Introduction: As the automotive market undergoes a transformative shift towards cleaner and eco-friendly vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell cars are gaining popularity. Despite their environmental advantages, questions persist regarding the how, where, and when of refueling these vehicles. This article aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the current landscape for refueling hydrogen cars.
The State of Hydrogen Cars in Spain: While hydrogen fuel cell cars offer significant ecological and accessible mobility benefits, they remain relatively scarce in the Spanish market. A prime example is the Hyundai Nexo, characterized by hydrogen consumption around 23.4 liters per 100 km. The refueling process for these cars is rapid and straightforward, resembling traditional combustion engine vehicles and boasting impressive ranges.
Hydrogen Refueling Stations: One of the primary challenges faced by hydrogen cars revolves around the production and storage of hydrogen. Refueling these vehicles requires dedicated stations equipped to store, compress, and supply hydrogen – commonly referred to as “hydrogen stations” or “hydrogeneras.”
Globally, there are over 1,000 operational hydrogen stations, with approximately 240 in Europe. Germany leads with 103 stations, followed by France (50), the United Kingdom (23), Switzerland (16), and the Netherlands (14 and 13). In Spain, there are currently 8 public hydrogen stations with operational dispensers in cities such as Madrid, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Huesca, Albacete, Puertollano. Additionally, there are 12 private hydrogen stations, with another 12 public stations under construction.
Hydrogen Refueling Process: The process of refueling a hydrogen car closely mirrors that of conventional diesel or gasoline vehicles, with similar timeframes. This simplicity stands as a key advantage compared to current battery electric vehicles.
Hydrogen stations are equipped with refueling hoses offering varying pressure levels between 350 and 700 bars, depending on the desired hydrogen quantity. These hoses feature safety-closure nozzles to prevent accidental disconnection or hydrogen leakage during refueling, ensuring the hydrogen remains in a liquid state when transferred to the vehicle’s tank.
The refueling involves connecting the hose, activating its safety lock, pressing the start button on the dispenser, and waiting for the complete recharge. Once done, the hose is disconnected. Emergency stop buttons are also present on dispensers for added safety.
Cost of Hydrogen Refueling: In the current scenario, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle can typically store between 6 and 7 kilograms of hydrogen in its tanks, providing ranges between 600 and 700 kilometers.
Considering the average hydrogen prices in European stations, the cost to cover 100 km ranges between 8 and 10 euros. It’s essential to note that hydrogen prices, like gasoline or diesel, fluctuate.
As technology advances, hydrogen prices are expected to decrease. As an example, two years ago, filling a 50-liter tank cost around 13 euros; today, it has halved.
Taking the Hyundai Nexo as a case study, a vehicle that stands out for its hydrogen propulsion, it features three hydrogen tanks totaling 156 liters, with a storage capacity of up to 6 kilograms. With an estimated consumption of 1 kilogram of hydrogen per 100 kilometers, the Nexo achieves a range of over 600 kilometers. Using a reference hydrogen cost of 7 euros per kilogram, it translates to approximately 42 euros to cover 600 kilometers – a significantly economical option compared to traditional fossil fuels.