Mexican Media Brands
VW Skeptical about Fuel Cell Cars
The head of Volkswagen AG operations in Japan tells Bloomberg News that fuel cell-powered vehicles aren't likely to gain acceptance outside Japan, at least not without huge government incentives.
Share
The head of Volkswagen AG operations in Japan tells Bloomberg News that fuel cell-powered vehicles aren't likely to gain acceptance outside Japan, at least not without huge government incentives.
Shigeru Shoji notes that Japan is offering subsidies as great as $28,500 per fuel-cell car sold there. Toyota Motor Corp., which is preparing to market its $69,000 Mirai fuel-cell sedan next April, concedes such hydrogen-fueled powertrains aren't likely to become widespread anytime soon.
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has touted his vision of a hydrogen-based society for the country and has lavished funding to support development work. But a skeptical Shoji says fuel-cell cars remain an unlikely option because of their high cost and a global lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
Bloomberg notes that the global auto industry is becoming increasingly divided about which "green" technologies are the most viable. Hybrid powertrains are a popular option at the moment, with companies showing mixed enthusiasm for all-electric systems.
RELATED CONTENT
-
When Automated Production Turning is the Low-Cost Option
For the right parts, or families of parts, an automated CNC turning cell is simply the least expensive way to produce high-quality parts. Here’s why.
-
On Fuel Cells, Battery Enclosures, and Lucid Air
A skateboard for fuel cells, building a better battery enclosure, what ADAS does, a big engine for boats, the curious case of lean production, what drivers think, and why Lucid is remarkable
-
The Koenigsegg Jesko Has An Amazing Engine
It is hard to believe that this is a vehicle in “serial” production with such extraordinary powertrain performance
