A hydrogen-powered vehicle has been introduced for the first time in Nepal. Kathmandu University has brought a new vehicle from Korea to research hydrogen fuel.
With the help of Nepal Oil Corporation, KU has established a Green Hydrogen Lab and is conducting studies in this regard. Hydrogen fuel produced by KU will be used in the vehicle.
Associate Professor Dr. Biraj Singh Thapa at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University said that KU has developed the capacity to produce and store hydrogen.
"We have brought a vehicle and a refueling center to show that the vehicle can also run on hydrogen," Thapa said.
He said that it would be easy to operate small vehicles with batteries, but hydrogen fuel would be suitable for driving large vehicles.
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EVs are an alternative to petrol-powered vehicles. Even in Nepal, there is a possibility of that," said Dr. Thapa, the head of Green Hydrogen Lab. Thapa says, "But the alternative to diesel-powered vehicles is not battery, but hydrogen."
With the introduction of the first hydrogen car in Nepal, the door to its research has opened. However, the government of Nepal has not yet defined hydrogen as a fuel. So now there is a legal hurdle to bring hydrogen cars commercially. According to him, the government needs to make legal clarity as to how much tax will be levied on hydrogen vehicles, even if the vehicles brought for research are exempted from tax.
Vehicles powered by other than fuels classified by the Department of Transport cannot be driven on the road.
"It is necessary to make a national policy on hydrogen in Nepal," he said, "the faster the policy is made, the faster hydrogen fuel can be used commercially."
How suitable is the vehicle powered by hydrogen in Nepal?
Alternatives to petroleum products are being sought all over the world. Hydro, solar, and wind-generated electricity are being used in various ways for transportation. The vehicle is operated by storing electricity in the battery and operating the vehicle by extracting hydrogen from water.
KU has introduced a vehicle that can travel 600 km on a single charge of hydrogen. Hyundai's 2019 Nexo car is the second generation hydrogen vehicle.
A hydrogen fuel vehicle is like an electric vehicle. In an EV, the battery provides power to the motor,'' said Nitesh Yadav, project engineer of Green Hydrogen Lab.
The vehicle has a hydrogen storage capacity of 6 kg. There are 3 high-pressure tanks for that. If there is good electricity, 6 kg of hydrogen can be produced from 55 liters of water. The vehicle can be filled with hydrogen from the refueling center in 5 to 6 minutes.
KU has introduced 'Prototype Onsite Hydrogen Production and Refueling Unit'. It can produce only 2 kg of hydrogen per day. By increasing the capacity of its buffer tank, production can also be increased.
Hyundai has made a vehicle that can travel 1000 km on a single charge of hydrogen. Tata is also setting up a refueling center as a precursor to operating hydrogen-powered trucks and buses commercially.
"Hydrogen development is being researched not only in Nepal but all over the world," said Dr. Thapa, "In India, Tata has made a commercial truck that can carry 15 to 20 tons of hydrogen. You can board a hydrogen bus from Delhi to Jaipur by buying a ticket."
Hydrogen production from water and electricity
"Nepal will bring hydrogen buses and refueling equipment. But if hydrogen fuel is also imported, how can we be self-sufficient in fuel?'' He said, "Refueling stations only need water and electricity. Which is enough in Nepal. Will we produce hydrogen ourselves or will we bring it like we are bringing diesel from India now?"
Bishnu Pandey, who is doing research at the Green Hydrogen Lab, said that hydrogen can be produced from water and stored. He said that hydrogen and methane can be produced by using Nepal's water and electricity.
"We have produced hydrogen and cooked noodles and eaten them. Now we are preparing to use it in the cafeteria of KU," said Pandey, "Methane can be made by mixing carbon dioxide with hydrogen and can be used as an alternative to LPG gas."
Thapa said that it depends on the policy of the government either to import hydrogen by selling electricity in Nepal or to export hydrogen by consuming the produced electricity.
"Now, to increase the consumption of hydro, hydrogen can be extracted from water and used as new energy," said Thapa, "Hydrogen can be used to run airplanes, buses, cars, and industries."
He says that research has progressed in developed countries to use hydrogen where petrol, diesel, and coal are used.
