Hyundai, Toyota and and Honda are looking likely to be first out of the gates when it comes to mass production of fuel cell passenger cars, writes Brian Byrne.
The Korean maker will be making available for lease an FCEV version of its of its Tucson (ix30 in Europe) SUV next year in the US, specifically in California.
And Honda has revealed this week at the Tokyo Motor Show a concept for a third generation FCEV car due for production in 2015. Toyota also revealed its own concept for one, also for production in 2015.
Although there are still difficulties to be sorted in the widespread availability of hydrogen for the vehicles, the technical and safety issues of storing the fuel in passenger cars have largely been overcome. Also, the cost of hydrogen at the pumps should be similar to petrol, though developing the delivery infrastructure will be expensive.
A fuel cell produces electricity through a chemical reaction with hydrogen and air, with the only emissions being water vapour. Because the fuel is carried onboard, such cars will have a similar range to petrol vehicles.
