Introduction
The usage of fossil fuels has become a component of daily energy demands, and their demand is growing with time. The use of fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gas emissions in the environment and creates ambient air pollution, both of which are now worldwide problems. Because of this consumption rate, as well as the finite stocks of fossil fuels, the discovery and use of alternative and renewable energy sources, including hydrogen energy as an energy carrier, has been supported. Technologies for producing hydrogen from new and renewable energy sources are being developed and demonstrated. To fulfill future energy demands in a sustainable and environmentally acceptable way, technology for hydrogen production, storage, and uses in transportation, as well as portable and stationary power generation, must be developed.
Need to Introduce Hydrogen Technology and Different Motors Technologies
The ravaging impacts of climate change coupled with global warming due emission of greenhouse gas from fossil fuels into the atmosphere have become a common problem. Ecological conservation concerns have helped the world to shed light on the urgent need to implement a green and sustainable energy ecosystem (Qazi et al., 2019). Thus, there is a need for the introduction of hydrogen fuel technology in automobiles and in motorsports. Hydrogen technology and different motors technologies, such as fuel cells and internal combustion engines (ICE), need to be introduced in motorsports for several reasons. For instance, hydrogen technology and fuel cell motors can be introduced in motorsports as a way to showcase their capabilities and demonstrate their potential for use in future transportation (Hacking et al., 2019). The high-performance and demanding nature of motorsports can provide valuable data and insights for further research and development of hydrogen fuel cell technology (Palmer, 2022). Motorsports events can serve as a platform to promote sustainability and clean energy alternatives (Luo et al., 2021). Using hydrogen fuel cell technology in motorsports can help to reduce emissions and improve the overall environmental impact of the event.
Electric vehicles (EVs) powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology can compete in racing. This option will help stakeholders and companies to identify a viable alternative to traditional internal combustion engines (ICEs) (Faizal et al., 2019). As a result, the successful initiation of hydrogen-powered vehicles in races will prompt the automotive sector to help in publicizing hydrogen fuel technology. On the other hand, there is a pressing need to limit over-reliance on fossil fuels in most countries and companies. Thus, the application of hydrogen fuel cell technology in racing is a sure way that shows the potential to help lessen reliance on fossil fuels (Ahmadi, 2019). The introduction of hydrogen-powered engines in motorsports is a better option that can become a testing ground for hydrogen fuel cell technology. Testing done during these events will create room for the identification of problems and ways of addressing such problems before they are deployed in other applications (Wu et al., 2019). Furthermore, the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technology in motorsports will help in the development of more thrilling and dynamic racing events (Thomas et al., 2020). These international activities pave the way towards advanced innovation in efficient, sustainable energy.
The greatest part of the globe is moving towards green energy technology, which supports sustainability. However, this idea can easily be propagated to every citizen in different countries through public awareness initiatives (Bögel et al., 2018). Awareness will be significant in highlighting the capabilities of hydrogen technologies in high-profile settings. Maximum awareness will facilitate an easier way to adopt hydrogen technologies in the wider transport sector (Hienuki et al., 2019). The public need to be aware that the use of hydrogen fuel will promote sustainability (Obenaus-Emler et al., 2021). Hydrogen fuel cells are ecologically friendly because they emit water vapor as a byproduct, unlike petrol-powered engines (Felseghi et al., 2019). Hydrogen fuel cells have high performance with high capabilities of providing high power density with low weight density (Ko & Shin, 2023). The aspect of power performance gives hydrogen fuel a high preference for the viability of being suited and used in motorsports.
Existing Hydrogen Technology
Few companies have advanced to take part in the manufacturing of hydrogen-powered motor engines. Even though hydrogen technology is not commonly employed in racing at the moment, there have been some remarkable advances in recent years (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). Automobile companies have launched their first hydrogen vehicles in competitions. These vehicles have showcased greater potential and performance than typical petrol-driven engines (Thomas et al., 2020). Hydrogen fuel technology has been tested in different racing sports such as endurance, car, karting, Formula 1, and motorcycles. For instance, the Toyota Mirai FCV has been tested in endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and the Super GT Series (Rivard et al., 2019). Motorcycle racing has been involved in the deployment of hydrogen fuel cells as a source of energy in racing. For example, the FIM MotoE World Cup, the first all-electric motorcycle racing series, debuted in 2020 and uses hydrogen fuel cells as a charging option (Rubio et al., 2023). The promising future of clean energy is believed to foster hydrogen technology in different sports worldwide.
Car racing has seen fast expansion and the deployment of hydrogen technology by most manufacturers in order to compete in the global market. Some manufacturers are already working on hydrogen fuel cell-powered racing vehicles and prototypes, such as the Green GT, a race car designed to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Rivard et al., 2019). Formula 1 races are another obvious application of hydrogen in racing. A Swiss business called GreenGT has developed a hydrogen-powered design that is being used for racing Formula 1 racing competitions (Palmer, 2022). This prototype uses a fuel cell to convert hydrogen into energy to propel an electric motor. Another sport that already utilizes hydrogen fuel cells for energy is MotoGP which has established an electric motorcycle that has been used since 2019 (Rivard et al., 2019). Teams in this sport use Energica Ego Corsa machines which rely on hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Aircraft have also adopted hydrogen fuel technology in large firms such as the ZeroAvaia based in the UK. The firm has developed hydrogen-powered aircraft that have debuted in the Air race E (Bingham et al., 2022). The following are a few examples of how hydrogen fuel technology has continued to be implemented in many sports. There have been no official hydrogen-powered vehicles on the Formula One grid. However, certain teams and manufacturers have experimented with hydrogen fuel cells as a method to produce energy and cut pollution in recent years (Madsen et al., 2020). The use of hydrogen as an alternative to gasoline has found usage in karting. Commercial hydrogen-powered karts are available, such as the CREDEN Hy-Kart, which is designed for indoor and outdoor racing circuits.
Pros of Using Hydrogen Fuel
Hydrogen has numerous advantages as an alternative to petrol in motorsports. For example, hydrogen is a clean fuel source since it only emits water vapor when burned. Its usage in motorsport is environmentally friendly, which implies that it does not emit harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide and particulate matter, which may affect human health and the environment (Rubio et al., 2023). Zero emission of harmful gases places hydrogen first on the list of priorities of sustainable and green energy. Hydrogen is abundantly available, which makes the manufacturing of hydrogen with fewer constraints (Ishaq et al., 2022). Thus, hydrogen has flexibility since it can be created from a range of sources, including water and natural gas.
Motorsports are automobiles that need high consumption of power with long ranges than typical vehicles. Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles have a longer range than electric vehicles and can be refueled in the same amount of time as gasoline vehicles (Campíñez-Romero et al., 2018). Due to this advantage, hydrogen stands out as a primary determinant that will make hydrogen to be a substitute for petrol. Another advantage of hydrogen is that it is a high-energy fuel that fulfills the requirement of high power during races in motorsports competitions (Ishaq et al., 2022). Hydrogen has a high amount of energy per unit of volume and mass which makes hydrogen fuel an appealing long-distance transportation alternative to gasoline. Hydrogen may also be utilized as a sustainable energy storage medium, allowing excess energy from solar and wind power to be stored and utilized when needed.
A hydrogen fuel cell is quiet and does not emit sounds that might cause noise pollution, unlike petrol engines. Noise pollution is the main concern in motorsports by communities and urban centers that border competition grounds for motor events (Sun et al., 2022). Hydrogen-propelled engines are quiet, and this aspect will greatly promote reduced noise in urban areas during motorsports competitions. Further, hydrogen fuel does not have a negative impact on the air quality since its combustion does not smell, unlike petrol and other fossil fuels.
Cons of Using Hydrogen Fuel
While hydrogen offers some advantages as a fuel substitute, it also has certain drawbacks. Motorsports might face inconveniences due to hydrogen fuel infrastructure that is currently limited (Ishaq et al., 2022). There are fewer designed places to recharge a hydrogen-powered car. Thus, motorsports would waste time whenever hydrogen energy runs low or depletes, and there is a need for refueling. Hydrogen fuel technology is not yet well established in the world market. This absence and rare access to the fuel has, at the moment, made hydrogen fuel to be more expensive than gasoline (Sun et al., 2022). As a result, hydrogen fuel becomes disadvantageous to customers as it is less cost-effective for consumption. The early stages in the development and manufacturing of hydrogen vehicles have prompted manufacturers and companies to hike prices. This factor has led to the high cost of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles when compared to typical internal combustion engine vehicles (Sun et al., 2022). This factor has become a deterrent for some users and motorsport organizations because profitability is not achieved in the long last.
Different methods and technologies used to produce hydrogen have also become disadvantageous and block the possibility of hydrogen fuel from replacing petrol in motorsports. Depending on the technology used to manufacture hydrogen fuel, the manufacturing and delivery of hydrogen can potentially be energy-intensive and emit pollutants (Bögel et al., 2018). Sustainability is contradicted in the long run as the world migrates toward clean energy and ecological protection. Another disadvantage of using hydrogen fuel is the high affinitive property to ignition and flame of hydrogen. Unlike petrol, it is difficult to store and transport hydrogen securely without taking precautionary cushions, which are relatively costly. Furthermore, producing hydrogen by water electrolysis requires a considerable quantity of power, which is often created using fossil fuels (Yin et al., 2023). The combustion of fossil fuels emits harmful carbon products into the atmosphere, which pollute the ecosystem. Hydrogen has the potential to be an efficient and clean source of energy. However, organizations and companies need to address the underlying challenges, barriers, and disadvantages before the world can assume that hydrogen fuel is a viable long-term replacement for gasoline in motorsports.
Barriers and Challenges to Hydrogen Fuel Technology
The use of hydrogen energy in motorsports is faced with greater challenges than petrol. Various challenges and barriers to using hydrogen as an alternative to gasoline include technological, economic, production, storage, and transportation limitations (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). These barriers are profound drawbacks that hydrogen manufacturing companies encounter while trying to prove the viability of hydrogen as compared to fossil fuels (Rath et al., 2019). The competitive nature and the suitability of hydrogen gas to replace petrol in motorsports, therefore, lies at the center of technological, economic, production, storage, and transportation challenges.
Technology
Hydrogen fuel technology has not advanced to meet the maximum safety standards and regulations. Hydrogen is periodically classified as highly flammable and combustible in the reactivity series of gases (Rath et al., 2019). This explosive characteristic has made it difficult to transport and store hydrogen securely (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). The less advancement and development of technology might pose a danger to drivers and fans in motorsports. There is a need for secure technology that will serve as a safety precaution in case of fire accidents due to explosions during races (Rath et al., 2019). Another technological drawback is the limited development of technology in fuel infrastructure. There are few recharging centers for hydrogen-powered cars (Campíñez-Romero et al., 2018). This problem may result in inconveniences in finding reserve fuel for motorsports during competition.
Hydrogen fuel technology is still new and less widespread in different parts of the world. For this reason, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are still somewhat expensive when compared to typical internal combustion engine vehicles (Rubio et al., 2023). The high cost of the technology might become a discouraging factor which may be a deterrent for some users in motorsports. Different technologies used in the production and delivery of hydrogen are energy-intensive and emit pollutants (Felseghi et al., 2019). Manufacturing of energy fuel needs consumption and usage of large joules of energy. The technology used to create the maximum energy is also deemed to be expensive.
Economics
There is a need to significantly reduce the cost of fuels without sacrificing performance to compete favorably in the market. According to at least one original equipment manufacturer, the cost of mass-produced fuel cell electric cars might be comparable to the cost of hybrid versions (Rubio et al., 2023). Unlike batteries, which are mostly made of raw materials, the most expensive element of a fuel cell is making the fuel cell stack and not the ingredients required to build it (Yin et al., 2023). The cost of building and maintaining hydrogen stations must also be reduced in order for the market to sustain a hydrogen economy.
Hydrogen fuel production is currently more expensive than gasoline, making it less cost-effective for customers. The market attention in motorsport has not been adequately established because the cost of manufacturing hydrogen is still high (Bögel et al., 2018). The high cost makes it less competitive with alternative fuels such as petrol. Hydrogen fuel is expensive because it requires unique equipment and the infrastructure necessary to securely manage the fuel (Campíñez-Romero et al., 2018). The processes of manufacturing and producing hydrogen fuel are not economically affordable to companies that take part in the production of hydrogen. In this case, the most prevalent technique of manufacturing hydrogen, electrolysis, is costly (Yin et al., 2023). Hence, the high cost of the production of hydrogen has become more expensive to manufacture than petrol energy.
While hydrogen has the potential to be a clean and efficient alternative fuel source to petrol, it is costly to acquire raw materials for energy. The acquisition of fossil materials to obtain energy is expensive and causes extra costs when it pollutes the atmosphere (Felseghi et al., 2019). However, as hydrogen fuel technology and infrastructure progress and economies of scale are realized, the cost of generating and utilizing hydrogen is predicted to fall toward affordable levels (Felseghi et al., 2019). This reduction in cost will make hydrogen fuel to become more competitive with traditional fossil fuels such as petrol.
Transporting Hydrogen
Transportation of hydrogen fuel is challenging due to safety problems that accompany poorly held transportation services. Transporting hydrogen as a fuel source presents the following obstacles and problems. Hydrogen is highly flammable and can result in explosive fire accidents if it is not transported in good and standard conditions (Rivard et al., 2019). This challenge supposes that hydrogen fuel must be transported with appropriate handling and storage equipment. However, adherence to these requirements significantly contributes to an increase in transportation expenses. Another transportation challenge of hydrogen is that the gas is relatively light. It is difficult to transport large volumes at a glance. Hydrogen is incompressible, and long-distance transportation becomes impossible due to safety threats when it explodes.
Transportation of hydrogen further requires a well-established infrastructure. However, there is currently insufficient infrastructure for hydrogen transportation, such as pipelines, railroads, and tanker trucks, which makes transporting the fuel challenging (Campíñez-Romero et al., 2018). Other ways and means have been invented to transport hydrogen while trying to reduce the high prevalence of risks associated with its transportation. For instance, pipelines are one of the most popular ways to transport hydrogen across large distances. The primary challenge to pipeline transportation of hydrogen is that pipelines are not currently generally available and are relatively expensive to produce. In addition to the transportation of hydrogen in pipes, it has also been proven feasible to move hydrogen via truck, train, or ship. These means are not fully trusted because they carry the danger of leakage and fire, as well as the cost of extra insulation and pressure control equipment (Yin et al., 2023). Risks of leakage can be prevented with an extra cost incurred when transporting hydrogen aboard ships, trucks, and trains because of using specialized containers that can endure high pressure.
Generally, the minimized standards for hydrogen transport and dispensing devices can significantly complicate and increase the expense of transportation. Furthermore, hydrogen is frequently generated in one area and used in another, necessitating the requirement for hydrogen transport, which can add the expense to the process (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). Inefficient infrastructure and the high expense of securely transporting and storing hydrogen are significant impediments to the widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel source. New technology, infrastructure, and regulations are being developed to make hydrogen transportation safer, more efficient, and cost-effective.
Storage
Hydrogen fuel poses storage challenges and barriers because it has a low energy content by volume as compared to petrol. This aspect makes compactly storing hydrogen difficult since it needs high pressures, low temperatures, or chemical procedures (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). Overcoming this obstacle is critical for light-duty vehicles, which frequently have limited size and weight capacity for fuel storage. To fulfill customer expectations, hydrogen storage capacity in light-duty cars should typically provide a driving range of more than 300 miles (Ishaq et al., 2022). Furthermore, because hydrogen has a lower volumetric energy density than petrol, storing as much hydrogen aboard a vehicle necessitates a larger tank at a greater pressure than other gaseous fuel (Ishaq et al., 2022). Medium- and heavy-duty trucks have greater room for bigger tanks, but they may encounter weight constraints that diminish overall load potential to keep under transportation regulations.
On the other hand, storage in liquid tanks requires low temperatures and super insulation. This storage requirement becomes a challenge because it is expensive due to high cost (Obenaus-Emler et al., 2021). In some occasions, hydrogen gets lost through evaporation. The energy intensity of liquid hydrogen and energy stored in these tanks are smaller than petrol. Hence, hydrogen supply may become inefficient in motorsports due to limited storage and leakage through evaporation (Obenaus-Emler et al., 2021). Metal hydride storage of hydrogen is usually heavy and is subject to degradation with time. Further, they are not easily acquired due to the high cost of filling by a cooling circuit.
Hydrogen gas is light and consists of small molecules, which makes it easily leak when from storage facilities. Hence, this challenge of leakage leads to safety issues because hydrogen gas has a high affinity to flames and easily explodes when the gas comes into close contact with ignition (Rath et al., 2019). For this reason, the storage of hydrogen requires intense safety measures to be put in place to avoid accidents. There is not enough infrastructure that can guarantee the effective storage of hydrogen gas (Campíñez-Romero et al., 2018). Since hydrogen is required to be stored in specially designed storage facilities, the absence of the most secured infrastructure creates a safety threat. These barriers present a hurdle that hinders the successful usage of hydrogen fuel as a substitute for petrol.
Current Research and Prototypes being presented
Research by different scholars has proven the potential of hydrogen to replace petrol in motorsports by a greater margin of advantages than petrol. However, there is a need to address the existing challenges and barriers that might hinder the efficient and effective deployment of hydrogen energy as an alternative to petrol (Rath et al., 2019). Therefore, there is continuous research and development into strategies to overcome the limitations and problems associated with using hydrogen as a substitute for gasoline. Manufacturers, scientists, and research engineers are currently creating more innovative ways through which hydrogen will fully serve as a substitute source of energy for petrol.
Among the current research that intends to solve the barrier and challenge of hydrogen energy storage barriers is the development of cheap storage materials that are viable for the greatest part of the market prospects. Researchers are creating novel materials and ways for storing hydrogen that is more efficient, safer, and less expensive (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). Scientists are striving to create hydrogen storage materials, such as metal-organic frameworks, that can store hydrogen at high densities and low pressures, making it safer and more feasible for transportation (Rath et al., 2019). This approach is driven toward eliminating possible dangers and hazards that result from the inappropriate handling of hydrogen gas.
Manufacturers are interested in creating a trusted network of services as the world is set to evolve into sustainable energy in different industries such the motorsports. Recent reports reveal that studies are being conducted to find out the possibility of using renewable hydrogen production techniques and mean that they will not pollute the ecosystem (Qazi et al., 2019). Most often, the production of hydrogen requires the allocation of large quantities of energy sources which are usually obtained from burning fossil fuels (Ishaq et al., 2022). Thus, the process of hydrogen production itself poses a threat to environmental pollution. As a result, researchers are working to develop methods of producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power (Madsen et al., 2020). This approach has the potential to minimize the carbon footprint and cost of hydrogen generation.
The Motorsports industry requires vehicles that have long ranges and are less costly to manufacture. Thus, organizations governing motorsports are focused on cost-saving and power performance of vehicles in recent competitions such as Formula 1 (Ju et al., 2021). To eliminate this barrier, automobile manufacturers are creating hydrogen fuel cell cars that are more efficient, have a longer range, and are less expensive to manufacture. Once this challenge is addressed, hydrogen cars will be able to fully replace petrol vehicles in motorsport races worldwide. These research manufacturers are also aimed to attract more customers and business partners who wish to invest their shares in organizations that appreciate the sustainability of the environment.
Manufacturers have also focused on the improvement of infrastructure that will be safer and more efficient for the supply, storage, and safety of hydrogen. Current research is, therefore, directed to the development of hydrogen transportation infrastructure (Campíñez-Romero et al., 2018). In this case, companies are exploring and developing new methods to carry hydrogen more effectively and safely, such as hydrogen pipelines and specialized hydrogen tankers. Over the past, hydrogen has had little and underdeveloped transportation infrastructure, while petrol has dominated with robust transportation means worldwide (Campíñez-Romero et al., 2018). There are several occasions and cases that have reported explosion of hydrogen due to poor transportation handling and means. Current research will elucidate transportation challenges by increasing channels such as pipelines and tanks to meet the supply demands in different parts of the world.
Hydrogen manufacturing companies are also working on the proposed high-pressure, lightweight hydrogen storage containers that can efficiently be installed in motorsports and other automobiles used for different purposes. This prototype is presented to give a lasting solution to the question of whether large storage tanks need to be manufactured in hydrogen-powered vehicles (Rath et al., 2019). Hydrogen storage tanks are usually large and heavy when designed to be used as fuel by vehicles. The large size and weight, therefore, might tend to exceed the recommended weight of any given vehicle. Further, motor racing vehicles are designed to have a considerably high speed that excites competitors and saves on the time taken in the race. Hence, the heavyweight may induce the aspect of time wastage and weigh out the recommended weight of cars that are gauged to perform in motorsport competitions. This research and development will be effective in ensuring that motorsports are enjoying standards of expected and yet powerful motors throughout the competitions.
Another current and suggested modification and development is the production of hydrogen by electrolysis. Researchers are attempting to create more efficient and cost-effective methods of manufacturing hydrogen using electrolysis (Ju et al., 2021). Electrolysis is the most frequent method that companies use to manufacture hydrogen. This method will be significant because it does emit greenhouse gas which is dangerous to the environment (Ju et al., 2021). Further, the increased demand for energy worldwide has prompted hydrogen-producing companies to improve fuel cells. Researchers are working to create more efficient and affordable fuel cells, which will assist in cutting the cost of hydrogen cars (Ju et al., 2021). In this manner, motorsport companies and organizations will not be driven away by the uneconomical cost incurred in acquiring hydrogen-powered automobiles.
In other research that is focused on the production of hydrogen, research has advanced to identify methods and ways in which hydrogen can be obtained from natural gas. This incentive is primarily focused on lowering the carbon footprint during the manufacturing process of hydrogen (Qazi et al., 2019). Generally, the establishment and development of hydrogen technology as a fuel alternative to petrol is still in its primary stage. Hence, there is more research development that companies and stakeholders need to carry out to overcome the barriers and constraints encountered while using hydrogen as an alternative to petrol.
Future Developments and what it will take
The future of hydrogen fuel is promising due to increased investment in the hydrogen business. Hydrogen manufacturing has risen amidst the campaigns that have continued to drive the world toward sustainable practices that make life safer and secure for future generations (Qazi et al., 2019). Further, the competitive nature of the energy market and the technological world has motivated many companies and investors to venture into manufacturing hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative to fuel. The motorsports industry has resolved to consider the deployment of hydrogen-powered racing vehicles to abide by the less pollution attributed to fossil fuels such as petrol. Fossil fuels have resulted in the emission of large quantities of greenhouse gas (Madsen et al., 2020). Therefore, there are advancements in the manufacturing and development of infrastructure that will make the use of hydrogen-powered motorsport cars effective and efficient in the future. However, even though hydrogen has shown the potential to replace petrol in motorsports, involved stakeholders will have to address different issues to ensure consumer satisfaction and market efficiency.
The introduction of hydrogen in motorsports will need various vital steps to implement. Among the steps required to be taken include the development of hydrogen storage and refueling infrastructure (Ishaq et al., 2022). Motorsport teams and organizations will need to establish efficient and reliable ways to transport and store hydrogen fuel. Thus, this condition will require the development of compact and lightweight hydrogen storage systems and the expansion of hydrogen refueling centers to avoid inconveniences during competitions. Another step that would be required to be explored is the upgrading of durable and powerful hydrogen fuel systems. In this manner, the fuel cell technology will need to prove its efficiency levels that will show development that surpasses and matches the performance of the internal combustion engine. This aspect of matching expectations in performance implies that there will be more research and development in significant areas of a fuel cell, such as power output and stack durability (Ishaq et al., 2022). Hence, motorsport teams will be required to do more research in the development of hydrogen fuel cell systems, overall vehicle design, and hydrogen storage systems.
There are accompanying regulation standards by motorsport organizations that will be used to gauge the viability of hydrogen vehicles from participating in competitions. These standards will include guidelines and rules that govern the vehicle’s safety, design, and performance (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). For this reason, agreements between hydrogen-based engine manufacturers such as the ICE and the FCEV will need to be reached for hydrogen vehicles to be injected into motorsport competitions (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). The current global thirst for energy solutions is a clear indication of the stiff competitive nature that has begun to exist in motorsports. Hence, it will require vital developments and advancements in technological infrastructure to prove hydrogen a viable substitute and alternative to petrol. However, the highly developing research in the energy sector is continuing to show that hydrogen has the potential to become an alternative and competitive energy and fuel source in the future.
There are other breakthroughs that motorsports organizations will need to observe for hydrogen to become a suitable substitute for petrol. Hydrogen-powered vehicles have not popularly gained market attention, and hence, the cost of acquiring them will be high (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). Thus, manufacturers will be required to develop cost-effective and efficient production technologies to ensure that the market achieves a balance among all interested parties. Addressing the issue of cost will be more advantageous for hydrogen to achieve a favorable competitive market advantage over traditional fossil fuels (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). However, this milestone can be overcome by facilitating research and innovation of new technologies and methodologies that can be used to produce hydrogen.
The existing and current challenge of inefficient hydrogen infrastructure, such as refueling points, also needs to be addressed in the future to avoid inconveniences during motorsport races. Storage facilities and transportation means and mechanisms will need extensive expansion to meet the required standards of supply across the globe (Campíñez-Romero et al., 2018). Furthermore, government intervention and regulations will serve a vital purpose in the growth of the hydrogen sector in its deployment in the motorsport industry. Governments will be required to support and fund research incentives necessary for the development of hydrogen infrastructure and vehicles and the standard quantities of hydrogen production, transportation, and storage (Tashie-Lewis & Nnabuife, 2021). These regulations will constitute the process of standardizing safety measures in motorsports. For this reason, for involved organizations to ensure that safety standards are made, the motorsports industry will have to set safety guidelines and standards for storing hydrogen, dispensing equipment, and transportation.
Conclusion
Hydrogen has the potential to be a clean and efficient replacement for gasoline because there are more advantages of using hydrogen fuel than resultant disadvantages. However, considerable barriers and challenges must be addressed before the technology can be widely embraced. The costs of manufacturing, storing, and transporting hydrogen, as well as the restricted infrastructure for using hydrogen as a fuel source, are among them. Research and development in these areas, however, is ongoing, with new technologies and methods being developed to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen generation, storage, and transportation. Government laws and regulations, as well as increasing investment in the hydrogen business, will all play an important part in the hydrogen industry’s development. Although the hydrogen industry is still in its primary evolution, with continuing efforts to address these limitations and challenges, hydrogen has the potential to become a viable alternative to petrol in the future.
References
Ahmadi, P. (2019). Environmental impacts and behavioral drivers of deep decarbonization for transportation through electric vehicles. Journal of Cleaner Production, 225, 1209-1219. Web.
Bingham, T., Moore, M., De Caux, T., & Pacino, M. (2022). Design, build, test and flight of the world’s fastest electric aircraft. IET Electrical Systems in Transportation, 4(29), 223-402. Web.
Bögel, P., Oltra, C., Sala, R., Lores, M., Upham, P., Dütschke, E., Uta, B., & Wiemann, P. (2018). The role of attitudes in technology acceptance management: Reflections on the case of hydrogen fuel cells in Europe. Journal of Cleaner Production, 188, 125-135. Web.
Campíñez-Romero, S., Colmenar-Santos, A., Pérez-Molina, C., & Mur-Pérez, F. (2018). A hydrogen refuelling stations infrastructure deployment for cities supported on fuel cell taxi roll-out. Energy, 148, 1018-1031. Web.
Faizal, M., Feng, S. Y., Zureel, M. F., Sinidol, B. E., Wong, D., & Jian, G. K. (2019). A review on challenges and opportunities of electric vehicles (evs). J. Mech. Eng. Res. Dev, 42(4), 130-137. Web.
Felseghi, R. A., Carcadea, E., Raboaca, M. S., Trufin, C. N., & Filote, C. (2019). Hydrogen fuel cell technology for the sustainable future of stationary applications. Energies, 12(23), 4593. Web.
Hacking, N., Pearson, P., & Eames, M. (2019). Mapping innovation and diffusion of hydrogen fuel cell technologies: evidence from the UK’s hydrogen fuel cell technological innovation system, 1954–2012. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 44(57), 29805-29848. Web.
Hienuki, S., Hirayama, Y., Shibutani, T., Sakamoto, J., Nakayama, J., & Miyake, A. (2019). How knowledge about or experience with hydrogen fueling stations improves their public acceptance. Sustainability, 11(22), 6339. Web.
Ishaq, H., Dincer, I., & Crawford, C. (2022). A review on hydrogen production and utilization: Challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 47(62), 26238-26264. Web.
Ju, N., Lee, K. H., & Kim, S. H. (2021). Factors affecting consumer awareness and the purchase of eco-friendly vehicles: Textual analysis of Korean market. Sustainability, 13(10), 5566. Web.
Ko, S., & Shin, J. (2023). Projection of fuel cell electric vehicle demand reflecting the feedback effects between market conditions and market share affected by spatial factors. Energy Policy, 173, Web.
Luo, Y., Wu, Y., Li, B., Qu, J., Feng, S. P., & Chu, P. K. (2021). Optimization and cutting‐edge design of fuel‐cell hybrid electric vehicles. International Journal of Energy Research, 45(13), 18392-18423. Web.
Madsen, R. T., Klebanoff, L. E., Caughlan, S. A. M., Pratt, J. W., Leach, T. S., Appelgate Jr, T. B., Kelety, S. Z., Wntervoll, H. C., Haugom, G. P., Teo, A. T. Y., & Ghosh, S. (2020). Feasibility of the Zero-V: A zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell coastal research vessel. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 45(46), 25328-25343. Web.
Obenaus-Emler, R., Lehner, M., Murphy, M., & Pacher, C. (2021). Educational concept for citizens’ awareness towards technological advancements for a sustainable society—introducing a concept for interactive societal learning on hydrogen and carbon. BHM Berg-und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte, 166(6), 314-322. Web.
Palmer, C. (2022). Hydrogen-powered trains start to roll. Engineering, 11, 9-11. Web.
Qazi, A., Hussain, F., Rahim, N. A., Hardaker, G., Alghazzawi, D., Shaban, K., & Haruna, K. (2019). Towards sustainable energy: A systematic review of renewable energy sources, technologies, and public opinions. IEEE Access, 7, 63837-63851. Web.
Rath, R., Kumar, P., Mohanty, S., & Nayak, S. K. (2019). Recent advances, unsolved deficiencies, and future perspectives of hydrogen fuel cells in transportation and portable sectors. International Journal of Energy Research, 43(15), 8931-8955. Web.
Rivard, E., Trudeau, M., & Zaghib, K. (2019). Hydrogen storage for mobility: A review. Materials, 12(12), 1973. Web.
Rubio, F., Llopis-Albert, C., & Besa, A. J. (2023). Optimal allocation of energy sources in hydrogen production for sustainable deployment of electric vehicles. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 188, 122290. Web.
Sun, Z., Hong, J., Zhang, T., Sun, B., Yang, B., Lu, L., Li, L., & Wu, K. (2022). Hydrogen engine operation strategies: Recent progress, industrialization challenges, and perspectives. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 48(1), 366-392. Web.
Tashie-Lewis, B. C., & Nnabuife, S. G. (2021). Hydrogen production, distribution, storage and power conversion in a hydrogen economy-a technology review. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, 8, 100172. Web.
Thomas, J. M., Edwards, P. P., Dobson, P. J., & Owen, G. P. (2020). Decarbonising energy: The developing international activity in hydrogen technologies and fuel cells. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 51, 405-415. Web.
Wu, D., Ren, J., Davies, H., Shang, J., & Haas, O. (2019). Intelligent hydrogen fuel cell range extender for battery electric vehicles. World Electric Vehicle Journal, 10(2), 29. Web.
Yin, Y., Liu, S., Yang, Y., Gong, D., Liu, M., Liu, G., Wu, P., Xu, Q., Yu, C., & Zeng, G. (2023). Polyethyleneimine-polyvinylchloride-based crosslinked membranes for use in PEM water electrolysis operating above 100° C. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 48(1), 24-34. Web.