When Will Hydrogen Cars Be Available?

It's long been my view that hydrogen cars are ultimately where 'green' motoring is headed.

Hybrids are the current trend, with electric vehicles (EVs) possibly set to take over, but I see hydrogen as being the final winner.

My main reason for thinking this is that hydrogen would use a similar infrastructure to petrol (Same fuel stations, similar tankers to supply them, it can even be extracted from hydrocarbons and coal, although it's hoped renewable sources will replace these). This is important, as society and, more importantly, the powers-that-be, are resistent to change.

It looks like the first hydrogen cars will made available between 2015 and 2017. Front runners in the race are Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and VW. We even have small trials running here in Britain based on prototype vehicles from Riversimple.

However, these early arrivals are unlikely to sell in large numbers for several reasons: They use very expensive fuel cells (based on platinum); These cells can degrade quickly; and the re-fuelling network isn't there yet. Sounds a bit the like issues facing EVs doesn't it?

Whilst the re-fuelling issue is likely to go away with time, the other 2 issues need to be addressed before hydrogen cars get a reputation for being poor investments (Something that has plagued both EVs and hybrids, a little unfairly I must add).

Well, it looks like a small British company called Acal Energy may have the solution to both. They claim to have developed a fuel cell that is substantially cheaper and far more long-lived. It won't be available for the first generation of vehicles but will likely be there for the second generation come 2020 (More here).

I think it could be a game changer

Hydrogen Cars Headed For Leicester

A UK company called Riversimple are preparing to pilot their 2-seater hydrogen powered car in Leicester come 2012.

They will be working with the local council to rent 30 of their vehicles out as car-shares, company cars, and for private use. The scheme will run for 12 months. If successful, Riversimple hope to go into production in 2013.

Interestingly, they want to challenge everything about personal transport, from the design of the car to ownership. For example, instead of just selling their cars, they want to offer a number of "service packages", rather like mobile phones. So you might rent your car for a period, then either return it or extend the rental at a reduced price. The aim would be to reward people for using a vehicle for longer (which would lower Riversimple's costs).

See a video of the car here.

Hydrogen Fueled Cars

Ever heard of the Honda FCX Clarity? No, me neither until about 2 weeks ago.

It's a car which runs off hydrogen and it's only emission is...water. A concept car surely? No, this is apparently a fully formed car based on technology that's as well developed as that for electric cars.

Not only that, but it seems the car is good to drive too.

One drawback though, as this article points out, Honda have no plans to sell in the UK because we won't build the infrastructure (e.g. fuelling points) until there's sufficient demand. But, of course, there can be no demand until people can actually run the things!

Let's hope the new government decides to take another look at this one.

P.S. One slight concern I've got about the technology which doesn't seem to get mentioned anywhere, is that the hydrogen that fuels these cars is produced by breaking down water. Trouble is, water is likely to be a scarce commodity in many countries in the near future. Will this fuel actually be sustainable?!