THE PROBLEM OF DECARBONIZATION IN ROAD TRANSPORTATION: ELECTRIC VEHICLE, WITH HYDROGEN OR E-FUEL?

The article analyzes the challenges and comparative advantages of three main technological alternatives for decarbonizing road transportation in Spain: electric vehicles (EVs), hydrogen-powered vehicles, and internal combustion engine vehicles using synthetic e-fuels. It evaluates each option’s energy consumption, CO2 emissions, infrastructure requirements, and system efficiencies within the Spanish and European energy contexts, emphasizing that EVs produce the lowest operational emissions but require significant battery production and charging infrastructure upgrades. Hydrogen vehicles, while also zero-emission during use, demand extensive new infrastructure and higher electricity input for hydrogen production, with fuel cell systems being more efficient than hydrogen combustion engines. E-fuels can utilize existing vehicle fleets and infrastructure but involve high electricity consumption for production and depend on renewable energy to achieve carbon footprint reductions. The study concludes that no single solution suffices for decarbonization; instead, a combination of these technologies should be further researched and promoted.