GM and Toyota Agree: Hydrogen Fuel Cells Are a Crock
Though locked in a battle for worldwide sales domination, top executives at GM and Toyota agree on one thing: hydrogen fuel cell cars are a crock of shit (albeit an extremely cold one). Speaking separately to reporters at the Geneva Auto show, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz and Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe criticized the "zero-emissions" technology as too expensive, too dependent on non-existent infrastructure, not competitive with other alternative power sources, and an idea that just ain't done cookin'. The Wall Street Journal quotes ToMoCo's top dog as saying "it will be difficult to see the spread of fuel cells in 10 year's time." Meanwhile, the recipient of TTAC's inaugural Bob Lutz Award asks, "If we get lithium-ion to 300 miles… Why do you need fuel cells?" I guess this explains why The General didn't bother installing an actual fuel cell power train into the Cadillac Provoq hydrogen concept making the rounds at this season's auto shows.
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Thank God. Hopefully my school will get it soon too. I'm embarrassed when I see them bragging about there 3 million dollar fuel cell program. From the powerplant to the wheel, EVs have fuel cells licked efficiency wise, especially with the advent of Li-on.
Uh, wasn't it just a few years ago when GM was bragging about it's skateboard like hydrogen car platform? I look forward to the day when Lutz retires and we don't have to hear from or about him anymore. In fact, all of the 60+ year old "leaders" in the US need to leave the stage. They have done more than enough to us.
At least Honda executives don't whinge about a technology being too expensive (too unprofitable?) and having too little infrastructure (too unmarketable?). Instead, they send their researchers into a deserted island to improve the technology and jump head first into the solar panel manufacturing industry to try help the infrastructure grow. phargophil: but then all that hydrogen infrastructure would be bombed to craters by oil sheikh-backed jihadists...
Megan Benoit says: "Too expensive? Too dependent on non-existent infrastructure? Not competitive with other alternative power sources? Wow, sounds a lot like ethanol." You took the words right out of my mouth. NEVER, and I really mean it... NEVER trust what GM has to say. It is usually self serving, and most likely false.