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Hydrogen fuel cell cars could one day challenge electric cars in the race for pollution-free roads—but only if more stations are built to fuel them.
Honda, Toyota and Hyundai have leased a few hundred fuel cell vehicles over the past three years, and expect to lease well over 1,000 this year. But for now, those leases are limited to California, which is home to most of the 34 public hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S.
Undaunted, automakers are investing heavily in the technology. General Motors recently supplied the U.S. Army with a fuel cell pickup, and GM and Honda are collaborating on a fuel cell system due out by 2020. Hyundai will introduce a longer-range fuel cell SUV next year.
"We've clearly left the science project stage and the technology is viable," said Charles Freese, who heads GM's fuel cell business.
Like pure electric cars, fuel cell cars run quietly and emission-free. But they have some big advantages. Fuel cell cars can be refueled as quickly as gasoline-powered cars. By contrast, it takes nine hours to fully recharge an all-electric Chevrolet Bolt using a 240-volt home charger. Fuel cells cars can also travel further between fill-ups.
Would you rather trade in your gas-guzzler for a hydrogen fuel cell car, or an electric car?
(Score: 1) by chucky on Sunday April 16 2017, @09:35PM (3 children)
I'd say EV. Charging at home is not such a big problem, even if I had to ask 'the house' to get me a socket on the outside wall.
I could charge my car at work. I spend there over 8 hours every day. The office building has a much thicker cable coming in, they'd happily get a certificate of a green building and I'd pay a fraction of what I'd pay at home for electricity.
Now... can we do something with price of EVs in my part of the world? An electric car would cost most than my flat, weekend house and my car combined.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Sunday April 16 2017, @11:42PM
Charge at work, spend the energy at home using a larger battery?
Just an economic idea..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 17 2017, @12:45AM
Don't know where you live, but 3 year old Nissan Leaf (typically end of 3 year lease) are being offered for less than $10K in the USA. There was over 100 of these available on SF Craigslist.org last time I looked.
Not widely discussed, but at this time there is little demand for lightly used electric cars, so the prices have collapsed -- that Nissan Leaf sold for $30K or more when new 3 years ago.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Monday April 17 2017, @12:57PM
Now... can we do something with price of EVs in my part of the world? An electric car would cost most than my flat, weekend house and my car combined.
You can thank range anxiety for that. "Sure I only drive 20 miles to work but OMG what if I wanted to drive to Florida for spring break in one single 18 hour drive without taking any breaks to charge? I'll never buy a car that can't be driven less than 2000 miles between charges" and suddenly your battery costs $80K instead of $800.