Will
fuel cell hybrid vehicles ever be cost-effectively
mass-produced?
Friday,
October 19, 2007
A
shining example of fuel cell reality
Not more than a couple of months ago I was certain that
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were a boondoggle. Even if all
the problems with fuel cell vehicles could be overcome, I
believed, costs would still be too prohibitive to make
such technology cost-effective.
And, then there is the hydrogen highway.
Yesterday, I test drove GM's Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell
vehicle, and now everything has changed.
I guess if I had to describe that drive in a word, that
word would have to be 'amazed', perhaps even
'flabbergasted'. I loved driving this car, and it all came
down to the electric drive and its smooth, seamless
transmission - or lack thereof. And, aside from the silent
start, this is a car that my grandfather could drive. Fuel
cell technology has been packaged into a conventional
automotive experience.
Most interesting, however, GM is stating firmly that if an
infrastructure existed to fuel 1,000,000 fuel cell
vehicles - enough to meet production economies of scale -
then GM could sell fuel cell vehicles, such as the
Equinox, at gasoline vehicle costs.
But, that takes us back to the missing hydrogen highway,
which I'll be tackling in numerous posts later today and
over the next few days, weeks and probably months, so stay
tuned.
Ultimately, fuel cell reality is no longer a fantasy, it's
very possible, but is it necessary? Is it the best path
forward?
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