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Featured Toyota Believes Fuel Cell Prices Will Match Hybrids

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, May 27, 2019.

  1. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    AFIK, that's the last time they tried that, 12 years ago.
     
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    be glad to. That way the dozen-or-so outliers needing that (along w/a $29K price tag, dont forget .... & a QC on e/corner, + 300Lb battery) can jump on board.

    .
     
  3. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Well, it doesn't matter how cheap the FC cars get, as long as fuel stations are so few and sparse, people won't buy.
     
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Any allowance for x-factor here?

    Say they come up with a cheap convenient hydrogen-producing gun that you can plug in at home for overnight filling.

    Is there any chance they've got some crazy ace up their sleeve?
     
  5. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Residential FC are in operation in Japan, aren't they? However, I don't think they can provide Hydrogen fuel to a FCV, AFAIK.
     
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Honda also gave up on the home NG stations, but I give them points for trying to make truly alternative fueled cars work instead of making some concepts, and waiting for someone else to supply the fuel.

    This news would be much more exciting if it came from Nissan. Their FCEV uses ethanol, which does has its own issues, but is much closer to being available than hydrogen. The design also doesn't exclude the use of other fuels.
    No. While there are other paths to making renewable hydrogen being pursued, distribution and refueling will always be a hurdle. Home refueling won't happen for the same reasons Honda stopped supporting it for the CNG Civic; the systems were expensive, and didn't adequately clean up the NG which lead to the car's fuel system rotting out. If we get to the point where home FCEV cogen units are feasible, a EVSE for a plug in is far cheaper and requires less maintenance than a hydrogen purifier and compressor.
    There might be some available here, though if so, their cost might be around $100k.

    There are residential cogen electric and heat generators available for far less. Honda even has one that is a true Atkinson cycle available in Japan.
     
    #26 Trollbait, May 28, 2019
    Last edited: May 28, 2019
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  7. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    But it’s only for welding that 10,000psi requirement is what makes cheap impossible

    Now cng or ethanol FCEV would have half a chance of being useful
     
  8. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    99% of people fill up this way right now, and are thus used to that level of performance. More than 50% of people don't park their cars in a garage and thus have some challenges charging.

    So, quit lying about this need being a few outliers. The outliers are those people for whom an EV of today can already meet all their needs.
     
  9. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    People had to get used to toxic explosive non-renewables that people fight Wars over too - instead of feeding hay to a horse. We are in adaptive species so no need for the hand-wringing.
    Big deal, that doesn't mean they can't do like many including myself. I run the L2 out into the driveway. Or I charge at work - or QC for 10 minutes. But that's okay if that's too much for you to overcome. Don't feel bad.
    everyone is an outlier when they start, so don't feel bad. Remember, electric cars are increasing in numbers/% way faster than hybrids ever did.
    .
     
    #29 hill, May 28, 2019
    Last edited: May 28, 2019
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  10. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    I have a 3-car insulated garage where I can change and I can charge at work at one of our 16 chargers or about 50 120V outlets.

    So, you're wrong again. "Don't feel bad."
     
  11. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

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    I went to a Toyota Prius gen 2 launch event in the Bay Area...must have been late 2003.
    After the presentations you could take a ride in a Fuel Cell Rav 4 (I think).
    They said it was 10 years till mass production.

    Mike
     
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  12. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The previous FCEV was built on the Highlander.
    They weren't far off if mass production was "we'll actually sell a FCEV car instead of it being it lease only."
     
  13. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    oh! Didn't realize you were hand wringing for theoretical hand ringers.

    .
     
  14. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    They aren't theoretical, they are more than half of the US (people who can't charge at home). And this is only one reason BEVs won't work for many people. Others include my own reason (I take trips away from charging infrastructure), excessive range reduction from cold temperatures, living in rural areas away from charging infrastructure, and so forth.
     
  15. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    like Bob says, perfect is the enemy of good enough. But if you want to worry about those in rural areas, it's nice to know they have an advocate. Commendable!
    Meanwhile ;
    Switching to electric vehicles could save the US billions, but timing is everything

    .
     
  16. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Same was said of early BEV's too.

    superchargermap.jpg
     
  17. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Yeah, the same is being said of current BEV around here. That's why I am still not buying BEV. I have just as many FCV fuel station as BEV charge station in my neighborhood ~200 miles radius.
     
    #37 Salamander_King, May 28, 2019
    Last edited: May 28, 2019
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    .... except if y habe solar panels they'll get you where you're going for free. Hydrogen is $15/liter. So are they the same driving cost? Not so much.

    .
     
  19. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    As always, you're entirely clueless - that number is off by at least a factor of 10,000.
     
  20. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Ditto. Well almost. Like the old map, the charger situation around my area is still not very useful in 2019. FCV is behind but it can catch up and just like early BEV tech it's mainly cost vs performance holding it back.

    The race is long.
     
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