In the western world’s vehicle funding (LA) last week, I overdosed on an emerging however unusual ‘drug’ – hydrogen.
Among politicians as well as some motor market folk, the H word is ending up being an obsession. Yet for the huge majority of present motorists it’s irrelevant, as well as most likely always will be.
At best, real-world low to mid-budget motorists need to wait decades before they’re able to get commonly available, budget-friendly H cars. At worst, such automobiles might comply with in the embarrassing footsteps of 100 per cent electrics, which have been a bit of a flop.
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• “If Tesla made hydrogen cars, refuelling wouldn’t be a problem”
Yet hydrogen-themed breakfasts, stage presentations, press conferences, lunches, workshops as well as late-night discussions were so prevalent at the LA motor show that new, easily accessible as well as somewhat affordable traditional vehicles were nearly overshadowed by the H-related preoccupation.
Even after OD’ing on H as well as trying to getaway it for a while by driving across LA in a Volkswagen Passat as well as then Audi A7, both were powered by – you’ve guessed it – H fuel.
These German prototypes were a lot more than able to satisfy the daily demands of drivers, as well as quickly capable of handling 21st century streets. however – as well as buts don’t come bigger than this – hydrogen filling stations for vehicles are thin on the ground in the USA, unusual in Europe as well as non-existent in Britain.
• Every BMW to get plug-in hybrid option
Or to put this one more way, the likes of VW as well as Audi have the tech – however the energy market as well as governments are not investing sufficient on the facilities needed to refuel hydrogen cars. as well as who can blame them when the expense around the world is many trillions of dollars?
So why is the Volkswagen group seemingly fixated with hydrogen? I reckon it’s partly since there might be plans afoot for Audi to establish its sports vehicle programme as a hi-tech hydrogen-power test bed.
And in the deal with of gross lethargy from the energy giants as well as politicians who decline to fund those costly hydrogen filling stations, the VW household must establish a big refuelling network of its own. If it doesn’t, it may discover itself in the hopeless setting of trying to offer hydrogen vehicles to motorists who can’t get hydrogen fuel. as well as that’d be as daft as Apple trying to offer mobile phones without rechargeable batteries.
Do you believe hydrogen is the method ahead if the facilities was in place? let us understand in the comments below…