Thursday 20 August 2020

Hydrogen fuel cells are ‘vastly superior’ to batteries for commercial transport

Hydrogen fuel cells are "vastly superior" to batteries for commercial transport applications.

That's the suggestion from Dr Samuel Rowley-Neale, Post-doctoral Research Associate at the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre, who spoke to future Net Zero News Editor Jonny Bairstow about the role the green gas could potentially play in helping to decarbonise the transport sector and enabling the UK to reach net zero by 2050.

He said while batteries will continue to be used to power small, portable devices, hydrogen vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) will be the future of the transport sector and noted that while "there's a lot of hype" surrounding battery electric vehicles (BEVs), problems with range anxiety persist.

The Research Associate predicted FCEVs will be the future as their fuel cell can be topped up quickly if required on long journeys, while the battery can primarily power the vehicle during drives around towns and cities.

He said: "It's better for the user and what's better for the user and better for the environment will end up prevailing."