The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy Updates: Chapter 13 – Hydrogen Cars vs. Battery Electric Cars
Last updated 2024.03.11
March 2024 - summary
Some things have changed since 2006 in this topic area.
Toyota introduced the Mirai hydrogen car to the market in 2014 and have sold dozens world-wide in the following decade.
Honda introduced a fuel cell version of the Clarity in 2008, discontinued it, relaunched it and finally gave up on it.
In 2024, Honda announced a hydrogen fuel cell / battery electric hybrid CR-V model, which is more BEV than HFCEV,
which seems to concede that finding hydrogen fuel stations is a huge issue for usability of the HFCEVs.
Some jurisdictions use tax money to install hydrogen fueling infrastructure for public use, but as vehicle sales were slight, actual
use of the fueling stations was low, and the networks are slowly being removed or simply left in disrepair. The total number
in the U.S. has numbered in the dozens, and only a handful in Canada.
In 2024, Honda announced a hydrogen fuel cell / battery electric hybrid CR-V model, which is more BEV than HFCEV,
which seems to concede that finding hydrogen fuel stations is a huge issue for usability of the HFCEVs.
On the battery EV side, there has been more activity. Leading off was Tesla, which has become a vehicle manufacturing
juggernaut producing millions of vehicles to date, usually with a waiting list for buyers.
Virtually every major legacy automaker has at least announced, and most have grudgingly even produced battery EV
vehicles, such as the GM Bolt models, Ford Mach-E and F150-Lightning. Europe has models from Audi, BMW, Fiat, Mercedes,
Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen, Volvo and others. China has become the world's powerhouse when it comes to electric
vehicle manufacturing. Literally millions of vehicles are being produced annually.
Prices for EV batteries are falling dramatically, which is driving down the price of battery EVs which are actually
simpler and cost less to manufacture than gassers if the battery (which is really buying some of you fuel cost up-front)
is excluded from the sticker price. And then it's just money in the bank after that, as maintenance costs are low
(no ignitions system, no radiator or engine cooling system, no exhaust system - with their high value catalytic
converters prized by thieves, on oil changes, no engine air filters ...) and lower fuel costs, and no smog check appointments.
The result is that EVs are displacing gas cars in large numbers in places like Sweden, California, and parts of Canada.
Californian ICE vehicle registrations down 30% from peak, thanks to EVs The Driven
For updates on hydrogen vehicles, check out the newsroll.
For updates on battery EVs, just watch your local news or check out the climate change blog.
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