Or else
The days of the hydrogen car are already over
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I see your or else and raise you another reason hydrogen cars won't really be viable unless we have very abundant renewable energy for it's manufacture and that reason is efficiency. This is explained by Saul Griffith in his book "The Big Switch" the audio version of which can be heard for free here, The Big Switch Audio Edition (rewiringaustralia.org) the relevant part is chapter 4 from approx the 37th to the 47th minute. A diagram can also be seen of this namely Figure 4.6 which shows,
all electric is about 83% used for driving and 17 % waste whereas green hydrogen is 37% used for driving and 63% waste.
This was very interesting- Multiple Hydrogen, Battery and ICE buses with details studied.
Some interesting change of plans in the ratio - plan to have 70% Battery buses changed to 70% Hydrogen for a reason I suspect very important and that I note IF trying to get to a tight wad freebie EV charger- They are getting very very busy and cannot do more than a number per day. That makes a fuel fill up and go for Hydrogen the go to for the transit operator in this pod cast.
They may be a bit hippy yet the data is good information.
Warning
Skip the first minute of the pod cast- they play the most annoying canned music I have ever heard[thumbsupbig][thumbsupbig]
Given Tesla only make any profit from selling green credits to other OEM's, and not from selling EV's - once the opposition start making EV's on mass and no longer require the credits, Tesla's business model goes tits up. Is anyone really surprised that Electric Jesus is selling so many of his shares?
You know Hydrogen buses are not a new idea.
I have posted before a long time ago that I used to be friends with the CEO of BOC which is now Air Liquide.
He told me that the worst decision and biggest disaster of his career was getting involved with the Perth trial of hydrogen powered ICE buses, waaaay back in the 20th century.
Apparently the overriding problem was that the buses required pure Hydrogen which was a very rare and expensive commodity. The usual Hydrogen was commercial grade which was 95% or so pure and this completely stuffed up the bus operating system.
I wonder how pure the new "green" hydrogen will be after storage and whether fuel cells will be as picky as previously. My non specialist feeling is that it will be, judging on some of the stuff I have read on Hydrogen fuel cells.
Regards PhilipA
That research may be all valid, but the issues raised have not manifested itself in the ACT Government Fleet of 20 Hyundai hydrogen cell vehicles and the other two on the road in the ACT. The ACT Govt Fleet has been in use for 18 months.
Horses for Courses of course [thumbsupbig]
Odd the poms are so keen on developing- supporting Hydrogen Hilux? No mater as options BEV, HEV, FCEV & PHEV are all rolling the right way- PHEV do not rock my boat[biggrin]
The US bus example is interesting. The right tool for the job is key. Here I think large long range FCEV will be the key to changes. Especially for those who tow heavy or long range. The Tesla truck hype is funny to watch. Still chuckle thinking of 500 odd trucks lined up waiting to charge![bigwhistle]
"Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK is heading up the consortium, which is being backed by £5.7 million (around $7 million) of industry funding and £5.6 million from the U.K. government. Thatcham Research, D2H, ETL and Ricardo are also involved in the project.
Although the initiative is being led by TMUK, Toyota said “technical support” would come from Toyota Motor Europe R&D.
“Within the scope of the funding bid, initial prototype Hilux vehicles will be produced at Burnaston during 2023,” it added. “Once successful performance results have been secured, the intention is to prepare the vehicle for small series production.”
Honda and BMW"
Toyota secures funding to develop hydrogen fuel cell version of Hilux
EDIT Toyota above Honda and BMW below. A leak became a bit of a flood :)
Hydrogen-electric Honda CR-V announced for North America
BMW iX5 Hydrogen at the Research and Innovation Centre’s pilot plant in Munich
A look at the world's motor industry over the last hundred and twenty years would suggest that Tesla relying on subsidies is perfectly normal, especially for a new company. Just for a few examples - how long is it since the US government bailed out nearly all US car manufacturers? Would Holden have ever actually made a a profit (or even existed) without protection and subsidies? Remember British Leyland?
It is quite likely that the only car company in the world actually capable of operating without subsidy and/or protection today is Toyota - and I suspect that even that capability is a bit shaky if looked at too closely!
Ah the joy of an old broken Tesla.
Pretty extreme example but what could happen to some poor sod who buys an old Tesla.
Is My Cheap Tesla SCRAP?! Everything Important Is BROKEN - YouTube
Regards PhilipA
What the war and other factors are doing to energy sources in Europe.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ZaqZ24vHMHnd5Q