Post by Rinconrolla on Jun 13, 2010 8:32:06 GMT -5
The hype this summer is focused on electric cars. The Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt and similar models seem like the next step in the evolution of the automobile – and the first serious threat to Toyota’s halo as the greenest automaker. But Toyota has a plan to reclaim pole position in the green car race, and it depends on a new fuel: hydrogen.
Edmunds Inside Line reports, “Toyota has announced that it has figured out how to cut the cost of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles by 90 percent in the past several years -- meaning it can sell a hydrogen-powered vehicle for about $50,000 starting at mid-decade.” Toyota Managing Director Yoshiko Masuda told a meeting of the National Hydrogen Association last week that “the first hydrogen-powered Toyota will be a sedan that has the same driving range as a comparable gasoline-powered car,” with a target price tag of $50K.
Earlier estimates, Bloomberg notes, “ran as high as $1 million a car” for hydrogen prototypes. Honda and BMW have put a handful of working hydrogen prototypes into the hands of U.S. customers, with the Honda FCX Clarity and BMW Hydrogen 7. But neither automaker has been able to figure out how to produce the vehicles at a profit. Masuda told listeners at the meeting, “Our target is, we don’t lose money with introduction of the vehicle.”
Hydrogen could be the ultimate environmental fuel. While many consider electric cars an important step to reducing our dependence on ever-shrinking petroleum supplies, electricity isn’t necessarily the greenest source of fuel. Much of America’s electricity, after all, comes from fossil fuel sources – so while the car may seem to produce little pollution, that’s only because electric power plant that charged it seems distant. Bloomberg notes, “The only exhaust from [hydrogen-powered] cars is water vapor.” California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger told the meeting that Hydrogen “is the most abundant element in the universe, and we can have it forever.”
There are significant hurdles, still, to making Hydrogen practical. An infrastructure of fueling stations to allow drivers to refill, for instance, doesn’t exist. That’s part of what makes Autoblog skeptical. “Even if Toyota can be profitable at the $50,000 price, there are still other issues to be concerned with such as the fact that the Nissan Leaf will sell for half that amount and $50k is a heck of a lot of dough to spend on unproven technology,” they note. “Will buyers be willing to foot this extra cost? We don't think so, but we should find out in a few years.”
But not everyone in the automotive press expects the project to fail. Edmunds speculates, “In the same way as the personal computer, it wouldn't be surprising to see this technology start out prohibitively expensive and rare, and work its way to becoming ubiquitous and affordable.”
Edmunds Inside Line reports, “Toyota has announced that it has figured out how to cut the cost of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles by 90 percent in the past several years -- meaning it can sell a hydrogen-powered vehicle for about $50,000 starting at mid-decade.” Toyota Managing Director Yoshiko Masuda told a meeting of the National Hydrogen Association last week that “the first hydrogen-powered Toyota will be a sedan that has the same driving range as a comparable gasoline-powered car,” with a target price tag of $50K.
Earlier estimates, Bloomberg notes, “ran as high as $1 million a car” for hydrogen prototypes. Honda and BMW have put a handful of working hydrogen prototypes into the hands of U.S. customers, with the Honda FCX Clarity and BMW Hydrogen 7. But neither automaker has been able to figure out how to produce the vehicles at a profit. Masuda told listeners at the meeting, “Our target is, we don’t lose money with introduction of the vehicle.”
Hydrogen could be the ultimate environmental fuel. While many consider electric cars an important step to reducing our dependence on ever-shrinking petroleum supplies, electricity isn’t necessarily the greenest source of fuel. Much of America’s electricity, after all, comes from fossil fuel sources – so while the car may seem to produce little pollution, that’s only because electric power plant that charged it seems distant. Bloomberg notes, “The only exhaust from [hydrogen-powered] cars is water vapor.” California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger told the meeting that Hydrogen “is the most abundant element in the universe, and we can have it forever.”
There are significant hurdles, still, to making Hydrogen practical. An infrastructure of fueling stations to allow drivers to refill, for instance, doesn’t exist. That’s part of what makes Autoblog skeptical. “Even if Toyota can be profitable at the $50,000 price, there are still other issues to be concerned with such as the fact that the Nissan Leaf will sell for half that amount and $50k is a heck of a lot of dough to spend on unproven technology,” they note. “Will buyers be willing to foot this extra cost? We don't think so, but we should find out in a few years.”
But not everyone in the automotive press expects the project to fail. Edmunds speculates, “In the same way as the personal computer, it wouldn't be surprising to see this technology start out prohibitively expensive and rare, and work its way to becoming ubiquitous and affordable.”
Aww man, at least you tried. What are you planning to try next?
