Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Fuel cells

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Fuel cells

    I just found this recent article.
    This should have the rest of the auto manufacturers running scared.

    Here's the link to the article.
    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...duINeVwJmGeK5A


    GM and Honda to Establish Industry-First Joint Fuel Cell System
    Manufacturing Operation in Michigan
    Advanced fuel cell technology will be applied to each company’s future products
    2017-01-30

    DETROIT — General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) and Honda (NYSE: HMC) today announced establishment of the auto industry’s first manufacturing joint venture to mass produce an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system that will be used in future products from each company.

    Fuel Cell System Manufacturing, LLC will operate within GM’s existing battery pack manufacturing facility site in Brownstown, Michigan, south of Detroit. Mass production of fuel cell systems is expected to begin around 2020 and create nearly 100 new jobs. The companies are making equal investments totaling $85 million in the joint venture.

    Honda and GM have been working together through a master collaboration agreement announced in July 2013. It established the co-development arrangement for a next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies. The companies integrated their development teams and shared hydrogen fuel cell intellectual property to create a more affordable commercial solution for fuel cell and hydrogen storage systems.

    “Over the past three years, engineers from Honda and GM have been working as one team with each company providing know-how from its unique expertise to create a compact and low-cost next-gen fuel cell system,” said Toshiaki Mikoshiba, chief operating officer of the North American Region for Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and president of Honda North America, Inc. “This foundation of outstanding teamwork will now take us to the stage of joint mass production of a fuel cell system that will help each company create new value for our customers in fuel cell vehicles of the future.”

    The Fuel Cell System Manufacturing (FCSM) joint venture will be operated by a board of directors consisting of three executives from each company that will include a rotating chairperson. In addition, a president will be appointed to rotate between each company.

    GM and Honda are acknowledged leaders in fuel cell technology with more than 2,220 patents between them, according to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index. GM and Honda rank No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, in total fuel cell patents filed in 2002 through 2015.

    “The combination of two leaders in fuel cell innovation is an exciting development in bringing fuel cells closer to the mainstream of propulsion applications,” said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “The eventual deployment of this technology in passenger vehicles will create more differentiated and environmentally friendly transportation options for consumers.”

    Fuel cell technology addresses many of the major challenges facing automobiles today: petroleum dependency, emissions, efficiency, range and refueling times. Fuel cell vehicles can operate on hydrogen made from renewable sources such as wind and biomass. Water vapor is the only emission from fuel cell vehicles.

    In addition to advancing the performance of the fuel cell system, GM and Honda are working together to reduce the cost of development and manufacturing through economies of scale and common sourcing. The two companies also continue to work with governments and other stakeholders to further advance the refueling infrastructure that is critical for the long-term viability and consumer acceptance of fuel cell vehicles.

    GM is currently demonstrating the capability of fuel cells across a range of land, sea and air applications. The company has accumulated millions of miles of real-world driving in fuel cell vehicles.

    “With the next-generation fuel cell system, GM and Honda are making a dramatic step toward lower cost, higher-volume fuel cell systems. Precious metals have been reduced dramatically and a fully cross-functional team is developing advanced manufacturing processes simultaneously with advances in the design,” said Charlie Freese, GM executive director of Global Fuel Cell Business. “The result is a lower-cost system that is a fraction of the size and mass.”

    Honda began delivery of its all-new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle to U.S. customers in December 2016 following a spring 2016 launch in Japan. The Clarity Fuel Cell received the best driving range rating from the EPA of any electric vehicle without a combustion engine with a range rating of 366 miles and fuel economy rating of 68 miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent combined.

    “The expertise Honda has established that led to creation of the first-generation Clarity fuel cell system is valuable experience that we are leveraging in the joint development of the next-generation fuel cell system with GM,” said Takashi Sekiguchi, managing officer and director and chief operating officer of Automotive Operations, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “Our collaboration is an opportunity to further utilize the strengths of each company to popularize fuel cell vehicles at the earliest possible time.”

    GM and Honda collaborated in a powertrain cross-supply arrangement in 1999 under which Honda manufactured 50,000 V-6 engines for the Saturn VUE and Honda received diesel engines from GM’s Isuzu affiliate for use in Europe.

    About General Motors Co.
    General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

    About Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) Honda designs, manufactures and markets automobiles, motorcycles, power products and aviation products worldwide. A global leader in powertrain and electromotive technologies, Honda produces nearly 28 million engines annually for its three product lines. Honda and its partners build products in more than 60 manufacturing plants in 27 countries, employing more than 208,000 associates globally.



    This should work out be a good business arrangement and should be great for the MI. OH. area.
    CB7TUNER.com
    Educating each other one car at a time.

    #2
    The quiet advance of hydrogen powered cars is intriguing. All eyes are on Tesla, and the electrics coming from most major manufacturers that seek to displace them. At the moment, Toyota already has a limited-market hydrogen car in the US. Honda's FCX Clarity experiment went well (though with only a whisper.) This collaboration offers quite a bit of promise!

    I think the primary issues with hydrogen powered cars will be the lack of current infrastructure, and the resistance posed by the gasoline/diesel manufacurers. The lack of infrastructure will make it difficult for hydrogen cars to gain a foothold in the market, and the resistance of the petrol companies will make it more difficult to establish that infrastructure (unless they can be prompted to spearhead it.)
    That's one thing electrics have over any other alternative fuel source... the infrastructure exists already. Modifications required to accommodate electric vehicles are relatively minor. Of course, if the entire US goes electric tomorrow, we'd likely over-tax our existing power grid... so the availability of additional alternative fuel vehicles, such as hydrogen vehicles, is extremely important!


    I'd like to see where this goes. I wonder if it would be feasible to incorporate a hydrogen engine as a generator for an electric vehicle. Basically, a more advanced setup similar to that found in the Chevy Volt. Electric vehicles seem to top out around 200 miles, which limits their usability for people that want to drive a lot. Combustion engine range extenders help a great deal, but then you're still driving a car that burns fossil fuels. A hydrogen fuel cell would eliminate that issue.

    My only concern is what comes from the actual production of hydrogen fuel. If we even get to the on-road numbers that pure electrics are seeing today, how will that affect our environment? It seems that the primary production method is steam methane reforming, which still results in the consumption of gas, as well as the production of a fairly large amount of carbon monoxide. I'm also unsure what sort of draw a large-scale hydrogen fuel refinery would put on our power grid.


    Weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels is going to be an interesting process! As exciting as it is, I honestly hope I don't live to see the ultimate demise of gasoline powered vehicles. Granted, I bet it would be far more fun modifying a hydrogen car than an electric car!






    Comment


      #3
      But Mike, that's how a fuel cell vehicle works already. The fuel cell converts the hydrogen into electricity to run electric motors to move the car. GM said the original Volt was meant to be modular, like remove the gas engine and put in a fuel cell. but I wonder if that was marketing BS.
      1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser

      1986 Chevrolet C10|5.3L|SM465|Shortbed|Custom Deluxe

      1983 Malibu Wagon|TPI 305|T5 5 speed|3.73 non-posi


      1992 Accord Wagon (RETIRED)

      Comment


        #4
        Is it? See... so little written about them that i was unaware! I assumed they functioned much like current CNG vehicles.

        Ok then... I assume we're probably going to see a hydrogen/electric Bolt in the semi-near future, then!






        Comment

        Working...
        X