Fuel cell stacks continue to show a critical gap in power density development along the European automotive value chain. Filling it was the objective of two EU projects, Auto-Stack (FCH-JU GA 245142) and AutoStack CORE (FCH-JU GA 325335), which received financial support from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
At the Geneva International Motor Show, Korean carmaker Hyundai unveiled its new fuel cell concept study, the FE Fuel Cell Concept. It offers a glimpse into the fourth vehicle generation boasting much higher output and an extended range. The fuel cell unit is said to be twenty per cent lighter and ten per cent more efficient than in previous models, which would raise energy density by thirty per cent.
On Dec. 14 and 15 last year, the German federal transportation ministry, BMVI, organized its NIP year-end conference “Clean Transportation by Hydrogen and Fuel Cell” to present the successes of the National Innovation Program Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. Many project partners and politicians from across the country came to Berlin for the presentation of the results and to witness a fast and seamless transition into the next decade.
A recent study has exposed deeper issues with the new German cash incentive. The low range of the cars and the poor infrastructure for refills aren’t the only reasons why electric vehicle sales haven’t been taking off: Prospective buyers don’t even find a model they like. Additionally, people view the financial incentives as “supporting the upper class” or “subsidizing carmakers,”