydrogen in the transportation sector more widespread by supporting, in particular, the global roll-out of the necessary charging stations. This roll-out applies to private light vehicles (notably in Germany, California and Japan), as well as to vehicle fleets (like the Hype taxis in Paris), public transport and even trucks, with the announcement in July this year of the construction of the first high-pressure hydrogen refueling station in Europe which will supply a fleet of hydrogen-powered long-haul trucks.

A zero emissions boat

A hydrogen-powered boat? This already exists. The first of its kind is called the Energy Observer and is currently on a tour of the world. This floating laboratory is an ambassador for the shipping sector’s energy transition. Drawing energy from nature, without waste, is the vision for the future shaped by this hydrogen and renewable energy-powered catamaran. 

Air Liquide has been committed for over 20 years to the development of hydrogen energy, in particular for mobility, and supports this scientific and technological project which showcases hydrogen’s role in the energy transition.
In the short term, not all boats will be able to sail using hydrogen. However, there are a growing number of examples of its use and several projects are also working on an energy mix combining hydrogen, liquefied natural gas and electricity.

Hydrogen to replace kerosene, as of 2035

Although the aerospace sector only represents 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a far cry from road haulage, it is also beginning its transition to cleaner technologies. Airlines and aircraft manufacturers are committed to halving their CO₂ emissions by 2050, and the support packages provided to the aerospace sector, which has been hit hard by the public health crisis, are contingent on this element. 

Flying the first hydrogen-powered plane as of 2035. Fact or fiction?

Climb onboard with Bertrand Piccard, who flew around the world in 2016 in the Solar Impulse plane, which was powered by solar energy alone. An opportunity to discuss the future and promises of hydrogen in air transport (in French only).
 

Other hydrogen-powered vehicles…

Let’s not stop at cars, planes or boats! Several other kinds of vehicles are already powered by hydrogen.

Over to you!

After having read and listened to this report, can you answer the following four questions regarding hydrogen?