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 twenty% 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 offers economies of scale and improved provide chains that simply additional the aggressive benefit for these more and more fashionable 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 elemental causes we used to argue for why the longer term 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 broaden the lineup of gasoline cell passenger vehicles, Toyota and BMW are collectively creating a third-generation gasoline cell system and dealing on infrastructure improvement co-creation,” Toyota writes in a press launch at this time.

Wow, a 3rd era. Wait, what occurred with the primary two generations? Oh yeah, nearly 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 development of infrastructure.”

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

It nearly like they’re even trolling themselves. “The 2 corporations signed an settlement in December 2011 to ascertain 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. Actually. “Sharing a typical imaginative and prescient of ‘realizing a hydrogen society,’ the 2 corporations will proceed to speed up technological innovation in gasoline cell techniques.” They actually have a typical imaginative and prescient that they suppose isn’t fantasy? I’ve a tough time believing it. And they’re going to “proceed to speed up” this know-how? Hold accelerating away! Speed up to infinity, and past! So long as we’re dreaming, why not make it fly too?!

Because of 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 marvel the place BYD, Xpeng, Zeekr, NIO, and Tesla shall be by then….

If you happen to 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. Nevertheless it’s pure leisure.