Analysis of the Risks of Hydrogen Leakage from Hydrogen-Powered Cars and Their Possible Impact on Automotive Market Share Increase

For the safe operation of a hydrogen-powered car, one of the strategic requirements is to design the drive chain so that it is burdened with the least possible risk. At the same time, in order to be able to use it in normal operation, it is necessary to create a risk management system throughout the life of the car so that risks are minimized to the level of their acceptability not only by customers but also by a comprehensive infrastructure during its technical life. Experience has shown that one of the decisive risks in the operation of a hydrogen-powered car is the leakage of hydrogen from the car’s fuel system. The article analyzes the pressure effects on obstacles in the explosion of 1 m3 of a stoichiometric mixture of hydrogen and air. The analysis of the instantaneous pressures as a function of time describes the possible consequences for the human body and the surrounding objects with regard to the distance from the center of the explosion.