Fuel cell vehicles may face a tough road ahead
December 24, 2014Clean vehicles are gaining momentum, but lack the infrastructure support they need to succeed
Fuel cell vehicles may have a difficult time finding success in many parts of the world. These vehicles have managed to gain significant attention in recent years as many prominent automakers have announced plans to develop and sell these vehicles in the near future. The issue, however, is that much of the world lacks the infrastructure needed to support these vehicles, as they run primarily on hydrogen fuel. Without this infrastructure, fuel cell vehicles may not find success in commercial markets.
Building a hydrogen fuel infrastructure is a costly initiative
Many countries have been quite slow to build new hydrogen fuel stations. These stations are somewhat expensive to develop and represent a significant, yet somewhat indirect investment into fuel cell vehicles themselves. There is no telling whether or not these vehicles will become popular with consumers, and if they fail to have any appeal, investing in a hydrogen infrastructure would be a serious financial loss. Investing in infrastructure and fuel cell vehicles may be a wise move, according to the European Union.
EU suggests that hydrogen could help bolster energy security in many countries
The European Union suggests that hydrogen fuel represents a way to establish more energy security. Many countries rely on fossil-fuels that come from beyond their borders. Political tensions and other issues can place these fuel supplies in jeopardy, leaving some countries struggling in terms of energy. Because hydrogen can be produced relatively inexpensively, it could serve as an alternative to fossil-fuels, providing countries with more peace of mind when it comes to matters of power generation.
Incentives could accelerate the adoption of fuel cell vehicles in prominent markets
Incentives may be needed to promote the adoption of fuel cell vehicles in many parts of Europe and the United States. California, which is one of the auto industry’s most favored markets, already offers financial incentives for people looking to purchase clean vehicles. These incentives could help accelerate the adoption of fuel cell vehicles, justifying the investments being made in a hydrogen fuel infrastructure.