Hydrogen power could deliver cuts of 20% to world carbon emissions by 2050 according to a report by the Hydrogen Council.
Transport accounts for a significant proportion of those projected savings, with a projected 400 million hydrogen fuel cell cars (FCEV) on the road worldwide bt 2015 – and 10-15 million by 2030. The 2050 figure would account for around 25% of global passenger vehicles at that date.
Other figures include 5 million trucks and 15 million buses – approximately 25% and 30% of the markets respectively – running on hydrogen power. The report considers that FCEVs would complement the roll-out of battery electric vehicles in the decarbonisation of all transport segments. More suited to long-range requirements and heavy vehicles, FCEVs are expected to be developed rapidly, with improvements in electric powertrains complementing both plug-in models and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
According to the Hydrigen Council, FCEVs produce 20-30% less emissions than conventional cars, even when the hydrogen used is produced from natural gas without carbon capture. Renewable and clean hydrogen powered FCEVs produce very little CO2, and none at the tailpipe.