A lot of people are looking to adopt cleaner forms of mobility but are hesitant to associate themselves with the troubles that come with owning an EV. For instance, the charging times when compared to refueling a tank full of fuel and the range anxiety associated with current-generation vehicles are some of the factors that are affecting this transition.
As an alternative, an emission-free technology without long charging times is slowly gaining its foot in the automotive world. We are referring to hydrogen-electric drive, also called fuel cell drive.
To that extent, BMW has completed the hot-weather testing of its vehicles in its iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet, helping to prove the viability of the technology in extreme conditions. The test, which happened in the United Arab Emirates, showed that the vehicle's fuel cell propulsion system optimally in the presence of sand and dust, variable slopes, and considerable changes in humidity in addition to temperatures that reached 45°C.
Hydrogen cars
There is one significant distinction between hydrogen vehicles and other electric vehicles: hydrogen vehicles generate their power. This means that unlike fully electric cars or plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged from an external power source, they do not have an internal battery that provides their electricity. Instead, the hydrogen in the fuel tank is converted into energy by a power plant built into hydrogen automobiles. The fuel cell serves as this power source.
In a fuel cell, a procedure called reverse electrolysis occurs. In the process, oxygen and hydrogen react. While the oxygen is obtained from the surrounding air, the hydrogen is obtained from one or more tanks inside the vehicle. There are no emissions at all from this reaction; the only products are electrical energy, heat, and water, which are expelled as water vapor through the exhaust, according to BMW.
In the end, depending on the requirements of the particular driving condition, the fuel cell power is produced in one of two ways. It either goes to the electric motor, which powers the car directly, or it charges a battery, which serves as a temporary energy reserve until the drive is required. This "buffer" battery is considerably smaller and lighter than the battery in an all-electric vehicle. The fuel cell also continuously recharges it.
The quick refueling time is the largest competitive advantage for such vehicles, in contrast to EV charging times, which depend on. Therefore, the vehicle and the infrastructure, a BMW iX5 Hydrogen's hydrogen tank, can be filled in about three to four minutes. This is given that we have the necessary infrastructure set in place for it to be available both along major highways and in cities.
Furthermore, hydrogen cars' range does not change with the ambient temperature, therefore, it is unaffected by the cold. This phenomenon is commonly observed with EVs, as their range is linked to their operating temperatures.
Practical offering
Take the case of BMW iX5 Hydrogen; it uses fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology and a fuel cell system with a 125 kW/170 hp output. The electric motor, gearbox, and power electronics are all housed in a small enclosure. The whole driving system has a 295 kW/401 horsepower output, which is fairly powerful for a vehicle of its class.
A pair of 700-bar carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) tanks store the hydrogen the fuel cell needs to function. These tanks can contain around six kilograms of hydrogen when combined. Because of its storage capacity, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen has a WLTP cycle range of 313 miles (504 km).
During the testing, the development team, located in Munich, looked at the ability of all electric systems to operate in harsh conditions and the availability of cooling power to allow the vehicle to operate to its maximum potential.
According to BMW, it is utilizing the pilot fleet to help the development of a refueling infrastructure that can be utilized with 700-bar refueling technology across all vehicle types, including passenger cars, small vans, buses, and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, on a regional level. "The aim is to shine a spotlight on the everyday usability of hydrogen-powered vehicles, and beyond that to, gain important knowledge for the development of a potential series-produced model," said a statement from the German carmaker.
Originally published on Interesting Engineering : Original article