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Properly, I’ve to confess — I didn’t see this one coming! World BEV gross sales have risen to 12% of world auto gross sales — 1 out of each 8 new auto gross sales. Add in plug-in hybrids they usually’ve risen to twenty% of world auto gross sales — 1 out of each 5 new auto gross sales! Battery prices proceed to come back down, and scaling up BEV manufacturing supplies economies of scale and improved provide chains that simply additional the aggressive benefit for these more and more well-liked selections. Contemplating all of this, contemplating how lengthy it’s been since there was actually some debate about which powertrain would succeed (battery-based powertrains versus hydrogen-based powertrains), and contemplating the basic causes we used to argue for why the long run was BEVs, I did not anticipate that Toyota and BMW would attempt to revive the dream of hydrogen gas cell automobiles and a hydrogen economic system!
However that’s simply what they’re doing. “Aiming to expand the lineup of fuel cell passenger cars, Toyota and BMW are jointly developing a third-generation fuel cell system and working on infrastructure development co-creation,” Toyota writes in a press launch at this time.
Wow, a 3rd technology. Wait, what occurred with the primary two generations? Oh yeah, nearly nobody purchased them as a result of hydrogen-powered automobiles don’t make precise sensible sense or monetary sense!
Nonetheless … “Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and the BMW Group (BMW) signed an agreement to strengthen collaboration in the hydrogen sector, with a view to creating a hydrogen society and achieving overall carbon neutrality. Both companies will work together on the development of fuel cells system and the improvement of infrastructure.”
I’m truthfully shocked. To start with, why do Toyota and BMW suppose it’s nonetheless worthwhile to throw cash at this type of factor? There’s no method they suppose they will create a hydrogen-based society. There’s no method they suppose hydrogen automobiles could possibly be viable mass-market automobiles, proper? Proper?…
It nearly like they’re even trolling themselves. “The two companies signed an agreement in December 2011 to establish a mid-long-term cooperative relationship in environmental technology, and have jointly advanced the development of environmental technologies, including fuel cells and sports cars, for over a decade.” They themselves are highlighting that they’ve been working collectively on this for 13 years. I can’t perceive it. Actually. “Sharing a common vision of ‘realizing a hydrogen society,’ the two companies will continue to accelerate technological innovation in fuel cell systems.” They actually have a typical imaginative and prescient that they suppose isn’t fantasy? I’ve a tough time believing it. And they’ll “continue to accelerate” this expertise? Hold accelerating away! Speed up to infinity, and past! So long as we’re dreaming, why not make it fly too?!
Due to all of this accelerating and innovating, BMW plans to launch its first mass-produced gas cell electrical car (FCEV) by 2028. Keep tuned.
I do marvel the place BYD, Xpeng, Zeekr, NIO, and Tesla will probably be by then….
In the event you really feel inclined, yow will discover extra hydrogen-fueled leisure from Toyota and BMW right here. It’s no joke. It’s not April Fools’ Day. However it’s pure leisure.
