
Could a car’s only emission be water?
With more cars on the roads than ever before, the need for new fuels that can help reduce emissions from transport and improve air quality is growing increasingly important. One of these fuels is hydrogen, which can swap traditionally-powered cars’ exhaust emissions for water vapour.
There are more cars on our roads than ever before. A growing number of drivers are recognising the need to cut carbon emissions and address air quality challenges. One possible solution is hydrogen.

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Title: Shell Better Energy Future Hydrogen Future Fuels KM
Duration: 45”
Hydrogen Future Fuels transcript
(Shell track plays)
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Open on a light purple screen with a blue text box in the centre
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VO & super: How can a car’s only emission be water?
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The box expands to include all the copy and an animation of both a car & a water droplet, connecting to the highlighted words.
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With the number of vehicles on our roads still growing, Shell is developing cleaner ways to help people get around.
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Like cars powered by hydrogen.
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We see a Hydrogen car driving
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Cars powered by hydrogen
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Hydrogen fuel cells drive motors which give all the performance of a conventional car…
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The hydrogen car continues to drive with the fuel cell and motor being pulled out
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Fuel cell
Motor
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…that can be fully refuelled in minutes
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The car is being refuelled at a Hydrogen station, we see a Shell pump and a stop clock timing it
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…with a range of more than 500km.
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500km
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And the only emission? H20. Water.
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The hydrogen car drives and a yellow circle appears with a visual of water coming out of the exhaust onto a hand, the H20 symbol appears
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Water
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Shell is developing hydrogen fuel stations in California and across Germany and the UK…
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We see a town with the H2 symbol being pulled out along with the Shell logo. A map of the US, UK & Germany appear along side
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…in addition to developing and supplying a range of other future fuels, like Liquefied Natural Gas and biofuels……as well as charging points for electric vehicles.
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Future Fuels
LNG
BIO
E.V.
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These are just some of the ways that Shell is helping to bring better energy to everyone.
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A globe with pulling out the UK, China, India, Kenya, Brazil, Germany, and the US
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#makethefuture
Shell Pectan
Shell mnemonic
Hydrogen-powered cars work by converting compressed hydrogen into electricity which powers its engine – a process which generates only water vapour and heat emissions.
Hydrogen-fuelled cars are also convenient for drivers. They can offer similar performance and acceleration to fossil-fuel cars, can recharge their fuel cells much quicker than electric vehicles’ batteries, and offer long journey times – with some car models going as far as 500 kilometres without running dry.
Shell has already opened hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK and on the west coast of the USA, and there are plans to grow this network even further. The company is developing a nationwide network of 400 hydrogen fuelling stations in Germany as part of a joint venture, while in the US, Shell is working with Honda and Toyota to grow California’s hydrogen fuelling system.
Hydrogen, however, is not the only future fuel that can help reduce transport emissions. Others, such as battery-power, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and advanced biofuels will all also play a role in our continued energy transition. And while the fuels of tomorrow will certainly be different to those of the past, what’s clear is that they will be instrumental in helping bring about a new age of transport.
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