Hydrogen fuel cells may be common in transportation in near future

Report highlights potential for hydrogen fuel cells to go mainstream

The auto industry has succumb to an intense fascination with hydrogen fuel cells. Many automakers throughout the world are faced with emissions regulations and standards imposed upon them by governments. These standards are pressuring these companies to develop vehicles that produce less CO2 emissions and consume less fuel. Hydrogen fuel cells have become the ideal energy system the continuing endeavor to comply with the world’s governments, and Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai are expected to be the first companies to bring hydrogen-powered vehicles into commercialization.

South Korea and Japan could become bastions for hydrogen transportation

Frost & Sullivan, a business research and consulting firm, has released a new report that suggests hydrogen fuel cell technology in transportation could become mainstream by 2015. The report notes that South Korea and Japan may be the first two countries to see this technology go mainstream, as both countries have been showing strong support for hydrogen fuel cells in recent years. There has also been growing interest surrounding hydrogen fuel cells and how they can be used in transportation in the Asia Pacific market.

Growing support behind hydrogen fuel cells powers market momentum

The report suggests that growing support for a hydrogen fuel infrastructure and rising demand from consumers are providing powerful momentum behind the concept of hydrogen transportation. Though hydrogen fuel cells are expensive energy systems, consumers seem to be interested in them because they produce no harmful emissions and can be much more efficient than traditional vehicles. Though hydrogen-powered vehicles are, essentially, electric vehicles, they do not sacrifice performance for the sake of being environmentally friendly. Most hydrogen-powered vehicles can match or exceed the performance capabilities of traditional cars.

Hydrogen fuel cells expected to be major players in South Korea and Japan

In South Korea and Japan, the report predicts that the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles will reach 58,100 by 2020. This is up from the 600 that could be found in both countries in 2011. Frost & Sullivan suggest that the two companies will make up 41.8% of the global market share by 2020, unless other countries take aggressive steps in making themselves more attractive markets to automakers interested in hydrogen fuel cells.