Hydrogen Integration for Achieving Net-Zero Emissions with Plug-in Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicles

¹ ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, 90211, Ecuador
² The University of Queensland Sciences, Division of Materials, St.Lucía, 4072, Australia
³ Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, G-Scop, 46 Avenue Felix Viallet, Grenoble, 38000, France

^* Corresponding author: ldcortez@espol.edu.ec

Abstract

Currently, to achieve net-zero emissions, the transport sector is going through a decarbonization process, with Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) leading the race. However, these vehicles present a limited range and high charging time as barriers to replacing 100% of the transport sector. Also, BEVs cannot achieve net-zero emissions given that the electric rechargeable stations are powered by the local grid electricity. Thus, even though electric vehicles do not produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions directly; there are indirect emissions linked to the electricity used, relying on the balance between renewable and non-renewable energy sources in the local network. In this study, green Hydrogen is assessed as a possible solution to reach net-zero emissions with Fuel Cell Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FC-PHEVs) that count with a greater range. A specific model of a cradle-to-grave life cycle is developed, allowing the assessment of its environmental impacts. Consequently, 3 scenarios are implemented to be assessed and compared using the model. The analysis shows that a considerable part of GHG emissions of Hydrogen implementation is found in its transportation, although research is being carried out on alternative solutions to mitigate this drawback.