Hydrogen vs. Battery-Based Propulsion Systems in Unipersonal Vehicles—Developing Solutions to Improve the Sustainability of Urban Mobility

F. Isorna Llerena, E. López González, J. J. Caparrós Mancera, F. Segura Manzano and J. M. Andújar
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F. Isorna Llerena: Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Área de Energía. Ctra. Huelva-Matalascañas, km. 34. Mazagón, 21130 Huelva, Spain
E. López González: Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Área de Energía. Ctra. Huelva-Matalascañas, km. 34. Mazagón, 21130 Huelva, Spain
J. J. Caparrós Mancera: Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), Área de Energía. Ctra. Huelva-Matalascañas, km. 34. Mazagón, 21130 Huelva, Spain
F. Segura Manzano: Centro de Investigación en Tecnología, Energía y Sostenibilidad (CITES), Universidad de Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
J. M. Andújar: Centro de Investigación en Tecnología, Energía y Sostenibilidad (CITES), Universidad de Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: The percentage of the population in urban areas has increased by ten points from 2000 (46%) to 2020 (56%); it is expected to reach up to 70% by 2050. This undoubtedly will encourage society to use alternative transports. On the other hand, the widespread fear of pandemics seems to be here to stay, and it is causing most people to leave public transport to use private cars, and a few have chosen unipersonal electric vehicles. As a consequence, the decision of using private cars negatively affects the air quality, and consequently urban population health. This paper aims to demonstrate a sustainable solution for urban mobility based on a hydrogen powered unipersonal electric vehicle, which, as shown, provides great advantages over the conventional battery powered unipersonal electric vehicle. To show this, the authors have developed both vehicles in comparable versions, using the same platform, and ensuring that the total weight of the unipersonal electric vehicle was the same in both cases. They have been subjected to experimental tests that support the features of the hydrogen-based configuration versus the battery-based one, including higher specific energy, more autonomy, and shorter recharge time.

Keywords: sustainable urban mobility; unipersonal hydrogen-based electric vehicle; unipersonal battery-based electric vehicle; experimental comparison (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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