Filed under: Hydrogen, Toyota, Green Daily, Daimler

Daimler began developing fuel-cell vehicles way back in 1994. To date, the company has spent $1.23 billion on fuel cell technology. Toyota entered into the hydrogen realm even earlier by kicking off development back in 1992. With decades of combined experience, both companies have become front runners in fuel-cell technology. Toyota and Honda became the first automakers to put commercial hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles on the roads back in 2002. Toyota recently teamed up with Tesla for development of electric vehicles at NUMMI and now a new report suggests that the company may join with Daimler (which also holds stake in Tesla) to develop affordable hydrogen-powered vehicles.

According to the Financial Times Deutschland, which of course sites undisclosed sources, Toyota and Daimler plan “extensive cooperation in the field of fuel cells for electric cars.” Financial Times also suggests that the collaborative work could take the form of a joint venture. The newspaper contacted both companies for official confirmation, but Toyota denied knowledge of any such deal and Daimler was not available for comment.

Last year, some of the major players in fuel cell technology agreed to work together to promote the adoption of the hydrogen-powered vehicle. Within that group, we saw names like Daimler, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai. With so many companies pledging to combine their might on fuel-cell vehicle development, we assumed that some sort of joint venture would emerge. Tim Urquhart, an analyst at IHS Global Insight suggests that a Toyota-Daimler joint venture would benefit both companies. As Urquhart said:

The high development costs associated with trying to bring fuel-cell powertrain technology to production means that it is a highly logical step for Daimler and Toyota to try and share the costs and their extensive knowledge in fuel-cell technology.

At this point, it may just be wishful thinking, but we’d love to see a joint venture between the two companies. It would surely help out the hydrogen vehicle programs of each respective company and a joint venture might even bring more jobs back to NUMMI.

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Toyota and Daimler planning “extensive cooperation” on fuel cell development originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 26 May 2010 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hydrogen, Kia, Green Daily

While plug-in electric vehicles are scheduled to arrive in some dealer lots later this year, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are still a ways away. It’s not that automakers aren’t interested in hydrogen technology, it just that they haven’t really taken off, yet – in part because of a slow-to-grow refueling infrastructure.Things may be about to change, though, if Kia can meet its optimistic hydrogen vehicle targets.

What targets? Well, Kia hopes to become the world leader in fuel cell vehicles by having 10,000 in consumers’ hands by 2015. To reach the goal, the company will kick-off sales to government fleets and research institutions later this year. Beginning in 2012, the company hopes to release its fuel cell vehicles to the general public. R&D-wise, the company has made significant progress on its Borrego FCEV, pictured above. This hydrogen-powered Borrego can scoot to 60 miles per hour in 12 seconds, reach a top speed of 106 mph, cover 375 miles before refueling and we walked away impressed during our brief stint behind the wheel. We know that Kia has a solid offering and hope that its hydrogen goals can be obtained, but many hurdles still remain ahead. Hat tip to Larz!

[Source: WhatCar]

Report: Kia’s hydrogen vehicle plans include 10,000 on the road by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 25 May 2010 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto giant General Motors (GM) has teamed up with Hawaii’s The Gas Company (TGC), the state’s major gas energy provider, to make hydrogen more available for GM’s growing fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

This GM press release says TGC will send the hydrogen, along with synthetic natural gas, through its utility gas stream and separate the hydrogen at key points along the 1,000 mile utility pipeline:

“This is the type of enabler that a hydrogen transportation infrastructure needs because it addresses both the source of the hydrogen and a feasible way to deliver it for fuel cell vehicle use,” said Charles Freese, executive director of GM Global Fuel Cell Activities. “The Hawaii infrastructure could eventually support tens of thousands of fuel cell vehicles.

“We have been delivering as much as 12 percent hydrogen made from renewable sources to our gas customers over the last two to three years and expect we can deliver even greater quantities of hydrogen as demand increases,” said Jeffrey Kissel, president and CEO of TGC. “By delivering hydrogen through our existing infrastructure as vehicle fuel wherever we have gas, The Gas Company expands its key role of supporting Hawaii’s clean energy future.”

Officials believe the price for the hydrogen could be equal to or less than gasoline.

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