Editor’s Report - July 2025
We are living in one of the world’s most turbulent times politically and in the motoring industries with combustion engines using petrol or hydrogen, then Hybrid and finally EV. There is much debate on the future of all energy types, Hydrogen Production for Cars: A Clean Fuel Future Hydrogen is emerging as a promising clean fuel for cars, especially in the push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) use hydrogen to generate electricity, emitting only water vapor as a byproduct. However, the sustainability of hydrogenpowered cars heavily depends on how the hydrogen is produced.
Hydrogen Production Methods
Steam Methane Reforming (SMR): This is the most common method today. It extracts hydrogen from natural gas but releases significant CO₂, making it less eco-friendly unless paired with carbon capture.
Electrolysis: This process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. When powered by renewable sources like solar or wind, it produces green hydrogen, which is entirely carbon-free.
Other Methods: These include biomass gasification and thermochemical water splitting, though they are less commercially widespread.
Challenges and Outlook
Despite its potential, hydrogen production for vehicles faces challenges: high costs, limited infrastructure, and the need for clean energy sources. Still, with continued investment and innovation, hydrogen could play a key role in the transition to sustainable transportation, especially for heavy-duty and long-range applications.
In summary, hydrogen-powered cars hold great promise, but the focus must shift toward clean production methods to fully realize their environmental benefits.
Now the current issue:
A little research shows there are over 400 BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) manufacturers globally, 300 of the 400 are from China. Obviously, there will be many casualties along the way, unfortunately some of the major manufacturers of BEV & ICE cars will disappear. Another disturbing trend is pricing for used BEV cars after they are purchased, in the UK we see a 50% depreciation at year 1 and upwards of 60% at year 3.
Let’s just enjoy our PMC’s and watch from the side! There certainly is still demand for the marques we own and treasure.
Wayne Spittle