General Motors and Honda have announced having reached an agreement to co-develop next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies, with the objective of bringing commercially-feasible solutions to market by the 2020 timeframe. The partnership’s expects to succeed by “sharing expertise, economies of scale, and common sourcing strategies”, according to General Motors.
The two automakers will join forces in working with stakeholders to “further advance refueling infrastructure, which is critical for the long-term viability and consumer acceptance of fuel cell vehicles.” The partnership seems to be a good fit given that both automakers are leaders in the space, with the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index ranking GM and Honda in first and second place, respectively, in total fuel cell patents filed between the years 2002 and 2012, with over 1,200 between the two.
GM’s Fuel Cell Efforts
General Motors launched its Project Driveway program in 2007. The initiative involves a fleet of 119 hydrogen-powered first-generation Chevrolet Equinox crossovers, which have cumulatively amassed nearly 3 million miles of real-world driving — more than any other automaker, according to GM.
GM said that it will announce its fuel cell production plans at a later date.
General Motors Fuel Cell Milestones
Honda’s Fuel Cell Efforts
Honda, meanwhile, began leasing the FCX hydrogen car in 2002, deploying 85 units to customers in the U.S. and Japan,. The successor to the FCX, the FCX Clarity, is included in those 85 units. The automaker has been collecting valuable data regarding real-world use of fuel cell EVs.
As part of today’s announcement, Honda has shared plans to launch the successor of FCX Clarity in Japan and the United States in 2015, and subsequently in Europe.
About Fuel Cell Tech
Fuel cell technology is widely seen as being able to overcome many of the major challenges facing automotive transportation today, including petroleum dependency, emissions, efficiency, range and refueling times. Fuel cell vehicles are capable of operating on renewable hydrogen made from sources like wind and biomass, with the only emission being water vapor.
What’s more, fuel cell vehicles are capable of having up to 400 miles of driving range, and can then be refueled in as little as three minutes. The propulsion technology is capable of being used on small, medium, and large vehicles.
Comments
I hope that this technology can becomes ready for real world used very soon, because fuel cell vehicles would give GM a certain advantge in the market place over other auto makers.
I think this is where they should be headed instead of gas-electric hybrids ,ie. the e assist thing.
I love the Hydrogen vehicles. I drove one and was very impressed. GM and Honda can work to lower cost but they also need to join forces with Shell, BP or the like and develop filling stations in more areas and speed up the fill. It can be a cold slow process as it is now.
I see another GM project with Honda. Have they found each other as dance partners in development. Nearly everyone will need a dance partner for development cost and Honda has been in great need of one that will let them be independent but help save them cost. Will we see GM and Honda work more and more?
To clarify: the fuel cell is not driving a mechanical power train, but is generating electricity, like the regular battery you have in your car, which then drives one or more electrical motors. The difference to the lead battery is that the chemical process generating electricity is irreversible. One can’t reload the battery electrically, but needs to refill it like a fuel tank.
BTW, an Opel guy told me that the current Ampera/Volt could easily be converted to fuel cell by replacing the petrol engine “range extender” by a fuel cell.
It’s all in the Amp Hour capacity. This may be where real batteries shine, keeping you out of the right lane. 😎
Of the potential replacements for the internal combustion engine, I have always thought that hydrogen is the best choice. I have been staying up on the generals development on this alternative. It’s good to see GM back in the research and development groove. They could not have picked a better partner than Honda. As I see it… both companies have been in the business of engineering, and development of hydrogen as alternative fuel for transportation, longer than any other company I can think of. It’s a good match.
Personally, I will lament the passing of the engines we know and love. The sound, power, and convenience will be missed. I hope, that I live long enough to ride in a hydrogen powered vehicle, but my time here is growing short, but I’m happy that the following generations will have a cleaner environment to live in… and that’s what it’s all about.
The natural gas finds came just in time, as natural gas is the natural fuel for hydrogen. At least several generations will hopefully have enough fuel, until the next discovery for transportation is found.
Exciting news.
I have the 2007 Fuel Cell Equinox Owners Manual (you can buy one here for $25.00:
http://www.helminc.com/helm/product2.asp?Make=CHV&Model=EQUI&Year=&Category=&class_2=CHV&mk=Chevrolet+%26+Geo&yr=All+Years&md=Equinox&dt=&module=&from=result&Style=helm&Sku=1X264361A&itemtype=N )
I read the manual and saw that refueling isn’t easy. Besides, we have no infrastructure for hydrogen fueling or even generating it. H2 may be clean, and easier to refuel faster than waiting a few hours to change a heavy battery, but the H2 tanks weigh more than the Volt battery, and the FC vehicle still needs to carry a smaller battery to hold power because the FC output is linear, while we need most of the electrical power to accelerate.
Maybe GM will apply FC technology to large vehicles, such as buses and trucks, but it will not work well for personal cars (unless you have a H2 source at work!).
GM, keep working on newer battery technology!
Edit: Helm has the 2008 manual in stock:
http://www.helminc.com/helm/product2.asp?Make=CHV&Model=EQUI&Year=&Category=&class_2=CHV&mk=Chevrolet+%26+Geo&yr=All+Years&md=Equinox&dt=&module=&from=result&Style=helm&Sku=1X264361B&itemtype=N
They Hydrogen Nox I drove much like the Volts I have driven. The Cell just generates the electricity like developed by NASA for the space program.
The only major issues are the cost of the cell generator systems and the fact there are not a lot of fill sites open to the public. Also it takes time to fill one of these as you are transferring liquid Hydrogen that is several hundred degrees below Zero. Cryogenic pumps are not like gas pumps and are a little slower.
I used to deal with pumping Liquid Nitrogen and Oxygen and things would have to be worked out for the general public over the fills I had to use.
@Raymond.
There are pluses and minuses to everything Raymond. Two, that you mentioned, weight of the tank, and battery storage, are fairly easy to overcome. Carbon fiber, and capacitors come to mind.
Well, I’ve run 3 for 5 this week. Got Stanton and Richie Douglas wrong, won on Essendon (picked -39), Sydney (picked 39+) and Joel Selwood on +99.5 DT points. End up +$7.70 for the week.
GM working with Honda hahahahahahahahaha!!