General Motors’ decision to end development of its next generation Hydrotec fuel cells for vehicles marked the close of a long, careful experiment. After years of research, pilot programs, and cautious optimism, GM finally acknowledged what the energy math had been showing for years: Hydrogen fuel cells are not a viable pathway for road transportation.
GM has been exploring hydrogen vehicles since 1966. GM framed its decision in practical terms. The company cited high costs, limited infrastructure, and low consumer demand. There are only about 60 hydrogen refueling stations in the United States.
Source: Clean Technica: Read The Article
PSR Analysis: The underlying problem was physics. Converting electricity to hydrogen through electrolysis, compressing or liquefying it, transporting it, and then converting it back into electricity inside a vehicle stack wastes most of the original energy. The entire process typically returns less than one third of the energy put in. Battery electric systems, by contrast, can deliver about three quarters of grid energy to the wheels. Basic economics has settled the argument. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
