Reader Response Draft 4

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  According to Hyundai Newsroom (2018), car emissions significantly impact air quality in urban areas. In response, the automotive industry is striving to create a cleaner environment through the development of eco-friendly vehicles. This effort is evident in Singapore, which has increasingly incentivized and subsidized consumers to transition to electric vehicles (EVs) over the past decade. Supporting this shift, DataCommons (2020) reports that Singapore’s carbon emissions were 7.69 metric tons in 2020. Additionally, 33% of households in Singapore own a four-wheeled private vehicle, which is equivalent to nearly one in three residents, despite a 40% decrease in vehicle ownership since 2014 (Loi, 2023). This trend suggests that vehicle ownership may rise further due to Singapore’s growing GDP and increasing demand for private transportation. Hydrogen fuel cells, a key technology in eco-friendly vehicles, generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water vapor as a byproduct. In the market, there are three types of vehicles utilizing hydrogen: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (HICEVs), and Plug-in Hybrid Hydrogen Vehicles (PHHVs). The Hyundai Nexo, which belongs to the FCEV category, uses Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. These fuel cells operate at moderately low temperatures and have a high power density, making them highly efficient for commuting vehicles. PEM fuel cells are favored for their superior ability to efficiently convert chemical energy into electricity and their durability, as they have fewer movable parts and lower maintenance requirements (Lhyfe Heroes, 2024).  Additionally, hydrogen fuel cells, particularly PEM fuel cells, offer significant environmental benefits. They produce only water vapor as a byproduct, contributing to zero emissions and reducing air pollution. This clean energy technology can help decrease greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, aligning with global sustainability goals (Alternative Fuels Data Center, n.d.). Moreover, hydrogen can be produced from various renewable sources, such as solar and wind, further enhancing its potential as a sustainable energy solution (Department of Energy, 2022). These features make hydrogen fuel cells a highly sustainable alternative to traditional internal combustion engines. In 2019, Hyundai unveiled the Hyundai Nexo, a vehicle unlike any other on the road. Powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology, it showcases hydrogen's potential as a clean energy source. The Hyundai Nexo can travel over 600 kilometers on a single charge without emitting any pollutants, demonstrating hydrogen's promise for the future of sustainable public and private transportation. According to GraniteHyundai (n.d.), hydrogen fuel cell technology works by combining hydrogen with oxygen to generate electricity. Compressed hydrogen gas is forced through a fuel cell stack that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. This process produces only water vapor, avoiding harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide, making it a much more eco-friendly alternative to conventional gasoline-powered engines and their associated emissions.

  Sustainable infrastructures, such as the lack of hydrogen charging points, economical funding for production, and consumer demand, are problems that Singapore must address before the implementation of such technology.

  The high energy efficiency and low environmental impact of hydrogen fuel cells make them a promising alternative to traditional energy sources. With applications ranging from powering vehicles to stationary power plants, hydrogen fuel cells stand out due to their adaptability. For example, hydrogen fuel cells take about 8 minutes to be fully charged, compared to the 21 minutes required for an electric vehicle (EV) with a similar tank capacity (Hyundai Motor Company, 2024). Furthermore, their efficiency rating of 60% surpasses the 30–35% efficiency of traditional fuel-powered engines, directly leading to lower carbon dioxide emissions (Hu, Su, & Wei, 2023).

  Despite their benefits, hydrogen fuel cell technology faces significant challenges, particularly in terms of infrastructure. There are over 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations worldwide, compared to the thousands of electric vehicle charging stations (Darshan, 2023). Recognizing these limitations, Singapore launched the National Hydrogen Strategy in 2022 to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions and address the lack of hydrogen infrastructure. This initiative aims to utilize hydrogen for up to half of Singapore’s power needs by 2050, supported by projects like hydrogen fuel cell buses introduced by SBS Transit (Eng, 2024). However, this strategy requires substantial investment in production and research (Ministry of Trade, 2022). 

  In conclusion, hydrogen fuel cells are a promising alternative to traditional sources like fossil fuels. Hydrogen fuel cells could help revolutionize sustainable clean energy in Singapore with the assistance of infrastructural advancements in expanding hydrogen charging stations. The government could also rally interest to increase consumer demand for the switch from electric-powered vehicles to hydrogen-powered vehicles using incentives and subsidies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

 

Alternative Fuels Data Center. (n.d.). Hydrogen benefits. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/hydrogen_benefits.html

DataCommons. (2020). Singapore carbon emissions. https://datacommons.org/place/country/SGP

Department of Energy. (2022). Hydrogen and fuel cells 101. https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/hydrogen-fuel-cells-101-jan2022.pdf

Eng, J. (2024). Singapore’s commitment to sustainable green energy. https://www.sustainableenergy.sg

GraniteHyundai. (n.d.). Hyundai Nexo: The future of clean energy. https://www.granitehyundai.com/hyundai-nexo

Hyundai Motor Company. (2024). Hydrogen fuel cell technology. https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/eco/hydrogen

Hyundai Newsroom. (2018). Car emissions and air quality. https://news.hyundai.com

Hu, J., Su, Y., & Wei, L. (2023). Efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells. Journal of Clean Energy, 15(2), 123-135.

Loi, J. (2023). Vehicle ownership trends in Singapore. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/share-of-resident-households-owning-cars-drops-to-one-third-amid-singapore-s-car-lite-push

Lhyfe Heroes. (2024). Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. https://www.lhyfeheroes.com

Ministry of Trade. (2022). National Hydrogen Strategy. https://www.mti.gov.sg

Darshan, S. (2023). The state of hydrogen refueling infrastructure. https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com

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