TechPulse 360

Hydrogen fuel-cell cars are still in the development stage. Fleets of car remain in the hundreds (not thousands) and favor commercial deployment. Fuel cell consumer cars, in general, aren’t expected in the market until mid decade.

The lack of hydrogen refilling stations remains a problem. Air Products has only 100 installed around the world.

But when they arrive, they could play a role in converting the world’s transportation fleet to renewable power, perhaps in dual fuel-cell/electric vehicles.

According to Pike Research, fuel-cell buses might be the first to gain market acceptance. Sales will increase 32 percent annually by 2015.

Cars will likely reach the market in 2014 in most parts of the world.. By 2020, annual sales will come to about 670,000 vehicles.

Automakers are showing interest. GM’s Chevy has had a test fleet of Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electrics in use since 2007 in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Southern California. More than 1.3 million miles have been logged.

One of the biggest challenges will be hydrogen charging stations. Air Products, for instance, says it has only 110 hydrogen charging stations in operation in 19 countries. That’s 175,000 hydrogen refills a year – a tiny number considering the size of the transportation market

Yet, the potential remains high. The only discharge from a hydrogen fuel cell is water.