Skip to main content

Fuel cell vehicles promise potential

Automobile manufacturers are gearing up to launch new fuel cell vehicle models during 2015. Reports suggest that up to six fuel cell vehicles will be introduced in the coming year. Toyota looks set to be one of those firms offering its Mirai fuel cell vehicle, while Tata Motors may well introduce a model either under its own brand or that of its UK subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover.
February 18, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

Automobile manufacturers are gearing up to launch new fuel cell vehicle models during 2015. Reports suggest that up to six fuel cell vehicles will be introduced in the coming year. 2728 Toyota looks set to be one of those firms offering its Mirai fuel cell vehicle, while Tata Motors may well introduce a model either under its own brand or that of its UK subsidiary 8001 Jaguar Land Rover.

However the cost of fuel cell vehicles as well as issues over the provision of sufficient fuelling stations may well hinder their sales. Those manufacturers developing fuel cell vehicles are cautious as to how many they believe they can sell. The technology is appealing, particularly for the clean tailpipe emissions of water vapour only. But the practicalities (cost and fuelling) of fuel cell vehicles are a barrier in the short-medium term at least.
The topic is covered in greater depth in the IDTechEx report Future Technology for Hybrid and Pure Electric Cars 2015-2025.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • GM and Honda have a joint fuel cell programme
    July 4, 2013
    Car manufacturers General Motors and Honda are now working jointly on developing fuel cell powered vehicles. The two companies have established a long term partnership that will encompass bot the fuel cell system as well as storage solutions for the hydrogen fuel and also refuelling infrastructure.
  • Lowering construction machine exhaust emissions
    November 6, 2017
    The alternatives to diesel fuel as a power source continue to grow as firms move to cut emissions - Mike Woof writes. Only the most myopic could have failed to notice that times are changing in terms of engine technology. In the on-highway automotive sector as well as for the off-highway construction machine segment, manufacturers are looking to lower tailpipe emissions. Similar technologies have been employed in both on-highway and off-highway sectors, although those solutions have been adapted to better
  • Hyundai now offering fuel cell cars to customers
    October 22, 2014
    Hyundai is now offering fuel cell-powered cars to customers on a limited basis for selected markets around the globe. The firm’s first ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles have now arrived in the UK for instance. This continues Hyundai’s international roll-out of the world’s first series-production hydrogen-fuelled car. Hyundai is the first car manufacturer to supply these zero-emission vehicles to paying customers in the UK, paving the way for growth of the clean technology, having led its research and development si
  • Finnish research body highlights hydrogen as future fuel
    May 7, 2013
    The Finnish VTT research body believes that hydrogen offers considerable potential as a future fuel, according to its latest study. The Finnish hydrogen roadmap has been compiled by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and partly funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes). According to VTT’s study, hydrogen fuelled vehicles will be as important as electric/battery types in minimising traffic pollution. The study says that transport applications for hydrogen are now close