They have been the car of the future for 10 years, Tesla are electric but yet forget about hydrogen, and Elon Musk has something to do with it.
From first to defend the electric car, Elon Musk has put all his strength and his fortune into the Tesla project to green the sector. But strangely, he does not weigh his words in the face of hydrogen, yet a serious alternative to the thermal automobile.
The electric car against hydrogen is an aberration for him. “They are absurd. It’s hard to produce hydrogen, store it and use it in a car “ he said in a conference in January 2015. “It’s half the efficiency, it’s mediocre, why do this, it doesn’t make sense” continued the South African, “The ideal hydrogen fuel cell is not winning over current batteries. And it will be even more obvious in the years to come. ».
Annoyed at being questioned and debating the issue, he now limits himself to Donald Trump-style puns. In 2020, it combined fuel cells (« fuel cell » in English) to « fool sells » (stupid seller).
Exactly, fuel cells = fool sells
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2020
To consolidate his deep conviction, take his admirer copying his style and his media outings: the CEO of Volkswagen. “Green hydrogen is necessary for steel, chemicals, aviation, and should not end up in cars” declared Herbert Diess in February 2021 on Twitter, considering hydrogen « way too expensive, inefficient, slow, difficult to transform and transport “.
The German boss thus breaks with the development of hydrogen, now canceled at Audi. An h-tron concept car was exhibited in 2016, and until 2020, some executives were still announcing a future small series.
The technology of electric cars, linked to the battery, is advancing rapidly. Autonomy is always greater, fast recharging times are reduced, and efficiency increases. But hydrogen too, despite the few manufacturers involved (Toyota, Hyundai, etc.).
The H2 and its fuel cell are advancing rapidly, whether in terms of autonomy or environmental impact. To be green, hydrogen must come from a clean process. The best solution is electrolysis via wind or solar electricity, developing strongly, displeasing Musk who considered this option inefficient.
Still not very suitable for cars, because of a high price, hydrogen could have its place in large vehicles. He is appreciated in trucks, where several manufacturers are involved including Nikola or Gaussin. For professionals, rapid fueling is also a major advantage in saving time. Hydrogen trucks will thus be able to compete with the Tesla Semi, 100% electric, but at the “Megacharger” terminals of 1 GW not yet concrete.
Elon Musk is probably watching this closely, and could why not change your mind if the wind turns to hydrogen. Tesla is also forgetting utilities, where Stellantis unveiled vans, and Renault its Hyvia.
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