Regarding hydrogen fuel vehicles, many people's first reaction is, is that not the direction of research and development of Japanese car companies? Japanese car companies hold more than 70% of the patents and develop hydrogen fuel vehicles, is that not to make a wedding dress for Japanese car companies? However, the facts may not be the same as you know.
In fact, hydrogen energy is like a distant but attractive big cake, although there is still a distance from large-scale application, but no one dares to give up easily before there is no deer death, although Toyota is temporarily leading in this field, but Toyota still has many problems in the field of hydrogen energy that have not been solved, and have not formed an absolute monopoly, which is like a big gamble, no one dares to easily close, so the future competition of hydrogen energy or will be very fierce. At present, Chinese and foreign car companies, including Great Wall Motor and Hyundai Motor Group, have jointly led the establishment of the International Hydrogen Energy Council with other outstanding enterprises around the world, and there are currently more than 100 member companies, jointly committed to promoting the high-quality development of hydrogen energy. Next, let's take stock of the research and development progress of major car companies in the field of hydrogen energy.
Japanese car companies
Toyota is undoubtedly a leader in the field of hydrogen fuel vehicles, and as early as 1992, Toyota has begun research on hydrogen energy vehicles. The Toyota Mirai was officially launched in Japan on December 15, 2014, and is the world's first mass-produced hydrogen-fueled vehicle. Today, the Toyota MIRAI has evolved to the second generation, and the hydrogen-powered Corolla racing version is also on the track. At present, Toyota is the staunchest supporter of hydrogen fuel vehicles, holding more than 70% of the patents related to hydrogen fuel vehicles.
Although Honda decided to stop this hydrogen fuel vehicle last year because of poor sales of the Clarity series, this does not mean that Honda stopped the research and development of hydrogen fuel vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are regarded by Honda as the ultimate environmental protection car, and Honda's new generation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is also actively under development, and it is planned to be put on the market in 2023.
German car companies
Compared with Japanese car companies, German car companies do not seem to be so enthusiastic about the research and development of hydrogen fuel vehicles, but they are also quietly proceeding.
BMW is the german car manufacturer's biggest supporter of the development of hydrogen energy, before BMW launched the hydrogen fuel BMW 7 series, and this year, BMW will produce 100 X5 hydrogen fuel vehicles, in 2030, will launch a mass production version of the hydrogen fuel car, officially sold to the public.
The Volkswagen Group has accelerated the development of hydrogen fuel cells, and Audi has assembled a team to study hydrogen fuel cells on behalf of the entire Volkswagen Group and has built several prototypes.
Mercedes-Benz partnered with Ford and Nissan to develop the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell in 2013, but Mercedes-Benz felt that the cost of hydrogen-fueled passenger cars was too high and shifted its focus to the fuel cell system of heavy-duty vehicles. Because Mercedes feels that electric trucks are unrealistic because the batteries are too heavy.
Volvo and Mercedes-Benz are collaborating on the development of hydrogen-fueled commercial vehicles, which are expected to begin production in 2025, with the aim of enabling half of the group's European sales to be pure electric trucks or fuel cell trucks by 2030.
Renault will officially unveil its hydrogen-powered concept car at the ChangeNOW Summit in Paris on May 19.
Jaguar Land Rover announced last year that it would develop a hydrogen fuel cell prototype based on the new Land Rover Defender, naming the hydrogen fuel cell development project the Zeus Project, which would benefit from a total subsidy of £73.5 million from the UK government for the automotive industry.
Korean car companies
In addition to Toyota, Hyundai Motor is currently the most technologically powerful car company in hydrogen fuel vehicles. Hyundai's NEXO has obtained China's new energy license and can be legally on the road in China, Nexo is the second generation of Hyundai's hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which takes only 5 minutes to recharge and fill, and the endurance can reach up to 800 kilometers.
American car companies
Ford's recent patent application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine was exposed. Unlike hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, the patent is a hydrogen-powered turbocharged internal combustion engine that could be used in hybrid models in the future.
GM is developing hydrogen fuel products for heavy-duty trucks and aircraft, among others, and is currently expanding the system to fuel cell power systems to help build generators and fast-charging stations.
Chinese car companies
In addition, in terms of independent automobile brands, Chinese automobile companies such as SAIC, Geely, Great Wall, BAIC, GAC and Changan are also deeply cultivating hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technology.
BYD has entered the field of hydrogen fuel vehicles, and its patent of "gas storage tank mount, hydrogen storage device and automobile" has been authorized, and BYD will develop in the future in pure electric and hydrogen energy vehicles.
SAIC Motor launched the "Phoenix One" fuel cell vehicle project as early as 2001, SAIC Maxus MAXUSEUNIQ7 is the world's first fuel cell MPV, SAIC plans to launch at least ten fuel cell vehicle products by 2025
In 2019, SAIC-GM-Wuling launched the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and completed the construction of the first hydrogen fuel cell functional prototype vehicle in 2020, which has realized all autonomy from membrane electrodes, bipolar plates to stack system integration, and high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinders are also domestic, and the storage hydrogen pressure has reached 70MPa, from key components to vehicle integration, all of which have been localized.
Geely released the hydrogen fuel cell bus F12 in 2021, and during the Beijing Winter Olympics, Geely's hydrogen fuel bus was used as a dedicated support service vehicle.
Great Wall Motor in 2021 officially launched the hydrogen energy strategy, at present, Great Wall Motor has achieved "stack and core components, fuel cell engines and components (controllers, etc.), IV. hydrogen storage cylinders, high-pressure hydrogen storage valves, hydrogen safety, liquid hydrogen process" six core technologies and product intellectual property rights are completely autonomous, this year will launch the world's first C-class hydrogen fuel cell SUV, the length of 5 meters 2, the use of 7 seat layout, NEDC under the conditions of the endurance of 660 kilometers.
Gac Motor released the GAC Trumpchi Aion LX Fuel Cell last year, based on the GAC Group GEP2.0 platform, equipped with a fuel cell system and an on-board hydrogen storage system independently developed by GAC Motor. 100 km/h acceleration of 9s, 100 km hydrogen consumption of 0.77 kg, NEDC working range of more than 650 km.
The Changan CS75 FCV fuel cell vehicle was officially unveiled last year, and the new car adopts a fuel cell system. The hydrogen consumption is about 0.8 kg per 100 km, and the NEDC has a cruising range of 600 km.
Hongqi launched the H5-FCEV in 2021, which can be filled with 4 kg of hydrogen and has a cruising range of 520 kilometers under NEDC conditions.
As can be seen from the above, although the landing of hydrogen fuel vehicles is still a roadblock and long, but the car companies have not easily given up, it is still in the dark competition, so every time I see what Europe gives up the research and development of hydrogen energy, I feel funny, you know a hammer? Some car companies have shifted the focus from hydrogen-fueled passenger cars to commercial vehicles, but it is impossible for countries to abandon hydrogen energy research.
At present, almost all major car companies believe that hydrogen fuel vehicles are currently the most suitable as the powertrain of commercial vehicles, and this is also the most likely direction for hydrogen fuel vehicles to break through in the future. When many people talk about hydrogen fuel vehicles, they will always mention such and such obstacles to the development of hydrogen energy, what you say is the truth, but your pattern is a little small, hydrogen energy is related to energy security, related to the hegemony of the lighthouse country, related to the global economy, the development of hydrogen fuel vehicles will not be achieved overnight, but countries can not give up.