Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Hydrogen vehicles

This is promising news. JCB seems to be taking a very active lead.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59107805

I think I’ll hang on to my diesel for a while longer whilst the hydrogen car vs EV battle unfolds. I know I’ll need to change- but right now I’m not convinced that in the mid term buying an EV is the Betamax choice The Ineos Grenadier will have a hydrogen version out next year- which I will definitely look at.

When the inevitable happens, I'm probably going to lease. I reckon I can get a small EV which would suit my purposes for around £200 a month, and would probably save hafl of that in fuel costs.

In the meantime, I've just had a dilemma as my trusty 19yr old Corsa has just failed the MOT. Going to cost £500 to fix (new steering rack and rear spring). As I replaced the front discs and pads in the summer, and fitted a couple of new tyres, I've decided to fix, rather than buy another £500 Corsa. Sometimes it's better the Devil you know.....

The economic cost model of the EV will change shortly as the Treasury will change the 'rules' as the tax revenues from ICE fall. Whether it be road charges, an EV increased RFL etc, whatever, no way is it going to continue in its current form.

The PM seemed to indicate in his Rome speech that they will be getting cars off the road, I dont think he was just referring to ICE..........understandably reduce car volumes...less road infrastructure to build and maintain. Maybe eg only a matter of time before all vehicles are banned from city centres.

I'd prefer a hydrogen car, as I doubt the electricity generation and infrastructure will grow sufficiently to meet the ever challenging upwards demand curve...especially when the winds don't blow, which amazingly they don't with quite frequent regularity. I seem to remember from my school days that on average the prevailing westerlies only blow 3 out of every 5 days .........

I see JCB have agreed to buy & market green hydrogen. They already have hydrogen powered diggers both as fuel cells and ICE versions.

Has to be the case even though the changeover to leccy is to be forced not voluntary.



So how do the old and the disabled get into town? All that approach would do is to kill off city centres and city centres are economically efficient. Thats why people gather together in cities. . The mans an idiot.



Since hydrogen is produced by chemical processes requiring energy, it will be just as dependant on electricity generation and infrastructure. Mind you one issue with power generation is how to store electricity in bulk. There is one storage reservoir in Wales but thats the only one I am aware of.

Howard,

I've read a few articles which indicate the future roles of our city centres are likely to change, especially with remote working. Already some Australian cities like Sydney are expecting to recycle office space into residential space and the daily commute into the city reduces with changes in work patterns.

One way to store/deal with surplus electricity is in the production of hydrogen. .The energy is then released/used only when the hydrogen is consumed

If this ever works at commercial scale, it will be very useful:

https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/photosynthesis-rewired-to-generate-hydrogen/4011702.article

Another example of the changeover from retail units to accommodation in city centres is this one right in the heart of Norwich, if you are familiar with it you know it's massive and used to be a very popular store employing many people.
It was prewar and suffered bomb damage when it was Curls.

It would be nice to keep the V8s etc, and convert them to hydrogen ICE:

https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-toyota-hydrogen-combustion-cars.html