Automotive Giants Look to Share Technology With Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Two automotive giants have agreed to work together to produce vehicles that are powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The companies are General Motors Co. and the Honda Motor Co. The new deal is for the next seven years.

Lower Emission Rates Is the Goal

One of the main reasons for the combined effort is to develop new systems for cars that will produce less pollution. Lower emissions limits have been set in the United States, China, and in Europe, and now the automotive giants are working hard to meet those deadlines. Although the emissions standards are already low, even lower standards will be brought in within the next dozen years.

Fuel Cell Technology Is to Be Shared

The two companies have already agreed to share everything in the development of the hydrogen fuel cell. This includes the engineers, suppliers, technology, and more. It is also believed that, by working together, that the overall costs to develop the needed fuel cells will be less.

Apparently, the technology to produce commercially ready hydrogen fuel cells is not yet possible. The research performed by these companies is not all there is taking place. It is but one of several possibilities to find energy source to reduce dependence on overseas oil.

Fuel Cells Are Costly

One of the primary costs in the development of the fuel cells is the cost of the platinum that each one uses. There are thousands of dollars of platinum that goes into each fuel cell.

Similar to a battery, hydrogen fuel cells are made up of a stack of cells. Hydrogen is the fuel. The end result, which is also the only emission, is water. This process totally eliminates pollution which is another reason the car giants are so attracted to it.

A Problem Yet to be Resolved

A major problem that is yet to be resolved is that even if cars using fuel cells are successfully mass-produced, there are almost no places to buy hydrogen. At the present time, there are only about 10 of them, and most of them are in southern California. Each one of the stations needed to sell this fuel costs more than $1 million, and they would need to be all over the United States in order to make it worthwhile having this kind of car.

The Advantage of Hydrogen Fuel Cells

One reason for the massive push for economically feasible fuel cells is the greater efficiency. Fuel cells are known to be about five times as efficient as electric cars are now, meaning that they can run five times longer. Another strong advantage is that a hydrogen powered car can be refilled in just a few minutes, whereas an electric vehicle takes many hours to be made ready for the road again.