Hybrid and electric cars are a common sight on the road now days… but with a few exceptions, the RV industry hasn’t kept pace with these new technologies. Many RV enthusiasts long for an alternative for their homes on the road, as most RVs do tend to consume a lot of gas.
Fortunately, the future of green RVing is coming our way in the form of hydrogen cell fuel innovations. Thanks to the election of Joe Biden in the U.S., the climate is now much friendlier toward new, green technologies.
Companies like Elyte Energy are developing hydrogen cell RVs to make your future vacation on the road more eco-friendly. Read on to learn more about the future of green RVing.
How Hydrogen Cell Fuel Works
Let’s start with some basics: What, exactly, is hydrogen cell fuel? Without getting too technical, this innovative fuel is made from hydrogen — otherwise known as the most abundant element on earth. The sheer amount of hydrogen available is a plus; that means no expensive extraction methods that cause environmental damage, and no need to go to war over resources.
Hydrogen contains an extremely high amount of energy by weight. Hydrogen fuel cells unlock that energy, which may be held in organic matter, water or hydrocarbons, or naturally occurring chemical compounds that consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
The best part about hydrogen fuel is that it can be produced in ways that have a lower environmental impact than fossil fuel-based production. For instance, it can be created using water and solar energy, a process that simply results in hydrogen, oxygen and water.
Hydrogen fuel cells produce “clean” electricity. They’re kind of like batteries, in that they produce power without creating emissions. But unlike batteries, fuel cells don’t run down. They don’t even need to recharge like electric vehicles do, as long as they have a constant supply of oxygen and fuel.
Are Hydrogen Cell RVs the Future of Green RVing?
Elyte Energy certainly thinks so. This green energy startup began in November of 2020, right after the U.S. presidential election. Founder Dr. Jalaal Hayes knew hydrogen technology was the direction of the future, and election results meant that the climate was about to get a lot more friendly toward green energy innovation.
Dr. Hayes, who earned his Ph.D. in applied chemistry when he was just 22 years old, has been working in green technology since 2011 when he completed a student internship with NASA. Dr. Hayes describes hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, or a chemical that can be turned into electricity. The only byproduct? Water vapor.
Elyte Energy is developing a way to store hydrogen in a type of power bank that’s able to recharge itself… and power all kinds of devices and machines. A prototype is already being used to power iPhones.
Next in line for development? A power bank about the size of a briefcase that can be used to power — you guessed it — an RV. The RV community has long enjoyed customizing and modifying their homes on wheels, and now a hydrogen cell fuel option appears to be right around the corner.
It’ll eliminate the need to stop for gas, or even to stop to recharge. Elyte Energy’s invention means that a modified RV will create zero emissions; just a bit of water vapour, and even that will be recycled through an electrolysis process that keeps the power banks full.
Though we don’t yet have a date when the power banks will be available for sale, they’re on the horizon. Keep watch for this innovation that has the power to change the way you RV.