Prominent Hydrogen Car Builders in Motion and Loaning Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars
Prominent hydrogen car builders are in motion.
Honda, Toyota Motor Corp., Daimler AG and Hyundai Motor Co.
have all announced their fuel cell vehicles ready for retail
customers by around 2015.
March 2010 (Bloomberg) -- Hydrogen Car Builder <b>General Motors Co.</b> aims to commercialize autos fueled by hydrogen by 2015 and calls the US Government to adopt a strategy like Germany and Japan are doing with their announcement to build 1,000 hydrogen fuel stations.
Charles Freese, GM’s executive director of global powertrain engineering, said at a briefing in Burbank, California said the
following:
“We are not abandoning the fuel-cell technology,” Freese said yesterday. “Through the worst years in this company’s history we maintained the program and maintained the forward progress.”
“We have anything but consistent policy in this country,” Freese said. GM has “invested over $1.6 billion in fuel cells. We didn’t do it because people were talking about the technology. We did it because we think it’s one of the right elements to have.”
GM has more than 100 fuel-cell-powered Equinox sport-utility vehicles for loans to individuals and fleets.
2010 Fuel Cell Chevrolet Equinox
Watch This Video on Fuel Cell Chevrolet Equinox Test Drive...
May 2010 -- Toyota Motor Corp., is set to price its first retail hydrogen model at about $50,000. Yoshihiko Masuda said in Torrance, California, where Toyota’s U.S. sales unit is based:
“Our target is, we don’t lose money with introduction of the vehicle... Production cost should be covered within the price of the vehicle.”
He said in an interview that their company was able to cut production cost of fuel cell vehicles by about 90%. Further explains that they have to wait till expenses are reduced by half before starting with the retail sales.
Their first model will be a sedan with driving range equal to a gasoline-powered car.
Fuel Cell Toyota Sedan
We have known that Honda Motor Co., Inc. extended into lease FCX Clarity fuel-cell sedans to 19 Los Angeles-area retail customers since 2008. And delivered yet another Honda FCX Clarity to 2010 Canadian Olympic hockey team captain, Scott Niedermayer, early this year.
Scott Niedermayer's Honda FCX Clarity - Environmentally Sound
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And now, January of this year, Honda begins Operating its new Solar Hydrogen Station prototype in Los Angeles to re-fuel Honda Fuel Cell Electric Cars.
Honda Home Hydrogen Fueling Station
Another of the many hydrogen car builders, Riversimple in UK has announced plans to make 30 of its hydrogen powered cars available for lease to the public in Leicester, from spring 2012. The lease covers a 12-month trial.
The cars have a top speed of 50 miles per hour and can go 200 miles on one fill-up of hydrogen fuel.
Riversimple Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car
The company is aware of the need a fueling station. The company also considers building a factory in Leicester if the trial proves successful. The plant is said to be building 5,000 cars each year, employing around 250 people.
Looks like hydrogen car builders are getting the cue for the right choice...
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