Hydrogen Fuel Powered Cars a Reality in the Midlands

There are currently 6.9 billion people living on our planet, but if it feels a bit crowded now, think how we'll cope in just another 39 years when the population will have risen to 9 billion. 

In order to sustain our global society at our current rate of energy consumption, we’ll need another two planets identical to Earth by 2100.

Our population is putting pressures on our lifestyle, soon it will threaten our basic life needs such as clean air, food, water and sanitation. We have no option but to cut population, develop safe GE crops and ensure our planet is in tip-top condition....which it isn't of course due to the pollutants, destruction of habitats and greenhouse emissions currently contributing to climate change.

The message is just starting to sink in with the UK government vowing to cut emissions by 50% (on 1990 levels) by 2025 and Germany already working on their 40% reduction. Meanwhile, Australia, one of the world's biggest producers of emissions and wealthiest countries is struggling to commit to even a 5% cut, this is despite having the potential solar power to fuel the country easily. Yeah, proud of you Oz...not!

How much oil is left in the world?

Governments are now taking a hard look at one of the biggest producer of emissions - transport. The fossil fuel those cars will need to run not only mean continued reliance on the unstable Middle East but are also responsible for nearly a third of the world's emissions.

Oil reserves are diminishing yet our thirst for the thick black stuff is increasing. Fortunately, a few brainy souls have been working on alternatives faced with the scary prospect of no oil. 

In recent years, more ecologically-sound cars have been produced such as the hybrid which relies on fuel to get it going then resorts to battery power which is produced through the movement of the car.

There's battery-powered cars and even one that runs on animal fat. Electric cars such as the Tesla Roadster, the Mitsubishi MiEV and the Nissan Leaf, still rely on electricity so unless it's been produced from a sustainable source you may have well used oil! But these designs have limitations - namely fuelling locations, fuel storage and range.

But there's a fuel being developed which has the potential to be cheap, clean and so sustainable...it's permanantly on tap!

Our Earth is made up of 70% water; Two atoms of hydrogen and one Oxygen to be precise or H²O . We’ve got an awful lot of this stuff on our planet and it's got a clever cycle so it constantly renewing itself so simply....we can never run out!

At this point you might be wondering how on earth you can get two tonnes of metal travelling at 100km/h from just water. 

_{How the hydrogen fuel cell works}

Introducing the hydrogen fuel cell. The hydrogen fuel cell works in a way very similar to a conventional battery. It has an anode, a cathode and two   electrons, all separated by a membrane.

Hydrogen atoms enter the fuel cell at the anode where a chemical reaction removes their electrons, thus ionising them and giving the atoms a positive charge. Oxygen enters the fuel cell at the cathode where it combines with the negatively charged electrons and the hydrogen ions from the anode.

The electrolyte allows appropriate ions to pass between the anode and the cathode; if free or single electrons or other substances pass through the electrolyte, they could interfere with the chemical reaction. Overall, as long as the fuel cell is supplied with hydrogen and oxygen, it will generate electricity.

Researchers at Coventry University in the UK are busy conducting trials of vehicles equiped with hydrogen fuel technology as part of the CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrators) trial.  They have identified up to £2bn of low carbon business opportunities in the city alone. Coventry University along with Microcab as its supply partner is delivering eight vehicles into the trial.

The 8 vehicles have a maximum speed of 40mph (64km/h) and have a 630g hydrogen fuel tank capacity and are being delivered to Birmingham University where for 12 months they will be used as a private vehicle.

Onboard computers will monitor usage patterns, energy consumptions and driver attitudes/behaviours.

Coventry University are also leading the way with this trial by basing their research of the vehicles on operating efficiency, reducing start-up times, improving the user experience and useability, fuel cell longevity and durability, and optimised fuel cell/battery/motor integration. It's vital that all eventualities are ironed out in order that they are running at optimum efficiency and get the tick of approval by the public.

With such pioneering research and practical implementation coming from Coventry University and Coventry Council, it is clear that there is definitely room for hydrogen fuel cells in the future of every method of transport.

Hopefully it won’t be long before we start to see mass production of a larger range of vehicles and further development and implementation of hydrogen fuelling stations worldwide.