Re: Hydrogen and FCEVs discussion thread
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 6:22 pm
GRA wrote:Might as well feel sad for all the battery and EV starttups that have failed, then. Whether First Element ultimately succeeds or fails remains to be seen, but at the moment they have the largest network of stations in California (building of which was subsidized by Toyota), including the one closest to me. They also have by far the highest-priced H2 in the state ($16.78/kg. locally), but as they have little competition in most areas and Toyota and Honda are paying for the fuel, that will continue for at least another year or two.
Yes I do feel sad for the fallen early PH/EV pioneer companies,
Better Place
Coda
Fisker
but the industry has grown, PHEVs were a life line to Mitsubishi,
not that long ago, GM's H2 fleet was larger than all other manufacturers EVs fleets. Now that thought seems so ludicrous.
H2 has no future as an automotive fuel, at least no 700bar, semi-cryogenic future anyway. We've gone through this before, but batteries are cheaper than H2 infrastructure, and about 3x more efficient on a electric supply route.
I don't know what China's regs are. but Toyota will have to either put up, or shut up.
Who is going to put up the money for H2 infrastructure? seems like its left to California taxpayers and Toyota's goodwill.
That is not sustainable, Age has consequences, even more than elections do.
Japan invents, Korea builds out, China dominates.
The standard is electric, H2 fuel cells are a foot note in the pages of someone else history.