Musk was replying to a quote tweet from an article published on Universal-Sci.com on a University of Berkeley study. The ideal approach, according to the study, is a solar array with compressed hydrogen for energy storage.
The discovery was made after a review of numerous strategies for generating energy on Mars. According to the study, scientists choose hydrogen for storing extra energy since it can also be utilized to make ammonia for fertilizers when mixed with nitrogen. According to the research, extra power may be utilized to make hydrogen from water, which can then be stored in pressure tanks from which energy can be collected at a later time using fuel cells.
Tesla CEO’s Take: Musk took exception to this and suggested that this isn’t true and that the world will choose batteries.
Hydrogen or Batteries for buses?
Many small and large enterprises in the passenger transportation industry are planning major expenditures in the next years. It is costly to go from diesel to electric, but it is unavoidable. The topic of selecting technology to utilize in their vehicles is a concern for many medium-sized bus firms. What about the battery? What about electric vehicles? Is the fuel cell superior? Both alternatives have strong reasons in their favor.
The hydrogen drive has a number of advantages, the most notable of which are reduced downtimes. The majority of battery-electric buses can only last a day on a single charge. This can be problematic, especially when traveling long distances. Where you currently take the bus, you would have to allow two cars to travel since one would need to be charged in the middle. It takes only minutes to refuel a hydrogen-powered bus. This lowers the fleet’s operating expenses dramatically.
A hydrogen fueling station might cost millions of dollars
However, there is a serious concern about how long hydrogen can be used. While energy may be produced entirely or in part from renewable sources, this has not been the case with hydrogen in Europe thus far. More than 90% of the hydrogen utilized in Germany comes from coal or natural gas. Here, the CO₂ balance is usually negative since the CO₂ emitted during manufacturing is not collected. This is expected to change in the future, although it may take a while.
Advocates for hydrogen point out that the EU and Germany have set clear targets for developing the hydrogen sector. However, this is primarily for the purpose of reducing heavy industry’s reliance on coal and oil. As a result, every kilo of hydrogen is required. As a result, the use of hydrogen in the transportation industry is debatable.
Infrastructure is another issue with hydrogen. In Germany, there are now about 100 so-called H2 filling stations. However, this is still insufficient. In addition, public transportation companies require filling stations in their depots, resulting in significant expenditures. It can cost up to 1.5 million euros to build a single hydrogen filling station. This also comes with 30 e-fast charges.
Batteries are less expensive
In the transportation industry, it is consequently primarily the expenses that speak in favor of the battery. The range of most electric buses is, of course, insufficient. Nonetheless, batteries are the superior option in the long run, at least for short excursions. Things are once again different when it comes to long-distance travel. Fuel cells may have a shot in this situation. But only until neighboring European nations have established a sound infrastructure.
The choice of which style of drive is preferable is not determined just in Germany. Countries that are lagging behind in terms of mobility are grappling with comparable issues. India is tasked with updating all bus transportation, and the country has already made a decision in favor of the battery. Switch Mobility is a joint venture between India and the United Kingdom that produces and operates buses in India. According to them, the battery is the ideal choice for countries that want to grow their public transportation since the infrastructure is cheaper to install than hydrogen.
Startups with a bright future
In Europe, too, start-ups are relying on batteries as the power source for the bus of the future. Since 2010, Ebusco, a Dutch business, has started producing electric buses. Most public transport operators should be able to use the current version, which should have a range of up to 500 kilometers. The huge battery, on the other hand, necessitates lengthier downtimes when it has to be recharged.
E-Versum, an Austrian company, is another likely contender. The firm offers a variety of models, the majority of which are currently under development. Small shuttles to e-trains, which are a combination of multiple small shuttles that may be employed in a variety of ways. Autonomous driving is also becoming increasingly important in car development. Because the bus driver will be phased out on many routes sooner rather than later.
Conclusion: While hydrogen may appear to be handier at first look, the battery offers greater advantages for buses that only drive within cities. Compared to hydrogen, the technology is more stable and dependable, and the infrastructure is less expensive to construct.
