The advantages of hydrogen
Driving on hydrogen is clean. No harmful substances such as pollutants and greenhouse gases are released. It is also a renewable energy carrier: it is virtually inexhaustible. But it offers many more advantages, in everyday use too. It is precisely because of this combination of sustainability benefits and practical advantages that PitPoint believes so strongly in the potential of hydrogen. Let’s examine the main benefits one by one.
SUSTAINABLE AND FLEXIBLE
A hydrogen-powered car is an electric car that uses a hydrogen tank for energy storage instead of a battery. The electricity is generated by combining hydrogen in a fuel cell with oxygen extracted from the air. The by-product: water vapour, that’s it.
Another major advantage of driving on hydrogen is the flexibility it offers. A hydrogen-powered car has a wide range and can be fully refuelled in a couple of minutes. As a result, driving on hydrogen offers the convenience and flexibility of driving on diesel or petrol, plus all the benefits of an electric car: it produces no harmful emissions, is versatile and silent.
ALSO FOR HEAVY AND LONG-DISTANCE TRANSPORT
Hydrogen creates the possibility of emission-free mobility for all transport sectors. Hydrogen offers a suitable solution, particularly for segments in which the use of renewable energy and zero-emissions is still fraught with all kinds of technical and practical obstacles.
With heavy transport, such as freight transport by truck and by rail, and bus transport the energy needs are greater. Driving on batteries powered by electricity is difficult due to the weight of the batteries and the space they require. Hydrogen offers obvious benefits here, as well as for passenger transport. Thanks to the extensive range, refuelling speed and limited space needed, hydrogen is an excellent option for vehicles that travel long distances. PitPoint is convinced that in the short term hydrogen will be a suitable solution for both light and heavy transport: trucks, trains and buses.
VITAL LINK IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION
Major progress is being made in the application of renewable energy sources. In terms of cost, solar and wind energy can also effectively compete with fossil fuels. The challenge is not so much in generating renewable energy, but in storing and distributing the energy. This is where hydrogen offers significant advantages. As experts in clean energy, we are convinced that hydrogen is a vital link in the energy transition.
Electricity generated by the sun and wind (electrons) can be converted into hydrogen (molecules) using electrolysis. This means hydrogen can be used as a medium for storing and transporting renewable electricity cost-effectively and relatively easily. Hydrogen could also be used in this way to balance the grid load, as a clean energy source for industry and to heat homes. As such, hydrogen is not only an application for clean mobility. It offers the potential of a much broader function in the energy transition.