Most Hydrogen Vehicles Are Also Electric Vehicles

[Walt]

Almost all hydrogen vehicles use power cells to convert the hydrogen into electricity. Hydrogen is very difficult to control burn, so power cells is the only real answer. Hydrogen is used as the chemical in a non-rechargeable chemical battery. The electric motor design does not care what type of battery is used.

Almost all modern trains are electric. The preferred way to power the electric motor in trains is through overhead electrical lines, but America has underinvested in rail infrastructure, so we are stuck with diesel generators powering the electric motors.

One nice part about pure electric vehicles, like rechargeable EV cars, or overhead electric trains, is the electricity can come from whatever source is best. A diesel train, or truck requires diesel. If diesel is in short supply, too bad, it requires diesel.

 

[T. A. Gardner]

So? It's how the electricity is generated that's important. Batteries are just a storage device, and not a very efficient one at that. Hydrogen or anhydrous ammonia are fuels that generate energy that can be turned into electricity. They are no different than gasoline in that respect.

EV power doesn't come "from whatever source is best" but rather from whatever source is available. However, that source is neither portable nor fungible. So, if you are off the grid you are screwed in an EV. In a vehicle that uses portable fuel, you can just bring more along, or have someone get some for you and you are good to go.

America doesn't invest in rail infrastructure outside of freight for a good reason. Passenger rail in a large nation is unviable and inflexible compared to alternatives. It is also slow--even with high speed rail. Aircraft are flexible. They can fly to different destinations on a whim. Airports are relatively cheap to build compared to rail.

As for your note about diesel... EV's require specific voltages to work. If the one you need isn't available you can't recharge your car, or it may become horribly inefficient to do so. If fuels like gasoline and diesel were an ongoing problem, you can switch vehicles to being multi- or flex-fueled and the problem is largely solved.