The lyrics of Carrie Underwood’s ‘Something In The Water’ talk about faith, but the title can also be used to describe the way in which cars can actually be better for the environment. As she becomes ‘changed’ and ‘stronger’ through being baptised, the world can become the same through hydrogen cars growing in popularity.
The Australian government has indicated that hydrogen cars are an emerging technology and something that can be used in the future of car manufacturing. Hydrogen converts fuel into energy, and takes less time to recharge, whilst also emitting zero greenhouse gases. This is definitely a better alternative. Brands such as Hyundai and Toyota have started to emerge in the hydrogen field and are in works of making a Hydrogen model.
A stat that is intriguing is that there are 15,000 hydrogen cars in the USA all in California, but a million electric cars are racing through the country. There is momentum but it is radically decreasing as people are still yet to see the pros of hydrogen. Toyota are hoping to release the Toyota Mirai once a few more charging hydrogen stations get installed and it will be intriguing to see how they will appeal to the car market.
Another reason hydrogen cars can be a better alternative to the ugly Prius or downright awful Tesla is that hydrogen is cheaper and can be mass produced more dramatically. There is also the fact that electric cars take longer to charge, are heavy, and are not reliable for those who need to travel long distances, so the market is thinner. It is said that hydrogen makes for a smoother transition from a petrol or diesel car.
What is needed is investment, companies delving into this market and providing more stations so that hydrogen cars can be massed produced. The growth of electric cars has overshadowed the better and more productive system in hydrogen, which should take the market by storm with a proper marketing plan.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
D, W, Keith, A, E, Farrell, 2003, Rethinking Hydrogen Cars, Science, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.1084294?casa_token=h2Xv4oEziWgAAAAA:cSLmA88g6qAz6Pld9CqPUuOO6uOIhoONcuL8uiz391PQnIkxdNE62dar5xBXZfXD7Ovt7uGAmw
J, Dowling, 2021 Toyota Mirai: Australia’s First Hydrogen Car on Sale to the Public ‘Within A Couple of Years’, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.drive.com.au/news/2021-toyota-mirai-australia-s-first-hydrogen-car-on-sale-to-the-public-within-a-couple-of-years/
J, Voelcker, 2022, Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles Everything You Need to Know, Car and Driver, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a41103863/hydrogen-cars-fcev/
vehicle information, Green Vehicle Guide, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au/pages/LowAndZeroEmissionVehicles/HydrogenVehicleInformation
WhichCar, Hydrogen Cars or Electric Cars: What’s right for Australia, viewed 11th May 2023, https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-advice/hydrogen-cars-v-electric-cars-australia
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