The automotive sector’s adoption of electric vehicles has spiked dramatically in the past year. With pressure for manufacturers to become more eco-friendly, the industry’s biggest names continue to invest time and money into developing the latest electric vehicles. However, concerns over charging time and mileage range is a major stumbling block, something which may always be an issue. Therefore several automakers have been looking into hydrogen powered cars as an environmentally friendly alternative, something which could solve one of the biggest problems facing motorists today.

It is clear to see why hydrogen is being touted as a viable fuel source, as the only by-product is water. There are challenges when it comes to production, storage, transportation and distribution, however, when you consider the long and complex process of drilling for crude oil beneath the Earth’s surface before being refined for use in millions of vehicles worldwide, the adoption of hydrogen doesn’t seem so absurd.

Pioneers of hydrogen powered cars Honda unveiled the FCX Clarity in 2007, the world’s first ever fuel cell vehicle. Hydrogen cars like the FCX Clarity are unique in that they generate their own power - the on-board fuel cell combines hydrogen with water to make electricity which powers the motor to make the car move. Several other manufacturers have been rapidly progressing and developing their own fuel cell cars in response to Honda’s initial offering. Hyundai’s ix35 fuel cell vehicle is now in its third generation and Toyota has modified its Highlander SUV to run on hydrogen. Mercedes-Benz also recently unveiled they would launch a mass-produced fuel cell car in 2014 likely to be based on the next-generation B-Class model. However, even though Honda is continuing to build a network of refuelling stations to accommodate a growing customer base, the potential locations to top up your hydrogen car conveniently are incredibly scarce. This has caused several automakers to cool their interest in hydrogen cars and instead turn their attention to pure electric power, which only requires a domestic plug for charging.

Also, due to hydrogen's highly volatile nature, simply storing it in a standard car fuel tank could become potentially catastrophic if involved in a collision. Therefore, engineers and researchers are working hard to make the fuel source more safe and stable. Scientists at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed molecular scale 'veins' of iron permeating grains of magnesium which can rapidly absorb and release hydrogen. Meanwhile the University of Southern California has devised a way to efficiently catalyse the release of hydrogen from ammonia borane - a nitrogen-boron complex than can be stored as a stable solid – as a fuel. These advances are clearly steps in the right direction, but like anything else will need the financial support and backing of major institutions to truly get off the ground.

While electric vehicles still do not have the same fuelling convenience or mileage range of current petrol powered cars, manufacturers are working hard to find viable solutions. Although hydrogen seems like an answer, concerns over refuelling infrastructure and safe storage remain. It seems like whatever developments take place in the future, electric vehicles will continue to gain momentum, whether powered by hydrogen or not.