I think batteries suck for long distances primarily due to associated costs and the relative infrequency of taking advantage of "300 mile" range capabilities. For chemicals, it's pretty nice, because your cost is proportional to the total distance that you travel as opposed to your vehicle's maximum range.
So, looking at energy density diagrams, it appears that hydrogen has a lot going for it. It can be made from water with a total cost less than that of gasoline using electrolysis, and that process would be "clean". The drawback was the volumetric energy density - it had to be either in liquid form(really really cold? Would that be possible to contain?) or very highly pressurized. In liquid form, it had 4 times less the energy density of gasoline and in gaseous form at 700 bar, about 8-10 times the energy density of gasoline. In gaseous form, it would have about 5 times the energy density of lithium-ion. Assuming a hydrogen engine efficiency of 25% as opposed to an electrical system's efficiency of 70%, it seems one can expect a per-mile volumetric energy density of 1.7 times that of the lithium ion batteries (3.5 times in liquid form). I have no idea what volume the containment system would need, but it seems like it could be smaller than a similar lithium ion battery. So, one might need to allocate more space for longer distance than gasoline - so just bring a trailer or something.
So, with hydrogen, it seems like it would be possible to have a high theoretical maximum range on a hybrid vehicle while also remaining "clean" while retaining the low operating costs of an electric. I have no idea how much the upfront is for a hydrogen system, though (Hydrogen engine? Electrolysis system? Hydrogen container? Hydrogen compressor?). I also have no idea how practical bring the hydrogen charger(I.e., electrolysis system) would be and... plugging it in somewhere if you're traveling cross-country.
Any ideas? Any Endless-Sphere's of the hydrogen world?
So, looking at energy density diagrams, it appears that hydrogen has a lot going for it. It can be made from water with a total cost less than that of gasoline using electrolysis, and that process would be "clean". The drawback was the volumetric energy density - it had to be either in liquid form(really really cold? Would that be possible to contain?) or very highly pressurized. In liquid form, it had 4 times less the energy density of gasoline and in gaseous form at 700 bar, about 8-10 times the energy density of gasoline. In gaseous form, it would have about 5 times the energy density of lithium-ion. Assuming a hydrogen engine efficiency of 25% as opposed to an electrical system's efficiency of 70%, it seems one can expect a per-mile volumetric energy density of 1.7 times that of the lithium ion batteries (3.5 times in liquid form). I have no idea what volume the containment system would need, but it seems like it could be smaller than a similar lithium ion battery. So, one might need to allocate more space for longer distance than gasoline - so just bring a trailer or something.
So, with hydrogen, it seems like it would be possible to have a high theoretical maximum range on a hybrid vehicle while also remaining "clean" while retaining the low operating costs of an electric. I have no idea how much the upfront is for a hydrogen system, though (Hydrogen engine? Electrolysis system? Hydrogen container? Hydrogen compressor?). I also have no idea how practical bring the hydrogen charger(I.e., electrolysis system) would be and... plugging it in somewhere if you're traveling cross-country.
Any ideas? Any Endless-Sphere's of the hydrogen world?