GM, Honda Collaborate to develop hydrogen cars

They hope to cut costs and increase clout to lobby for more hydrogen service stations

Amid a revival in interest in hydrogen fuel cell cars, General Motors and Honda announcing this week that they are going to join forces to develop them.

Even before announcing they were combining, the two were already formidable competitors in the race to develop hydrogen fuel-cell technology that can be used to make cars that emit only water vapor.

GM announced a series of hydrogen fuel-cell breakthroughs in the last decade before shifting its emphasis to developing gasoline/plug-in electric cars like the Chevrolet Volt. Honda produced the hydrogen fuel cell electric Clarity, a gorgeous car that was tested with average consumers. Drive On has had time in the car — which uses a hydrogen fuel stack to create electricity on demand — and it is a gem.

GM, which says it has expertise in battery chemistry, holds the most patents involving the technology. Honda, which showed how to produce hydrogen fuel-cell cars, is in second place on patents.

Now, GM and Honda will combine to produce a common powertrain running on hydrogen, which itself is usually produced from now-cheap natural gas. They are trying to bring a product to market by 2020. Honda, on its own, will bring another version of its Clarity fuel-cell car to the U.S. by 2015. Besides standardizing components that both companies can use for their own models, the collaboration calls for trying to use the greater force to push for more hydrogen fuel stations. At present, they are few and far between.

"This collaboration builds upon Honda and GM's strengths as leaders in hydrogen fuel cell technology," said GM CEO Dan Akerson, in a statement. "We are convinced this is the best way to develop this important technology."

Hydrogen fuel research reached a climax in the last decade before automakers seized upon electric power from plugging into the electric grid and storing it in batteries as the best way to produce a clean-fuel car.
In the past year, automakers like Toyota and Mercedes-Benz have announced they are aggressively pursuing hydrogen fuel cells. But it remains prohibitively expensive for the mass market, an issue that Honda and GM hope to tackle together.

Read the entire article here

 For more information visit http://PPMSuperSale.com