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Worth testing, anyway, and this looks like a good place to test them. Hydrogen trains might make sense even if hydrogen cars don't, since the trains run on the
by Arnt 4y ago
Worth testing, anyway, and this looks like a good place to test them.
Hydrogen trains might make sense even if hydrogen cars don't, since the trains run on their tracks, according to a fixed timetable, and need little new infrastructure.
- dragontamer 4y agoThe issue with Hydrogen is its storage technology. It requires a high pressure (300-bar minimum, 700-bar ideal) environment... or cryogenics to store compact liquid hydrogen. Building a small, personal, car-tank that withstands 700-bar of pressure and survives typical car accidents is... really difficult? However, building a large train-tank that withstands a typical derailment is far easier. ------ I don't think Hydrogen will ever be useful for personal cars. The pressure requirements / storage requirements look rather insane. I know there's groups working with carbon-fiber designs and other advanced materials, but those are really expensive. Larger trains / trucks can just use standard steel to contain the Hydrogen at 700-bar of pressure (because a bigger tank is easier to scale).
- Arnt 4y agoOh, I thought distribution was the main issue. Trains needing only one supply point, as opposed to masses of gas stations along the roads. TIL.
- dragontamer 4y agoI mean, Toyota and Hyundai are making personal H2 vehicles. But they're expensive, very expensive, because those storage tanks are extremely sophisticated. Unless those storage tank costs come down by a LOT, I don't think H2 cars will compete reasonably against other technologies (Hybrid, PHEV, or EVs) ----- $50,000 for an H2 vehicle with only 180 horsepower engine is really meh.