A new report says that sales of hydrogen cars will remain short in amount by 2027
After all the noise over fuel-cell cars, a new report forecasts that worldwide sales of the hydrogen-powered vehicles will total up to only about 70,000 by 2027. That’s just about 0.1% of all new vehicles offered.
If we compare, that amounts to the number of full-size pickup that Ford had been sold in the United States in April, this year.
Advancement of hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel is being kept back by the continued lack of refueling stations, states the report by IHS Automotive. The stations are expensive, about $3 million each, the report states. However it also comes as automakers continue to put millions into establishing the advanced automobiles.
Hyundai and Toyota have actually introduced new-generation hydrogen automobiles in the U.S., with one from Honda due by the end of year. The majority of the cars are pertaining to California, having 16 stations now with over 40 anticipated by the end of the year, according to the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the state company leading the effort.
Between the brand-new vehicles and stations, “this is a now-or-never situation” for hydrogen vehicles when it concerns the mass market, said Ben Scott, senior analyst of IHS Automotive.
The research study notes that the per-charge ranges of electrical vehicles are on increase. If they reach 300- to 400-mile ranges of hydrogen automobiles, it will take away one of the fuel-cell automobiles’ key benefits. Now, tells IHS Automotive, is the “window of opportunity” for the technology.
Supporters say hydrogen still has key advantages over electric vehicles. Besides the variety, they can be refueled in 5 minutes in the same manner as gasoline-powered automobiles, without a plug.
