20 Oct 2022 India’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus
Source: The Indian Express; PIB
News: Recently Union minister of state for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell bus developed by KPIT-CSIR in Pune.
Image credit: PIB
Overview of hydrogen fuel cell technology:
- According to the US Department of Energy, the working mechanism of fuel cells is similar to conventional batteries found in electric vehicles.
- Fuel cells need not to be recharged with electricity as they do not run out of charge.
- As long as the supply of hydrogen is maintained fuel cells continue to produce electricity.
- Similarity between fuel cells and conventional cells: Fuel cells also consist of an anode (negative electrode) and cathode (positive electrode) sandwiched around an electrolyte similar to conventional cells.
- Working Mechanism of fuel cells: The anode is supplied with hydrogen, while the cathode is fed with air. The hydrogen molecules are split into protons and electrons at the anode by a catalyst, and both subatomic particles travel in separate directions to the cathode. Electric motors can be powered by the flow of electricity produced when the electrons pass through an external circuit. On the other hand, the protons move to cathode through the electrolyte. Once there, they combine with electrons and oxygen to produce heat and water.
- Battery-powered electric vehicles or Hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles produce emissions, but no tailpipe emissions.
Advantages of hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle:
- Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions, unlike conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) that produce direct emissions through the tailpipe.
- Most environment friendly mode of transportation: Hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles emit only water vapour and warm air. So, Fuel Cell vehicles have zero green-house gas emissions.
- Efficiency of hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles is greater than internal combustion engine vehicles.
- Refueling time of Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles is as fast as an internal combustion engine. Hence, making it more practical than battery-powered electric vehicles for public transportation purposes. Battery-powered electric buses take hours to charge, but hydrogen can be refilled in a matter of minutes in fuel cell vehicles.
- Low operational costs of fuel cell trucks and buses due to high energy density of hydrogen and high efficiency of fuel cell vehicles: Rupees per kilometre operational costs for fuel cell trucks and buses are lower than diesel powered vehicles.
- It can eliminate on-road decentralised emissions from diesel powered heavy commercial vehicles.
- It can bring a freight revolution in India along with inland waterways for freight and passenger transport.
- This technology will help India to become a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy from a net importer of fossil energy.
- India can become a leader in hydrogen space by becoming a large green hydrogen producer and supplier of equipment for green hydrogen.
Conclusion or Way forward: Sustainable production of hydrogen
- Currently the biggest source of hydrogen in the world is fossil fuels leading to a large number of emissions with their usage.So, in future collaborative effort is required between all the stakeholders to move towards renewable methods such as solar and wind energy for generating hydrogen just like we moved towards renewable sources of electricity.
Article:
1.India’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus: What is hydrogen fuel cell technology, how will work?
2.PIB: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh unveils India’s first truly indigenously developed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus developed by KPIT-CSIR in Pune; Says, the launch is in tune with PM Modi’s National Green Hydrogen Mission
Article Link:
1.https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric-bus-8104087/
2.https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1853433
Yojna IAS Daily current affairs eng med 20th Oct
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