It is hard to imagine our everyday life without the car. Everyone has at least one and uses it almost daily. Unfortunately, the use of common fuels like gasoline or diesel is bad for the environment, and these energy sources are limited. This weighs heavily on me, because the environment must be protected more as quickly as possible. The alternatives to gasoline and diesel cars currently available on the market are unfortunately not affordable for me.
For years, research has been conducted on how these fuels can be sensibly replaced. OMV has been investing in research and development and in innovative projects in the field of renewable energy for some time now. Thus, hydrogen is the first choice in fuel technology for OMV, which is currently being intensively researched. But what is hydrogen? How does it work? Are there already cars for it, how expensive are they, and where can I refuel with hydrogen?
Hydrogen as a new fuel technology
Water was long considered the indivisible element until hydrogen was discovered in the 18th century. This element is so common in the universe that it occupies the first place in the periodic table. But how does this fuel work as a tank for cars?
Hydrogen reacts with oxygen, and this energy is converted by a fuel cell into electricity, which powers an electric motor. Thus, hydrogen cars drive emission-free, because only water vapor comes out of the exhaust. Hydrogen is produced from natural gas, and at OMV, around 100,000 tons are already produced annually at the Schwechat site. Thus, hydrogen is already part of OMV's daily business. In 2012, OMV opened the first hydrogen filling station in Vienna Floridsdorf in Austria, and more are planned domestically and abroad. With this, OMV is taking a pioneering position in Austria. OMV has already earmarked around 20 million euros for hydrogen projects. In Cambridge, the team around chemist Dr. Erwin Reisner is working on a method to produce hydrogen in the future in a renewable and CO2-neutral process from water and sunlight.
Unfortunately, existing gasoline and diesel vehicles cannot simply be converted to hydrogen; new cars must be built here, which unfortunately are not yet offered very frequently by common car brands. But in the coming year, several car manufacturers want to enter the production of vehicles that can be refueled with hydrogen. The price for such a mid-range car is expected to start at 50,000 euros. OMV has already added Austria's first hydrogen car to its fleet: it is produced by the German Daimler Group. The tank of a mid-range car is full with 4–5 kilos of hydrogen and can travel around 500 kilometers with it. The refueling process takes only 2 to 3 minutes, and the kilo currently costs 9 euros.
Hydrogen currently the best alternative
In the course of climate change and the fact that fossil energy sources are only available to a limited extent, some attempts have already been invested in the direction of renewable energy. But these are actually progressing much too slowly, and the results were not always entirely satisfactory. For example, refueling with biofuel has met with widespread resistance. Also understandable, since the biofuel admixture is obtained from food. The electric car unfortunately also fails to convince consumers. In 2011, out of 350,000 newly registered vehicles, only 600 were e-cars. Electric cars have the big problem that for affordable e-cars, the range is still far too low. The electric cars that would have a longer range are far too expensive for the middle-class consumer. Furthermore, the weight of the battery is criticized as being far too heavy.
Climate change is progressing faster and faster, so it is urgently necessary to establish an alternative emission-free fuel like hydrogen. Refueling with hydrogen would be an important contribution to achieving climate goals and preserving our environment.
H2 OMV Sweepstakes
Curious? At OMV there is currently a H2 OMV Sweepstakes, where you can win a trip for two to London. In addition to accommodation in a 5-star hotel, a visit to the laboratory at Cambridge University is planned, where hydrogen research is being conducted.
Answer the 3 questions from the informative video and send your answers with the form to OMV by September 15, 2014. On the OMV websites you can find out more about the fuels or visit OMV on LinkedIn.
Photo by OMV
This article was sponsored by OMV
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