Whatever happened to Fuel Cell automobiles promised in 2010?

In the past seven or eight years the world’s carmakers have had a few distractions, which have taken up quite a bit of time: new hybrid models; diesels, electric cars — plug-ins, and a couple bankruptcies.

There is a new target introduction date for fuel cells: 2015.

All the major manufacturers have spent billions of dollars, along with the federal government, of course, in fuel cell research and development. There have been significant technological improvements since BMW, General Motors, Ford, Honda and Toyota began road testing prototypes, according to a report in Automotive News:

Automakers have been able to reduce the fuel cell’s size by as much as 50 percent, compared with units they were testing a few years ago. They have also reduced the cost of some of the highest-cost parts, such as platinum.

The fuel cell powertrain consists of four elements:
1) A tank that stores hydrogen.
2) A fuel cell stack that converts by hydrogen and oxygen into heat and water, creating electricity.
3) Lithium ion batteries that store the electricity.
4) A power unit that controls the flow of electricity to the electric motors.

The Automotive News article added, “Unlike a battery-powered vehicle that can take six, seven, eight hours to recharge, a hydrogen refill takes 3.5 minutes. Also, while a battery-powered vehicle has a range of about 100 miles (40 miles on a Chevrolet Volt), depending on conditions, Honda’s Clarity, a mid-sized sedan, can travel 240 miles on hydrogen. GM expects 300 miles for its fuel cell car.”

Automakers say electric vehicles powered by fuel cells compare well with internal combustion engines with calalytic converters:
• More than twice as efficient
• Comparable precious-metal content
• Compare durability
• Compare range — about 300 miles
• Comparable performance
• 60 percent fewer parts
• 90 percent fewer moving parts
• Zero emissions
• Zero petroleum
• Cold and hot weather capability
• Make family-sized vehicles possible
• Fast refueling

The push for fuel cells also is charged by automakers’ realization that hybrid plug-in, hybrid and battery-powered vehicles collectively will be unable to meet stiffer CO2 regulations later this decade, according to the report.

There are still major drawbacks to fuel cell vehicles, however. The present system of producing petroleum products and moving the fuel to the pump is inadequate for fuel cells.

GM is tackling the problem in a partnership in Hawaii with The Gas Co. The utility plans to tap into its 1,000-mile utility pipeline system, separate the hydrogen from the synthetic natural gas and sell the hydrogen to refueling nations in Hawaii. The cost to add hydrogen fueling equipment is expected to be $300,000 to $500,000 per pump.

Safety is the No. 1 issue. Think of millions of cars and trucks running around with hydrogen tanks attached. High-pressure tanks resistant to puncture, along with frames that hold the tanks, will be required.

Anyway, “We will come to the market in 2015,” said Bill Reinert, national manager of advanced vehicles at Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.

Charlie Greese, executive director of GM’s global fuel cell activities is equally encouraging.

“Several thousand fuel cell vehicles from GM are conceivable in 2015,” but he will not estimate a price.

I can’t wait!

Source;
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jul/10/whatever-happened-fuel-cell-automobiles-promised-2/