Stellantis Flawed Hydrogen Strategy -

Previously we outlined ten reasons hydrogen was dead for transportation, yet we see Stellantis flawed hydrogen strategy proposed by the CEO. Despite Carolos Tavares says in an online event that the cost of hydrogen mobility is ‘sky high’, just two months after introducing eight new H2 van models. He says fuel-cell road transport is ‘far from being affordable’, with cost being an ‘enormous challenge’.

Carlos was speaking at Stellantis Freedom of Mobility Forum as reported by Hydrogen Insight.

Twice as expensive may be something of an underestimate, depending on the market, with Hydrogen Insight writing in September last year that it was almost 14 times more expensive to drive a Toyota fuel-cell car than a comparable Tesla EV.

FCEV Vehicles Cost More to Run?

1. Efficiency of Fuel

Direct electrification is 77% versus 33% (Anticipated improvement by both technologies by 2050). Both assume 100% renewable energy.

hyrogen efficiency — Hydrogen Efficiency by Dr Paul Martin

Graphic from Guardian at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/feb/13/will-hydrogen-overtake-batteries-in-the-race-for-zero-emission-cars

2. Cost of Green Hydrogen

Analysts suggest that green H2 needs to be $1 kg to be competitive. Currently it is about $4 wholesale and $15/kg at the pump. Will advances in electrolyzer provide lower costs. Yes. But the technology advances will need to be storage and distribution.

3. Cost of Vehicles

The physical nature of H2 vehicles has additional parts. As battery costs continue to come under $50 per Wh/kg, halving from 2023, the gap widens.