Yachting World

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL

What is it? An 8kW plug-and-play hydrogen fuel cell conceived as a range extender for electric propulsion or as a silent stand-alone generator for larger yachts

Who’s it for? Early adopters looking to gain the benefits of this innovative carbon-free technology

Nearly a decade ago there was plenty of talk about hydrogen power becoming the carbon-free future for the automotive industry, yet we rarely hear about it now. So what happened? There are a number of reasons, including lower initial costs for battery powered vehicles in the early part of the electric vehicle revolution, and the high cost of platinum needed as a catalyst for fuel cells, which put the brakes on their adoption.

However, there are currently huge environmental and human costs in mining the cobalt used in lithium ion batteries – one of a number of factors that will make it difficult to scale existing technology up to several multiples of today’s level of production.

Much hope for the future is pinned on improved battery chemistry and eye-watering amounts of money are being poured into this, but any potential game changing developments

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Yachting World

Yachting World8 min read
Unlikely Hero
When the Great Seamanship column put out to sea 20 years ago, the extracts were drawn from classic sailing literature, much of it written before World War II. As years went by, we realised we were missing a trick and that a stream of eclectic new mat
Yachting World1 min read
2024 Hurricane Season Warning
AccuWeather is among the forecasters predicting a very active 2024 hurricane season, which officially begins on 1 June. “The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to feature well above the historical average number of tropical storms, hurricanes
Yachting World11 min read
The Mighty Essequibo
You don’t see Guyana as you approach it from the ocean, its low-lying coastline perfectly camouflaged against the hazy tropical horizon as the sun rises. And yet you sense it in so many other ways: the pungent petrichor of South American rainforest,

Related