Nitin Gadkari is shifting India from Petrol to Hydrogen instead of Electric
But Elon Musk believes that India is making a grave mistake!
He called hydrogen-powered cars “mind-bogglingly stupid”
Here's why Elon might be right:
But Elon Musk believes that India is making a grave mistake!
He called hydrogen-powered cars “mind-bogglingly stupid”
Here's why Elon might be right:
India is on the cusp of making its biggest transition.
The “fuel” decision is extremely crucial because it’s the bases on which the whole economy runs.
And if India makes the wrong call, it will affect everyone!
Let’s understand what is exactly going on here…
The “fuel” decision is extremely crucial because it’s the bases on which the whole economy runs.
And if India makes the wrong call, it will affect everyone!
Let’s understand what is exactly going on here…
Nitin Gadkari is talking about making India not only self-sufficient in Green Hydrogen, but the world’s largest exporter.
Green hydrogen is basically hydrogen that is extracted through electrolysis, and the electricity supplied in the process is from a renewable source.
Green hydrogen is basically hydrogen that is extracted through electrolysis, and the electricity supplied in the process is from a renewable source.
It is then supplied to pumps where it fuels hydrogen cars.
These cars have hydrogen fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electric current and leave only Hâ‚‚O behind.
Simple, right? But when electrolysis is so commonly known, why hasn’t hydrogen already replaced fossil fuels?
These cars have hydrogen fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electric current and leave only Hâ‚‚O behind.
Simple, right? But when electrolysis is so commonly known, why hasn’t hydrogen already replaced fossil fuels?
Because this is not our 8th class science experiment!
We need it in a huge amount and to produce it, you need a crazy amount of energy.
And that means higher cost of fuel.
We need it in a huge amount and to produce it, you need a crazy amount of energy.
And that means higher cost of fuel.
But suppose you’re able to produce it, you need to store, transfer, and put it into vehicles which use hydrogen fuel cells to produce electricity.
So, first you converted that electric energy into potential energy i.e. hydrogen.
So, first you converted that electric energy into potential energy i.e. hydrogen.
And then you transfer that potential energy into a fuel cell that again makes electricity to run the motors.
Electric Vehicles are better than hydrogen fuel cell cars because of this.
Elon’s argument against hydrogen is very simple:
Electric Vehicles are better than hydrogen fuel cell cars because of this.
Elon’s argument against hydrogen is very simple:
Why use electricity to produce hydrogen and then use it to fuel a car, when you can use electricity directly?
And here comes the question of efficiency.
That means how much energy can be produced to run the car, as compared to the fuel required.
And here comes the question of efficiency.
That means how much energy can be produced to run the car, as compared to the fuel required.
In electric vehicles there’s a direct transfer of electric current to run the motor.
This reduces chances of energy leakage. Electric cars have 77% efficiency.
This reduces chances of energy leakage. Electric cars have 77% efficiency.
On the other hand, in hydrogen cars, there’s an indirect transfer of energy causing energy leakages during conversion of energy from one form to another.
Hydrogen cars have 33% efficiency.
So, Elon is right, right? Actually, not completely.
Hydrogen cars have 33% efficiency.
So, Elon is right, right? Actually, not completely.
Nitin Gadkari’s plan with Green Hydrogen is not just limited to cars.
India needs hydrogen for trucks, buses, trailers, and other heavy vehicles.
Heavy EVs have proven to not be very practical.
India needs hydrogen for trucks, buses, trailers, and other heavy vehicles.
Heavy EVs have proven to not be very practical.
We have to understand that a truck having to wait for hours to charge is a liability to the economy.
Not just that, where will we make the space to charge electric trucks and make the drivers wait?
Not just that, where will we make the space to charge electric trucks and make the drivers wait?
With the kind of battery technology we have right now, we would need a large amount of batteries to fit into electric trucks to make them compete with diesel.
It’s not feasible. But Hydrogen solves that.
It’s not feasible. But Hydrogen solves that.
Hydrogen trucks have compressed hydrogen that doesn’t make the truck as heavy as the battery cells and takes less space.
This hydrogen is used to produce electricity to power the motor in the trucks whenever required.
This hydrogen is used to produce electricity to power the motor in the trucks whenever required.
This technology is definitely better than E-trucks because the range hydrogen offers with the amount of space it takes, is very high.
Plus you can easily refuel such trucks in stations similar to petrol and diesel.
No need to wait for long hours to charge the battery.
Plus you can easily refuel such trucks in stations similar to petrol and diesel.
No need to wait for long hours to charge the battery.
This is a great usecase for green hydrogen.
Another usecase in Gadkari’s mind is heavy industry.
Right now, steel, chemical, cement, etc. industries produce a lot of CO2 (making up 16% of the global CO2 production) and are the hardest to decarbonise.
Another usecase in Gadkari’s mind is heavy industry.
Right now, steel, chemical, cement, etc. industries produce a lot of CO2 (making up 16% of the global CO2 production) and are the hardest to decarbonise.
Primarily because they can’t become fully electric.
A lot of processes inside them require extreme heat, but electric grids just can’t power all that.
Hydrogen on the other hand becomes a great alternative to fossil fuels in this case because of its high energy density.
A lot of processes inside them require extreme heat, but electric grids just can’t power all that.
Hydrogen on the other hand becomes a great alternative to fossil fuels in this case because of its high energy density.
This can truly become revolutionary for India’s fight against industry-based emissions.
But to make all this happen, we come back to where we started: Green Hydrogen is expensive. How will we solve for that?
The govt. is trying its best to help reduce the cost of generating it.
But to make all this happen, we come back to where we started: Green Hydrogen is expensive. How will we solve for that?
The govt. is trying its best to help reduce the cost of generating it.
They have introduced a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to incentivise the production of low-cost electrolyzers in India that are required for the electrolysis process.
Reliance is stepping up for this.
Reliance is stepping up for this.
And they are also thinking about introducing clear mandates for heavy industries to switch to hydrogen that would lead to a lot of demand generation for green hydrogen.
With plenty of tax & infrastructure ecosystem benefits, it’s only a matter of time when a lot of companies jump in to grab this opportunity to produce green hydrogen from India, not just for us, but for the world.
And this will bring down the cost of green hydrogen dramatically.
And this will bring down the cost of green hydrogen dramatically.
This becomes a great opportunity for India!
If India is quickly able to create processes to reduce the costs of production of Green Hydrogen and set an example for the world on how to use it, we can become the next “GULF”.
If India is quickly able to create processes to reduce the costs of production of Green Hydrogen and set an example for the world on how to use it, we can become the next “GULF”.
The need for green hydrogen for heavy industries and heavy transport is going to go high and India is making a brilliant move to harness it.
But depending wayyy too much on hydrogen cars will be a mistake.
Electric Vehicles still seem like a better option for us.
But depending wayyy too much on hydrogen cars will be a mistake.
Electric Vehicles still seem like a better option for us.
Conclusion: Nitin and Elon are both right 🤝
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