ISSUE 68 MAY 2024
THE VOICE OF THE NEW ZEALAND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
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Hydrogen: Could it save the planet? AS THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT PREPARES TO UNVEIL A HYDROGEN ROADMAP THIS YEAR, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE BASICS OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR
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reenhouse gas emissions from national transport account for the largest share of total energy sector emissions in New Zealand, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Electric Vehicles (EVs) are seen as the chief decarbonising technology in cars, and many see hydrogen as a potential solution for aviation, shipping, and heavy commercial vehicles. New Zealand has an ambitious target of reaching net zero emissions of all long-lived greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) — mainly from
burning fossil fuels, agriculture, and animal farming — by 2050. These are gases that can stay in the atmosphere for decades or even thousands of years, potentially impacting the climate and ozone layer for several generations. The Government has seen this transition as an opportunity to find and institute a highly renewable, sustainable, and efficient energy and industry sector that supports a low-emissions economy and highly skilled jobs. To reach this target, many different approaches are being instituted. One
is the decarbonisation of cars, including light and heavy vehicles, and this includes the use of hydrogen.
HOW IS HYDROGEN PRODUCED? Hydrogen is a versatile and clean fuel that can be produced from various resources, including natural gas, biomass, and renewables (solar and wind). It is used in transportation, electricity generation, and other applications. Its main drawcard is that it produces only water when consumed in a fuel cell.
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