Hydrogen Storage for Automotive Applications

To abide by the Paris Agreement's goal of a maximum of a 1.5 ℃ increase in temperature within the world, there needs to be a greater transition towards sustainable energy with hydrogen, coupled with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Creating a carbon-neutral society requires the transportation sector, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, to transition to more environmentally friendly vehicles that use hydrogen fuel cells. The storage and transportation of hydrogen for hydrogen-powered vehicles requires great efficiency, a smaller environmental impact in manufacturing, and the right materials to prevent embrittlement and combustion. Although physical-based hydrogen storage is most developed, material-based hydrogen storage, such as nanomaterials and metal hydrides, present promise in the absorption and desorption of hydrogen. A comparison between physical (compression, cryogenic) and material (metal hydrides, LOHC, carbon-based) storage will be investigated to help determine what storage type fits different vehicles, such as sedans and buses. This investigation will bridge the gap between the hydrogen storage technology available as of 2023 and the feasibility of these different methods in powering various vehicles efficiently to help create a carbon-neutral society.