European Hydrogen Fusion Between Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Call it synchronicity or call it conspiracy: 2015 is drawing closer, the year when several large global automakers will begin full-scale launches of hydrogen-powered automobiles. Developing new powertrains being costly with unassured payback, automakers form alliances to share the cost. And alliance of Daimler, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota to jointly promote hydrogen use would be surprising, they usually are otherwise engaged. However, the four join hands, forces and cars for a grand hydrogen tour through Europe.

Starting in Hamburg, Germany, on September 13, seven Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) will travel through Hannover, Bolzano, Paris, Cardiff, Bristol, Swindon, London and Copenhagen, and points between. The party is BYOH, bring your own hydrogen: Mobile refueling stations will be set up by H2 Logic Denmark in stopover cities.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • El scotto El scotto on Sep 13, 2012

    The idealist in me wants to see this work. My practical side thinks fuel cell safety and where are the hydrogen stations.

    • See 2 previous
    • SunnyvaleCA SunnyvaleCA on Sep 13, 2012

      My practical side thinks: Where do we get the hydrogen?

  • NMGOM NMGOM on Sep 13, 2012

    Well, well.. It's about time. This publicity tour of H2 fuel cells is the counterpart of BMW's "Hydrogen 7" placements here a few years ago. I am unashamedly a hydrogen fanatic. I really believe this is the ultimate energy carrier, and am glad to see this demonstration. But, fanbois, don't give up on the loss of H2/ICE just yet. (Fuel cells are VERY expensive.) The rumor mill has it that BMW, in its deep, dark inner catacombs, is developing a small revolutionary ICE that is especially optimized for use of H2....very efficiently (but what else?). So, vrooom, vrooom** and manual transmissions may still not be lost from our future... ---------- ** What is there about the joy of knowing that many little fiery explosions are occurring under your control in a mechanical beast that requires care and feeding? Must be a primitive instinct. Guilty! ----------

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Sep 14, 2012

    I'm a fan of H2, but it's going to be all uphill for a long while. The only problems are infrastructure and affordability, but these are huge problems. Hydrogen isn't cheap to produce, but I'd try doing so through renewable resources to reduce the cost. With hydrogen, safety is not much of an issue with modern technology.

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