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Why Elon Musk despises hydrogen-powered automobiles

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 | Chimniii Desk
Key Highlights

    • Musk believes that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are prohibitively expensive and highly combustible.
    • An electric vehicle is three times more efficient than a hydrogen vehicle powered by the same power source.
    • The tech genius is opposed to hydrogen automobiles due to the complexity of the process of transferring energy from sources.
    • Flammable Musk also criticises hydrogen cars for being fueled by very flammable hydrogen gas.
    • Both Tesla and Volkswagen CEOs have been outspoken in their criticism of hydrogen cars, claiming that they are prohibitively expensive, inefficient, and impossible on a broad scale.
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Toyota admits 'Elon Musk is right' about fuel cell, but moves forward with  hydrogen anyway - Electrek

Elon Musk, Tesla's founder and CEO, is a man with a blazing pistol who is carefully destroying hydrogen automobiles. He's launching Tweets targeted at destroying the concept of hydrogen cars.


Musk is also waging a campaign against hydrogen cars, leveraging his position and fortune. Elon regards the Hydrogen Car concept as 'ridiculous' and believes that the hydrogen car's success is improbable.


Elon Musk, a physics graduate, appears to grasp the physics of fuels better than the majority of us. As such, we would not be so eager to dismiss his criticisms of the usage of hydrogen fuel in automobiles. Probably, the tech genius has a compelling argument against hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).


Today, we're going to look at how, why, and with whom Elon Musk is destroying Hydrogen Cars. By the end of this post, you will have made your decision between a Tesla Electric Vehicle (EV) and a Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV). Maintain Your Position.


Musk's Strategy for Destroying the Hydrogen Car: Verbal and Twitter Attacks. Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla Inc., will use any means necessary to attack and destroy the Hydrogen Car concept.


When he gets an audience to condemn Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles, the tech prodigy does not mince his remarks. He did just that a few months ago at the Automotive New World Congress. Elon called hydrogen fuel cells as "completely ridiculous."


He explained his harsh remarks by stating that producing and storing hydrogen is extremely difficult. He stated that fuel cells are pointless since even the most advanced hydrogen fuel cells are no match for today's batteries.


Musk, a seasoned warrior and adept in Twitter fights, took a swipe at hydrogen cars in June 2002, tweeting that 'fuel cells=fool sells'. He exacerbated the matter by tweeting "hydrogen stupid sells make no sense."


Musk must have succeeded in eliminating the hydrogen cars, given his 63 million-strong Twitter following. The billionaire is waging a campaign against hydrogen automobiles, leveraging his celebrity and power.

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Why is Elon Musk destroying hydrogen-powered automobiles?


Why Are We Still Talking About Hydrogen?

Musk regards the concept of hydrogen automobiles as illogical and ridiculous. The technological genius has ample justifications for assaulting Hydrogen Cell Fuel Vehicles.


Musk, who has over 18 years of experience in his vehicle manufacturing company Tesla, can be relied upon to advise on automotive production concerns. Musk believes hydrogen-powered automobiles are extremely inefficient.


Additionally, he believes that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are prohibitively expensive and highly combustible. Inefficiency To begin, Musk has launched a stinging attack on hydrogen cars, which he believes are extremely inefficient. An electric vehicle is three times more efficient than a hydrogen vehicle powered by the same power source.


The tech genius is opposed to hydrogen automobiles due to the complexity of the process of transferring energy from sources. Bear in mind that Musk is a genius and will appreciate it if things are streamlined and made more efficient.


Robin Sharma expresses it more effectively. 'Simplicity is Genius's Trademark'. The process of converting nitrogen to fuel begins with the separation of hydrogen from other gases in the environment by electric power.


The trapped hydrogen is transported to hydrogen filling stations by trucks. After then, the hydrogen is supposed to react with oxygen to generate the energy required to propel the car. What a lengthy procedure! On the other hand, an electric car features rechargeable batteries that can be connected into a power source.


The electricity stored in the filling stations can be generated using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Tesla's CEO is likewise opposed to hydrogen cars, arguing that they are cumbersome for users because they can only be recharged at hydrogen stations.


On the other hand, you can charge your electric car at home if you're not in the mood to visit a charging station. After all, who among us does not have access to electricity? Green energy consumers may easily use the numerous electric car charging stations, however access to hydrogen car filling stations is extremely challenging due to their scarcity.


Expensive Elon, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics, is opposed to the idea of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles due to their higher cost than electric vehicles. Hydrogen automobiles are expected to be much more expensive than electric vehicles due to their greater head start.


Hydrogen has the lowest energy density per unit volume of any other fuel. This simply means that a big volume of hydrogen will be required to provide the same quantity of energy as other fuels such as gasoline or diesel.


Musk critiques hydrogen vehicles for requiring extremely big containers to store the oxygen. The enormous hydrogen containers are a significant impediment to employing hydrogen in automobiles, as automobiles are compact in size. Extraction of hydrogen is also costly due to the fact that it requires electricity and entails numerous procedures.


Hydrogen is also expensive due to its scarcity, even in an environment where it makes up 0.0005 percent of the total, whereas other gases such as nitrogen and oxygen make up 78% and 21% of the total, respectively. Perhaps Musk should employ Nitrogen gas to deliver the death blow to Hydrogen.


Nitrogen will be an excellent tool in Elon Musk's arsenal, as it will almost certainly destroy hydrogen. Hydrogen has the potential to dominate the automobile fuel market, just as it does in the atmosphere. However, pause. What about the scientific features that may serve as a constraint? That is an entirely different storey for another day.


Flammable Musk also criticises hydrogen cars for being fueled by very flammable hydrogen gas. When hydrogen is combined with oxygen in the proper proportions, it forms a highly flammable gas.


When hydrogen is being transported to refuelling stations, the safety threats are greatest. Did you know that the stars use hydrogen as a fuel source? Hydrogen fuels the nuclear reactions that keep the stars burning for billions of years.


We can only imagine the havoc that hydrogen will wreak if it leaks and explodes. In California, hydrogen filling stations employ sensors to detect leakage. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles originated in California.


Former Governor Jerry Brown kicked off the effort by allocating $900 million to The Zero Emissions Vehicle Plan. By 2025, California is expected to have 200 hydrogen refuelling stations. At the time, the state has 39 hydrogen refuelling stations.

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Who Else is Supporting Musk in Destroying Hydrogen Cars?


Volkswagen Group


The world's wealthiest billionaire is not alone in his campaign to have Hydrogen Cars phased out. He is far too prosperous to be alone. Even in a bar, as long as you have the money, you may have a large group of pals at your table.


Elon is aided by one of his own. Herbert Diess, the CEO of Volkswagen, is a man who shares Tesla's thoughts. The CEO of the Volkswagen Group feels that hydrogen should be employed in the chemical, steel, and aerospace industries rather than in automobiles.


Mr. Diess is on fire, as he has previously chastised lawmakers over hydrogen cars. Political Science, on the other hand, is not the type of science that is required here. Chemistry and engineering are the sciences that will provide the most effective answer.


Allow us to summarise the real science behind hydrogen automobiles. Hydrogen cars operate on a straightforward principle: when hydrogen interacts with oxygen in the proper proportions, it produces water and electricity. 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O + Energy is the scientific expression.


Musk, a physicist, and Diess, a mechanical engineer, are better qualified to advise on the viability of hydrogen automobiles. Both Tesla and Volkswagen CEOs have been outspoken in their criticism of hydrogen cars, claiming that they are prohibitively expensive, inefficient, and impossible on a broad scale.


Even the United States government appears to concur with Elon's assessment that hydrogen cars are not the greatest option for the future. The American government is sceptical about the Energy hydrogen cars' durability and reliability.

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Is Elon Musk Successful in Destroying Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles?


Why Hydrogen Cars are Less Efficient Than Electrics - The Green Optimistic


Even though Tesla's CEO has launched a sustained attack on hydrogen cars, the conflict is far from done. The simple fact that the concept of Hydrogen Cars has captured our attention demonstrates that it continues to have an impact, however tiny.


Significant research is being conducted on hydrogen fuel cells, indicating that they have some potential. Hydrogen cars are being developed by small automakers and startups such as River simple. Toyota is an example of a well-established automaker that has succeeded in manufacturing hydrogen fuel cells.


By 2021, the Japanese automaker intends to increase production of the Mirai Hydrogen cars from 3,000 to 30,000 units per year. As you can see, Musk's battle for hydrogen vehicles is far from done. Meanwhile, Musk has scored a goal or two against hydrogen-powered automobiles.


However, the game is still ongoing and anything is possible. It is premature for Tesla's CEO to begin celebrating despite his dominance in the game. We must pause till the final whistle blows. Prior to that, we can put a wager. Musk is 2.0, whereas Hydrogen Car is 1.79. I wish you the best of luck.

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