One of the substitutes for using batteries for emission-free driving is hydrogen fuel cells. One of the major challenges for hydrogen moving forward is the lack of infrastructure required in most of the countries across the globe. A company named Nikola develops semi-trucks that run on Hydrogen.
Developing the technology for vehicles themselves is a huge task, but a significant roadblock to sales and putting hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road are hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Nikola and TC Energy have signed an agreement to develop large-scale clean hydrogen hubs together.
Producing 150 tons of hydrogen per day
The development of these hubs will support the projected hydrogen fuel supply required for Nikola’s fleet of heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles. The infrastructure will also serve the TC Energy customer needs in North America. The two firms plan to establish hubs that can produce 150 tons or more of hydrogen each day near highly trafficked trucking corridors.
Nikola proceeds significant demand for hydrogen fuel for its Class 8 FCEVs to work within the coming five years. TC Energy has enough storage, power assets, and pipelines in place that can reduce the cost of hydrogen and increase how quickly the hydrogen can be delivered. The agreement involves commitments for producing the carbon intensity of hydrogen delivery as well as production.
Making fuel using greenhouse gases
Besides, Engineers at the University of Cincinnati have found a method of making fuel using greenhouse gases. The process has the potential to be able to create fuel both on Earth and Mars. If the process is perfected, it could be exactly what space agency NASA wants to provide fuel for rockets and other uses on Mars.
On Earth, the process can capture greenhouse gases from the air and fight against climate change while creating fuel that could be used for other purposes. In the lab, the researchers are trying out several catalysts for the reaction, including graphene quantum dots, looking for ways to increase the amount of methane yield.
