-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Automotive Technology
GREEN: Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Alliance Formed
Daimer, Ford and Nissan join up to push development of the electric-power technology for consumer vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz has been using the B-Class F-Cell crossover to research hydrogen fuel cells in consumer vehicles. (Illustration: Mercedes-Benz)
Daimler, Ford and Nissan have formed an alliance spanning three continents to help accelerate the development and eventual launch of hydrogen-fuel-cell technology for consumer cars.
The announcement comes just days after it was reported after Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler, was delaying the launch of its first mass-produced fuel-cell vehicle by at least three years and was seeking a partner to help share development costs.
It also comes just after BMW and Toyota announced a partnership to jointly develop new fuel-cell technology, along with next-generation batteries and other green technology.
The latest deal between Daimler, Ford and Nissan is aimed at developing the world’s first affordable, mass-produced fuel cell vehicle by 2017. Until now, a limited number of fuel-cell vehicles such as the Honda FCX Clarity and Mercedes’ B Class F-Cell have been leased to companies and private customers on a trial basis.
Specific goals of the collaboration include developing a common fuel-cell system for automotive applications, reducing investment costs associated with developing the technology, and sharing more than 60 years of cumulative research in fuel cells.
The companies also hope to send a message to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage further development of hydrogen refueling stations and other infrastructure necessary for fuel-cell vehicles.
The plan is to have a fuel-cell stack that can be used in three highly differentiated vehicles, with one vehicle to be sold by each of the three companies. By sharing the fuel-cell stack across these companies, the economies of scale required to make the technology viable can be achieved, according to proponents of the alliance.
Mercedes has said that the fuel-cell technology has proven reliable enough for mainstream vehicles, which led to the announcement of a launch date for a mass-produced version in 2014. But changing market conditions as well as a lack of hydrogen fueling stations has caused Mercedes to rethink its fuel-cell plans, pushing it off to 2017.
Although the technology is ready, Mercedes reportedly needed a partner to achieve sufficient sales volume and improve economies of scale, which could be what was accomplished with the Ford/Nissan pact.
Hydrogen fuel cells are used to produce electricity to charge on-board batteries or directly power the motors of electric vehicles. Hydrogen fuel is combined with oxygen from the air inside the fuel-cell stack in a process known as electrolysis.
The only emission is water, meaning no CO2, though that would depend on how the hydrogen is generated in the first place. Much of the world’s hydrogen is currently produced via steam-methane reforming, a process that produces a lot of CO2.
A reverse-electrolysis process can also be used to generate hydrogen, whereby electricity created by renewable energy such as wind and solar power can be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
This story originally appeared at Motor Authority.
The announcement comes just days after it was reported after Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler, was delaying the launch of its first mass-produced fuel-cell vehicle by at least three years and was seeking a partner to help share development costs.
It also comes just after BMW and Toyota announced a partnership to jointly develop new fuel-cell technology, along with next-generation batteries and other green technology.
The latest deal between Daimler, Ford and Nissan is aimed at developing the world’s first affordable, mass-produced fuel cell vehicle by 2017. Until now, a limited number of fuel-cell vehicles such as the Honda FCX Clarity and Mercedes’ B Class F-Cell have been leased to companies and private customers on a trial basis.
Specific goals of the collaboration include developing a common fuel-cell system for automotive applications, reducing investment costs associated with developing the technology, and sharing more than 60 years of cumulative research in fuel cells.
The companies also hope to send a message to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage further development of hydrogen refueling stations and other infrastructure necessary for fuel-cell vehicles.
The plan is to have a fuel-cell stack that can be used in three highly differentiated vehicles, with one vehicle to be sold by each of the three companies. By sharing the fuel-cell stack across these companies, the economies of scale required to make the technology viable can be achieved, according to proponents of the alliance.
Mercedes has said that the fuel-cell technology has proven reliable enough for mainstream vehicles, which led to the announcement of a launch date for a mass-produced version in 2014. But changing market conditions as well as a lack of hydrogen fueling stations has caused Mercedes to rethink its fuel-cell plans, pushing it off to 2017.
Although the technology is ready, Mercedes reportedly needed a partner to achieve sufficient sales volume and improve economies of scale, which could be what was accomplished with the Ford/Nissan pact.
Hydrogen fuel cells are used to produce electricity to charge on-board batteries or directly power the motors of electric vehicles. Hydrogen fuel is combined with oxygen from the air inside the fuel-cell stack in a process known as electrolysis.
The only emission is water, meaning no CO2, though that would depend on how the hydrogen is generated in the first place. Much of the world’s hydrogen is currently produced via steam-methane reforming, a process that produces a lot of CO2.
A reverse-electrolysis process can also be used to generate hydrogen, whereby electricity created by renewable energy such as wind and solar power can be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
This story originally appeared at Motor Authority.
Toyota FT-86 Open Concept
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTOMOTIVE
-
GREEN: Porsche Adding All-Model Hybrids
Gas/electric plug-versions of its entire lineup – including… -
AUTOS: Porsche Boosts 918 Spyder Power
The upcoming supercar will produce 887 horsepower from its gas/electric… -
AUTOS: Acura NSX Details Revealed
The rebirth of the mid-engine sports car – now an all-wheel-drive… -
DRIVEN: Jaguar’s Many-Splendored XJ
The British luxury sedan comes in 10 different flavors, with plenty… -
AUTOS: Lamborghini Egoista Launched
The wild single-seat concept car is unveiled at the end of the epic… -
AUTOS: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hot Pontiac G8
NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick helped his driver modify the 2009… -
VINTAGE: A Fast Historic Tour Of France
Vintage race and touring cars compete in the 22nd annual Tour de… - More News
