Hydrogen cars - update

In a recent blog, I gave an overview that alongside the momentum behind plug-in electric and hybrid cars, manufacturers are still investing in hydrogen-powered mobility via fuel cells. Below, I've outlined another couple of recent developments which continue to suggest there's strong interest in making it part of our future.

Japanese manufacturers

Toyota, Nissan and Honda have added significant weight behind the support for developing a more robust hydrogen infrastructure in Japan.  

Hydrogen Station in Ebina city, Kanagawa Prefecture

Looking holistically across the product service system, the initiatives include:

• Working with infrastructure providers to improve customer service levels
• Extending operating hours
• Promoting Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)

Nissan, Toyota and Honda in agreement on hydrogen

Honda FCV

Toyota Mirai

More information here.

BMW Hydrogen development

BMW announced a partnership with Toyota in 2013 for fuel cell electric vehicle development, and have recently showcased a prototype based on their 5 series Gran Turismo.

5 Series Gran Turismo - powered by hydrogen

Its features include:

• 180kW electric motor
• Hydrogen storage from a 'tunnel tank' between the front and rear axles
• A >300 mile range
• Refuelling in less than 5 minutes

With rapid refuelling and a impressive range, it sets a high bar for electric vehicles to challenge.

Hydrogen refuelling

BMW have also released images of a futuristic hydrogen-powered prototype, with a more than passing similarity to the current i8:

BMW Hydrogen Fuel Cell eDrive technology

BMW Hydrogen Fuel Cell eDrive technology 

FIA Formula-E - Round 10, London, 27th June 2015

In Formula-E's inaugural season, the last two rounds were held in Battersea Park in London. As an incredible opportunity to showcase green technology to a global audience, it was great to attend and experience the excitement first hand.  I attended on Saturday 27th June, for Round 10, the penultimate round, with everything still to play for.

For those skeptical about the potential lack of excitement of electric racing cars, or the ability for Battersea Park to successfully host the first piece of motor racing in the capital for 45 years, they need not have worried.

The cars

Each of the racing cars are the same model, Spark Racing Technology's Spark-Renault SRT_01. There are more details of the cars on the official Formula-E website, with a seemingly Anglo-French consortium including Renault, Williams, McLaren and Michelin all taking key roles.  The battery doesn't yet last an entire race, so mid-way through the race, the drivers have to change to a second car.  This actually adds an interesting dynamic to the race, where energy preservation can be just as important as the racing line.

Nicolas Prost, in a e.dams-Renault, the team co-founded by his Father

Even the safety, medical and Race Director's cars are electric:

The BMW i8 Safety Car, with inductive charging

Rimac Concept_One Race Director's car

The Drivers

Formula E has attracted some famous racing names into its first season, some running teams, some as drivers, and Trulli doing both!

Jarno Trulli, team co-founder and driver

Nick Heidfeld

Lucas de Grassi

Bruno Senna, nephew of the great Ayrton Senna

Sam Bird, the winner of the subsequent day's final round

Stephane Sarrazin

Alex Fontana

Salvador Duran

Jerome D'Ambrosio

The Race

The start lights...

Practice, qualifying and the race are all on the same day, so there was plenty of action to follow. Although the sounds from the car is unusual, it's still quite loud and being so close to the action means there's still a great atmosphere.

Eventually, Sebastian Buemi came out as the winner.

Sebastian Buemi - the winner of Round 10

And on the final day of the season, the championship, with one point difference, went to Nelson Piquet Jr.

Nelson Piquet Jr., the eventual championship winner

What does the future hold?

Richard Branson has predicted that Formula E has the potential to overtake Formula 1 in the coming years, and I'd be amazed if next year's season doesn't attract other manufacturers and drivers.  With desire and commitments to improve the technology further and the inevitable drip-feeding into the road cars of the future, finger's crossed next year is even bigger. 

An (Electric/Hybrid) Streetcar Named Desire

I find the automotive sector so fascinating when it comes to sustainability. The sector has got so much right already, and should be the envy of other sectors:

• a used-car (second owner) industry, extending the life of a physical product
• repair workshops (garages) and parts provision to maintain a car and keep it running efficiently
• a focus through EU regulation on tailpipe emission regulation (plus lots of other regulation like congestion charging)
• car-sharing clubs (including peer-to-peer) maximising the use of idle assets
• parts marked for dis-assembly, helping support re-use and/or waste stream segregation

However, in recent times, electric/hybrid cars have been considered niche/quirky, and received a lot of bad motoring press - over-priced for the performance delivered, question-marks about their battery-life and its range, and government subsidies not being enough to stimulate demand.

The key to a sustainability proposition, in any sector, isn't to appeal exclusively to those that understand the importance of sustainability, but develop a proposition which is simply better than the traditional alternatives. For cars, this can be measured across varying measures - performance (top speed, 0-60, etc.), purchase cost, warranty and reliability, equipment levels, brand, etc.  

When it comes to desirability, motor manufacturers showcase their expertise with supercars.  Although out of reach for most (and often considered symbols of excess and exuberance), they are critical in helping shift perceptions with both the public and the motoring press, increasing acceptability of alternatively fueled vehicles.

Here's a selection of the cars which are creating such a buzz in the industry at the moment... (links to manufacturers as part of titles)

McLaren P1

McLaren P1

McLaren P1

Porsche 918 Spyder

Porsche 918 Spyder

Porsche 918 Spyder

 
Ferrari LaFerrari

Ferrari LaFerrari

Ferrari LaFerrari

Ferrari FXX K

Ferrari FXX K

Ferrari FXX K

Ferrari FXX K

BMW i8

BMW i8

BMW i8

 

Tesla S

Tesla S

Tesla S

 
Of course, the purchase price of these vehicles (and their ownership profile) is unlikely to mean that in themselves, they will deliver a sustainable solution. But, they have every chance of being the catalyst to create a real step-change in the industry, as technologies filter-down to affordable parts of the range (or sister brands, e.g. Ferarri is mainly owned by Fiat, Porsche has links with VW, etc.), and 'Joe Public' generates demand at lower price points.  

And isn't it terrific that the car posters which kids today will be sticking on their walls will help them understand, shape and expect an even greener era of motoring.


In an upcoming blog I'll talk much more about the business model for mobility, and how the physical car is only part of the experience which needs be offered.