It is no secret that a large amount of our emissions come from transportation (28% to be exact). 

Follow this blog with this guide:

Electric vehicles (EVs)

1. We all know about electric vehicles and Elon Musk right? But, how do they actually work?
   Electric vehicles are powered by electricity (this is obvious but stick with me please!). This electricity is typically stored in traditional lithium-ion batteries (Check out this blog for more info!). These batteries replace the internal combustion engines found in most cars. However, one important aspect of ensuring that these cars have their intended ‘eco-friendly’ effect is their source of energy – there isn’t much point to an electric vehicle if it is being powered by a coal-fired power station – as a result, EV companies pay extra attention to this. For example, Tesla powers its electric vehicles with solar panels. The panels store the energy in battery packs. However, when solar energy isn’t available, Tesla taps into the grid. 
2. Owning an EV is relatively straightforward. Firstly, you save on gas money as there are no trips to the petrol station. Secondly, charging is free – you can even have your own charger installed at home if you plan on keeping an EV long-term. Designated public charging spots are also widely available. However, the main drawback when it comes to charging EVs is that it can take many hours. If you are leasing an EV this can be especially problematic as it wouldn’t be economical to install your own charger at home, meaning you would have to arrange charging elsewhere in public parking (not to mention having to find a ride home once you have plugged in your car).
3. Typically, EVs can convert 80% of the electricity in their batteries into useful energy. This is because, unlike a traditional car, there isn’t a midway step. In a traditional car, the fuel is burnt to produce heat which produces motion.
4. Due to EVs becoming more widespread, they have become more affordable. EVs are slowly inching their way towards traditional car prices. An average new conventional car costs $48,008 and an average new EV costs $53,376.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (aka hydrogen cars)

1. Hydrogen cars are less widely used than electric vehicles. They are considerably less common; there are only 56,000 units of hydrogen cars on the road right now.
   Like EVs, hydrogen cars use electrochemical reactions, within a cell, to produce energy. These hydrogen vehicles use hydrogen (H2) to produce energy. The H2 becomes 2H+, giving off one electron (e-) each. This electron travels around an external circuit to generate an electric current, whereas the proton passes through the electrolyte.
   Despite the only product being water vapor, hydrogen vehicles are still subject to accusations of not being as ‘environmentally friendly’ as they are marketed. For example, one issue is that to obtain hydrogen gas you need to ‘reform natural gas’. This natural gas, which is mostly methane (CH4), reacts with water (H2O) to produce carbon monoxide (CO) and 3 hydrogen moles (3H2). Natural gas has negative environmental implications by itself, however, carbon monoxide is a deadly toxic gas. All this means that hydrogen vehicles may not be as ‘eco-friendly’ or as exempt from scrutiny as we may have thought. 
2. Unlike EVs, hydrogen vehicle infrastructure is not as developed. There are currently significantly fewer refuelling stations and developing them will be costly. However, hydrogen cars, like traditional vehicles, can fill up to full capacity in a few minutes, considerably faster than EVs.
3. Hydrogen vehicles are typically less efficient than their EV counterparts, only converting 40% of their battery into useful energy. This is due to energy vector transition.
4. Hydrogen vehicles typically cost more than EVs, with the average at $58,000. 

Note: Hydrogen gas is a highly flammable gas in the presence of air. Although all hydrogen cars must go through extreme tests to ensure their safety, there is no doubt that storing a tank full of hydrogen is more dangerous than relying on an EV.

Which is better?

Well, that is up for you to decide, based on your needs. For example, this blog favors EVs (as they are the more developed technology), however, hydrogen cars also have their merits; an EV can have a range from 100-350 miles, whereas a hydrogen car can range from 400-600 miles. So, the answer to that question can vary from person to person.