Why Do Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles Have a Longer Range Than Lithium-Based Vehicles?

There are two options for delivering hydrogen from the storage tanks of hydrogen-powered vehicles to the vehicle’s electric motor or directly to the vehicle’s wheels. However, in vehicles with lithium-based batteries, power can only be supplied directly to the electric motor.

1-Powering the electric motor with hydrogen via a hydride system

When hydrogen fuel cell systems generate electricity, they can store this energy in batteries. This makes the vehicle’s range dependent on the size of the hydrogen tank. The batteries, on the other hand, are used only for instantaneous power draw. This eliminates the need to constantly store energy, unlike with lithium batteries. The key factor is the tank’s leak-tightness.

2-Feeding hydrogen directly to pistons, similar to internal combustion engines

This method reduces the reliance on batteries in hybrid systems rather than eliminating them entirely. By feeding hydrogen directly into the engine’s combustion chambers, the pistons can be driven through controlled combustion. This method is particularly favored by companies that manufacture construction equipment, such as JCB. The reason is that these types of vehicles are heavy, and the batteries required to power them are also heavier.

3-The Importance of Hydrogen Storage Tanks

When vehicles require a longer range, they typically need battery replacements or new battery technologies. With hydrogen technology, however, even increasing the capacity of a 100-liter tank to 105 liters can enable you to achieve long ranges.