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Scientists may have solved one of the biggest problems holding back hydrogen-powered vehicles

13th Aug 2018

One of the biggest obstacles the hydrogen fuel industry is faced with — its transportation and storage — may have been solved by scientists at the CSIRO.

With some of the world’s biggest car companies, including Toyota, Hyundai and BMW, betting on hydrogen as a future fuel source, the national science agency has developed membrane technology to refuel cars using ammonia.

Two fuel cell vehicles, a Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, have been successfully refuelled using ultra-high purity hydrogen produced in Queensland.

Unlike electric charge cars, hydrogen-cell vehicles can be refuelled in minutes with a range up to twice that of electric vehicles run on batteries. Technological advances are also helping to drive down the production costs of renewable hydrogen to make it cost competitive with oil-based fuel.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall says the technology, via a modular unit, paves the way for bulk hydrogen to be transported in the form of ammonia, using existing infrastructure, then reconverted back to hydrogen at the point of use, plugging the gap in the technology chain to supply fuel cell vehicles.

For the full story, go to Business Insider

Source: Business Insider