Hydrogen-powered vehicles have been an automotive trend amongst automakers, including Toyota, seeking sustainable resources while maintaining great vehicle performance. With the market continuing to favour electric vehicles, Toyota receives criticism for committing to hydrogen power. Their interest in hydrogen power extends to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Toyota promoted the power source and received disapproval from environmental enthusiasts and motor scientists. While hydrogen-powered vehicles initially seemed to impress the environment and scientists, there is more favour towards electric vehicles as hydrogen cannot be stored.
Criticism of Toyota’s Hydrogen Strategy
Toyota showed its face at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, aiming to promote its vehicles and express its aim for sustainability. While that wasn’t successful, scientists and environmental advocates spoke against hydrogen, saying that it doesn’t serve the environment and the efforts to reduce carbon emissions. One hundred scientists signed an open letter stating that hydrogen-powered cars are not as effective in reducing emissions.
The letter says:
“We are writing to express our concern that Toyota’s promotion of a hydrogen car is scientifically misaligned with net-zero and will damage the reputation of the 2024 Games.”
The efforts by Toyota into hydrogen seem to be a miss, with critics saying the automaker’s long-term investments in the power source should have gone towards fully electric vehicles. Professor David Cebon from Cambridge University says that Toyota’s game plan is “dilatory and cynical”, saying that Toyota is deliberately working away from EVs. Toyota remain strong in hydrogen, although expressing doubt as Toyota’s CEO, Hiroki Nakajima, says, :
“I can’t say for sure that it’s a bright future for hydrogen.”
Here’s why electric vehicles are more sustainably efficient than hydrogen-powered vehicles
The introduction of hydrogen-powered vehicles sought to provide a better alternative to combat gas emissions while maintaining great vehicle performance. While this was a narrative that continued, the debate is debunked as scientists alert people that electric vehicles are an effective power source for lowering the carbon footprint. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) supports electric vehicles, saying:
“Battery electric vehicles represent the most effective way to decarbonize passenger transport.”
While research is shared to prove EVs as more effective, Toyota’s commitment to hydrogen continues, along with years of investment. Toyota has a strong belief in hydrogen’s role in the future, as CEO Nakajima says:
“If we give up on this technology, then we risk giving up on the future”.
Contradicting Toyota’s views, people argue that hydrogen-powered vehicles need more renewable electricity, with the open letter to Toyota saying:
“Green hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles require three times more renewable electricity than equivalent battery electric vehicles.”
Challenges of green hydrogen production
The power source expected to benefit the environment is debunked, as scientists prove it’s harmful. An alternative proposed for Toyota is green hydrogen; however, that comes with challenges, the automaker may not be ready for. Using renewable electricity through electrolysis, green hydrogen results in zero carbon emissions. While great, it is expensive to produce, and there are infrastructure requirements which stand as a hurdle.
Toyota’s commitment to hydrogen-powered vehicles, however, the infrastructure suffers as US hydrogen stations are mainly in California. Aaron Gold said.
“The nation’s hydrogen infrastructure is still very small”.
Hydrogen is becoming expensive by the day, and automakers such as Hyundai are unable to keep up. The automaker’s profits decrease by $22,000 on every unit of the hydrogen Nexo SUV. Bonding in hydrogen pursuits, Toyota allies with Hyundai and BMW to help each other with development costs. Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a hydrogen expert, noted, “Every year, the electric solution is gaining an advantage.”