Hydrogen and FCEVs discussion thread

[Zythryn]

GCC:

DOE: more than 6,500 fuel cell vehicles are on the road in the US

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/0 ... 9-fcv.html

Still miniscule, growing slowly.

Slowly, and linearly. Dissapointing after 4 years almost all of the US growth is due to t single model.
When did they start the 3 years free fuel program? It will be interesting to see what they do as those leases end.

[RegGuheert]

Slowly, and linearly. Dissapointing after 4 years almost all of the US growth is due to t single model.
When did they start the 3 years free fuel program? It will be interesting to see what they do as those leases end.

I find it encouraging that most see H2 FCVs for what they really are: a massive waste of resources and the most damaging to the environment of any vehicles on the roadways today (for the equivalent function).

Let H2 FCVs incubate for the time being in round-the-clock warehouse operations where they can provide their owners value. If they start to approach BEVs on the roadways, then they can (and will) see actual growth in that sector.

[GRA]

Same story as covered in my preceding post, but includes a graph showing cumulative sales over time by type:

Total Number Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars In U.S. Barely Exceeds 6,500

https://insideevs.com/hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars-u-s-6500/

As expected, Clarity FCEV sales essentially flatlined after the introduction of the PHEV. Nexo is just starting to appear, and I expect what happens with that vehicle to determine whether or not there's any future for them (as private cars) in the U.S.

GCR:

Grove launches hydrogen fuel-cell car brand in China

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/11 ... d-in-china

A new company called Grove Hydrogen Automotive Co. announced that it will focus on fuel-cell cars, starting with a four-door SUV that it plans to launch in China later this year. The company says it will reach mass production sometime next year. Grove is home to several former automotive executives from Volkswagen, Audi, Infiniti, and other established automakers.

Grove says the car will have up to 625 miles of range from its hydrogen tanks, which can be refueled in a "few minutes." The company says the car will be built with composite materials and use regenerative braking to maximize efficiency, which implies that it also includes some battery capacity that could be used to provide extra bursts of power beyond the fuel-cell's output.

The car is scheduled to debut at next month's Shanghai auto show.

Grove has plans to sell a line of hydrogen cars, not just a single model, and will set up "experience centers" similar to Tesla stores, in China. It plans to explore export markets in 2020, but did not specify where.

The car company was founded by the Institute for Geosciences and the Environment, which develops hydrogen from industrial wastes, giving it a more sustainable, less carbon-intensive footprint that most hydrogen produced in the U.S.

IGE plans to roll out hydrogen fueling infrastructure in "Tier 1" cities in China starting in 2020, Tier 2 cities in 2021, and then "aggressively" throughout all "significant" cities in China thereafter. They gave no indication what's considered a significant city. . . .

We'll see if they manage to accomplish any of this, or if they're just another Envia/Faraday Future.

[GRA]

GCC:

EDF launches subsidiary Hynamics to produce and to market low-carbon hydrogen

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/0 ... 9-edf.html

According to a report released by McKinsey, hydrogen consumption will represent 18% of the world’s final energy demand in 2050. 95% of hydrogen is currently produced from fossil fuels. The process is very high in CO2 emissions: to produce 1 kg of hydrogen, 10 kg of CO2 is emitted.

Unlike this method, Hynamics has opted for water electrolysis to produce its hydrogen, a technology that does not emit very much CO2 at all, as long as the electricity used itself comes from low-carbon production methods.

Hynamics offers two different low-carbon hydrogen solutions:

• For industrial clients, for whom hydrogen is a necessity (refinery, glassware, agri-food, chemistry etc.), Hynamics installs, runs and maintains hydrogen production plants, by investing in the necessary infrastructure;
  
  For mobility providers, both public and professional, Hynamics helps link up different areas with service stations to provide hydrogen to recharge fleets of commercial vehicles, like trains, buses, bin lorries, utility vehicles and means of waterway transport. These services constitute an additional asset for the Electric Mobility Plan announced by the Group in October 2018.

At the end of March 2019, Hynamics teams have identified and are working on some 40 target projects, in France as well as other European countries including Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. . . .

In 2018, EDF consolidated its interest in the emerging low-carbon hydrogen market by acquiring a 21.7% stake in McPhy, a manufacturer and marketer of electrolysers and a player committed to low-carbon hydrogen since its creation in 2008. By also signing an industrial, commercial and research partnership, the two companies aim to create a synergy between McPhy’s technological expertise and EDF’s knowledge of electrical systems and low-carbon electricity production.

[GRA]

GCC:

ULEMCo to introduce 50 kW hydrogen-fueled genset for urban environments

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/0 ... lemco.html

UK-based ULEMCo plans to launch a hydrogen-fueled 50 kW (KVA) generator later this year. The zero emission genset is targeted for use in urban areas, where the impact of harmful emissions from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) is increasingly being understood.

When running over an eight-hour construction shift, the 50 kW genset will use around 15-20 kg of hydrogen, depending on the average load. It will emit zero emissions from an air quality perspective, without any aftertreatment, and depending on the source of hydrogen, will save up to 640 g/kWh CO2 against a diesel-powered counterpart.

When tested under the Type D2 ISO 8178 generator set engine standard, it demonstrates class leading thermal efficiency from the engine of up to 45%. . . .

ULEMCo plans to have a production ready genset available in the Autumn, and to have a prototype available for potential customers to trial in the next few months.

Note, ICE genset, not a fuel cell.

[GRA]

GCC:

Hyundai Motor, Korea East-West Power and Deokyang to build 1 MW hydrogen fuel cell power facility using NEXO technology

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/0 ... -nexo.html

. . . The 1 MW power facility, scheduled to break ground later this year in Ulsan, will consist of two container-type 500 kW generator modules, each loaded with multiple power modules from Hyundai’s flagship fuel cell vehicle NEXO.

The facility can generate an annual supply of 8,000 MWh, enough electricity to power approximately 2,200 households at 300 kWh per month, while emitting zero greenhouse gases or pollution.

The hydrogen used in the facility will be byproduct hydrogen brought from a nearby petrochemical complex through a pipe network, reducing costs and making use of local energy sources. . . .

EWP will be able to secure an increased share of renewables in its energy mix, while Deokyang will be a step closer to bringing down the price of hydrogen through increased trade volume and stable management of supply and demand. . . .

[GRA]

GCC:

China’s first hydrogen car sharing project launched; 10,000 Grove H2 cars in 2020-2021

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/0 ... grove.html

Chongqing Nan’an District government, Chongqing Panda Automobile Rental Company and Chongqing Geosciences Industry Technology Institute Co., Ltd. signed a three-party strategic cooperation agreement to launch a hydrogen car sharing project—the first of its kind in China.

Currently, domestic sharing cars are mainly electrical; no hydrogen cars have been applied in this field before.

According to the agreement, the first batch of 200 Grove hydrogen passenger cars will be available for renting. The demonstrative operation will verify its business and profit model in the sharing automobile industry, which will provide valuable experience for later large-scale operation in cities.

10,000 Grove hydrogen passengers cars will be put into 20 first- and second-tier cities in China between 2020-2021. In the future, AI, big data, cloud technology will also be applied to offer better services to the market.

[GRA]

GCC:

Grove Hydrogen Automotive and State Government of Minas Gerais Brazil announce hydrogen vehicle cooperation program

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/0 ... grove.html

. . . According to the cooperation, a joint team will be established to evaluate the entire hydrogen economy from hydrogen vehicle development, production and distribution. Developing hydrogen vehicles will create many opportunities for Brazilian companies to take part in the entire chain.

The program will begin immediately. The testing will start by the end of 2019 and the operation will start by the end of 2020.

[mikekuby]

Hello Leaf Drivers - If you are on this thread and you live in California, you may have considered getting a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (FCV) before you opted for a Leaf. We are a team of academic geographers and ethnographers who are studying people's decision-making processes regarding whether or not to get a FCV. We are interested in talking to people who seriously considered purchasing or leasing an FCV but decided AGAINST doing so (which is proving to be a tough demographic to find, so if this description fits you, we'd love to chat with you).

Interviews will take about 20 minutes and can be conducted by phone, Skype, or Google Hangouts. Participants will receive a $10 Amazon gift card as a small token of appreciation for their participation. If you are over 18 years of age and interested in participating, please contact my research assistant Oscar Lopez at oglj@asu.edu to schedule an interview. You can learn more about the study at http://www.public.asu.edu/~mikekuby/H2F ... ion_Study/. Email, comment, or message us if you have any questions. Thanks, Leaf Drivers!!

Dr. Michael Kuby
Professor, Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
Arizona State University

[GRA]

GCC:

Air Liquide and Houpu form JV to develop hydrogen station infrastructure in China

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/0 ... quide.html

. . . Air Liquide in China operates nearly 90 plants and employs more than 4,000 employees today. With a strong presence in the key coastal industrial areas, Air Liquide is now expanding into the center, south and west. Its main business activities include industrial and medical gas operations, Engineering & Construction (designing, manufacturing and installing air separation units/hydrogen facilities), as well as Innovation activities. . . .

Houpu is a Chinese listed company that provides clean energy refueling equipment and related services. More than 5,000 natural gas refilling equipment are supplied to more than 2,800 customers worldwide. In the field of natural gas and hydrogen energy refilling, Houpu’s capability covers the whole value chain including engineering, equipment research and manufacture, integration, installation and after-sales service.