What is the state of fuel cell vehicles?

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Seems like electric is really starting to make it into mainstream. Here's a pic a friend took of a tesla he was lusting after:
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so I fixed it for him:


but I've always been a fan of fuel cells. Yes, I understand hydrogen, like electricity, is only an energy storage mechanism, and the power has to come from somewhere else, but I've always felt the fuel cell had advantages over the electric cars.

Now with the tesla charging stations and such, I am getting concerned that we are heading the wrong way. If we need to change this nation's infrastructure, I'd (or I guess I'd)sure like to see it go hydrogen, if at very least, the filling stations will be a lot more like conventional stations.

I've always assumed fuel cell would swoop in at the 11th hour and kick electric's a$$.

Is that going to happen? Or is that a pipe dream? Or are there good reasons why it should not happen?

[GH85Carrera]

The good reason is, as you know: No good source for hydrogen. The electric grid is already near max capacity in summer. It can't take the strain of millions of electric cars.

[5String43]

If memory serves, a number of manufacturers are pretty much produce fuel-cell vehicles whenever the fuel becomes available/the market demands them. No less than Toyota has gone on record as saying it believes that they represent the future of transportation.

Toyota Global Site | Fuel Cell Vehicle

[Nickshu]

I think electric MARKETING and HYPE is making it into the mainstream, but not the technology. The technology as a whole is disappointing and will take decades for the battery technology to equal gasoline, hydrogen, hybrid, or other alternatives. Why we are going this route baffles me. Hydrogen fuel cells make so much more sense but they are virtually non-existent in the marketplace.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I was thinking too, about fleet vehicles and Emergency Response Vehicles. Having briefly worked as an EMT and seeing the demands on those vehicles, electric just doesn't make a bit of sense.

To me it's weird that Elon Musk would have the vision to be willing try to land rockets backwards, yet not see that the electric model can only go so far, even with a bunch of charging stations.

I think of my limited time as an EMT, and I think of taking road trips... Electric just doesnt add up unless we are willing to make a uniform type battery (like a cordless drill battery) which can be changed out at gas stations (I'd like to say "that's MY earth changing idea- so on 10/1/2015- you (FB) are hereby notified" )- but like all my other ideas, I'm sure someone else thought of it first. People aren't going to wait for charging- nor should they.

[stealthn]

My neighbour works for Dow, he said they just cost too much. The R&D that goes into them make the test vehicle like 1 million each, unless they can figure out the infrastructure and mass productiin it's too costly.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by stealthn

My neighbour works for Dow, he said they just cost too much. The R&D that goes into them make the test vehicle like 1 million each, unless they can figure out the infrastructure and mass productiin it's too costly.

Toyota's newest fuel cell car for sale is something like 5% of the cost of the Highlander fuel cells they had a few years ago. http://www.autonews.com/article/20141124/OEM06/311249976/toyotas-fuel-cell-goal:-big-cost-cutting

To answer the question: California. That is the state of fuel cell vehicles. I've actually seen hydrogen filling stations and fuel cell cars on the road. But Teslas are everywhere so the BEVs still far outnumber the fuel cells.

[sleepy911]

I bought a chevy volt and love the car. I'm the worst ev driver around. The car is always in sport mode because it accelerates better. I get 36 to 38 miles on a charge, 40 if I baby it. I charge at work for free so I go weeks without getting gas. I bought it purely to save money not to save the environment. If the environmentalist want i'll hug a tree on my way home. Haha