OMG — Toyota & BMW Are Nonetheless Hyping A Hydrogen Future!

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Effectively, 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 20% of world auto gross sales — 1 out of each 5 new auto gross sales! Battery prices proceed to return down, and scaling up BEV manufacturing gives economies of scale and improved provide chains that simply additional the aggressive benefit for these more and more in style 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 count on that Toyota and BMW would attempt to revive the dream of hydrogen gasoline cell vehicles and a hydrogen economic system!

However that’s simply what they’re doing. “Aiming to develop the lineup of gasoline cell passenger vehicles, Toyota and BMW are collectively creating a third-generation gasoline cell system and dealing on infrastructure growth co-creation,” Toyota writes in a press launch at the moment.

Wow, a 3rd technology. Wait, what occurred with the primary two generations? Oh yeah, virtually nobody purchased them as a result of hydrogen-powered vehicles don’t make precise sensible sense or monetary sense!

Nonetheless … “Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) and the BMW Group (BMW) signed an settlement to strengthen collaboration within the hydrogen sector, with a view to making a hydrogen society and reaching general carbon neutrality. Each corporations will work collectively on the event of gasoline cells system and the advance of infrastructure.”

I’m actually shocked. To start with, why do Toyota and BMW assume it’s nonetheless worthwhile to throw cash at this sort of factor? There’s no means they assume they will create a hydrogen-based society. There’s no means they assume hydrogen vehicles could possibly be viable mass-market vehicles, proper? Proper?…

It virtually like they’re even trolling themselves. “The 2 corporations signed an settlement in December 2011 to determine a mid-long-term cooperative relationship in environmental know-how, and have collectively superior the event of environmental applied sciences, together with gasoline cells and sports activities vehicles, for over a decade.” They themselves are highlighting that they’ve been working collectively on this for 13 years. I can’t perceive it. Truthfully. “Sharing a standard imaginative and prescient of ‘realizing a hydrogen society,’ the 2 corporations will proceed to speed up technological innovation in gasoline cell methods.” They actually have a standard imaginative and prescient that they assume isn’t fantasy? I’ve a tough time believing it. And they’re going to “proceed to speed up” this know-how? Maintain 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 gasoline cell electrical car (FCEV) by 2028. Keep tuned.

I do surprise the place BYD, Xpeng, Zeekr, NIO, and Tesla shall 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.