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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Yesterday, I talked about an alternative hydrogen refueling infrastructure for cars and today I would like to talk about a “standard” hydrogen refueling infrastructure for long-haul trucks.

A couple of weeks ago I went to the NHA Conference and took a look at the Vision Tyrano hydrogen fuel cell hybrid class-8 truck firsthand. The idea at that point for Vision was to introduce a zero emissions heavy duty vehicle into the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Ca in order to help clean up emissions.

Over a year ago I talked about Asemblon’s plans to introduce Hydrnol, a hydrogen rich liquid chemical carrier that can be used to produce pure hydrogen and that is easily transported and recycled. Now, I’ve learned that the two companies have teamed up in order to establish a nationwide hydrogen refueling infrastructure for trucks. In fact, Vision Industries has signed an agreement in an exclusive licensing agreement to sell Hydrnol to the trucking industry from coast to coast.

Vision and Asemblon don’t see the rollout of a nationwide hydrogen trucking infrastructure anywhere as daunting as one aimed a passenger cars. According to Vision, “While that may be the case for an infrastructure rollout for fuel cell passenger vehicles, Vision looks at the big rig market from a different perspective. In 2006, the U.S. consumed 180.2 billion gallons of transportation fuels, of which 23.8 billion gallons (or 13.2-percent) were diesel consumed by combination highway trucks. There are approximately 1,200 diesel truck stops in the U.S., with Pilot Travel Center and Flying J established as the two largest truck stop chains, each utilizing approximately 300 stations to cover the U.S. from coast-to-coast and border-to-border.

“Since Hydrnol is an easy-to-handle liquid, an infrastructure roll-out utilizing existing fueling equipment is very straightforward. Installing Hydrnol storage and dispensing infrastructure at an existing truck stop is estimated at $200,000 to $300,000 per station. Therefore, a 300 station, nationwide Hydrnol infrastructure rollout, accessing 13.2-percent of the U.S. transportation fuel marketplace can be completed for less than $100 million.”

The pairing of these two partners may not be perfect but it’s pretty close. Vision Industries needs a hydrogen solution for propelling long haul trucks 650 miles at highway speeds before refueling and Hydrnol provides this. Asemblon needs a commitment from a major hydrogen vehicle maker in order to manufacture, distribute and recycle its product and Vision Industries provides this.

Like I’ve stated before, the national hydrogen car infrastructure may be the last domino to fall. Before it does, hydrogen powered forklifts, trucks, boats, planes, UAVs, trains, motorcycles and other vehicles may already have been commercialized and provided adequate H2 refueling infrastructure. A nationwide hydrogen truck refueling infrastructure and the reduced emissions and reduced dependence upon fossil fuels that it would provide will certainly be a giant leap for mankind in the right direction.

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