Fred, here are a couple of interesting articles shedding some much needed new light on fuel cell technology.
First, is an article in Automotive News from Mar 8, as follows:
"Detroit - Denso Int'l says it is working to develop fuel cell
technology with a major OEM customer. But the Japanese supplier believes the industry is still so far away from putting fuel cells on the market that it is devoting its primary research and development to improving gasoline-powered internal combustion engines.
"Fuel cell is like any other technology in that it will become viable only when the cost comes down to acceptable levels" said Sujit Jain, dir. of engine mgm't systems and components for Denso Int'l America, Inc. in Southfield Mich. " The question is when will the cost-benefit ratio equal that of traditional internal combustion technology, and I
don't see that happening for a very long time.
He made this statement to the SAE Int'l Congress and Exposition last week.
Denso is a key global supplier, particularly for Toyota Motor Corp.
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and Daimler-Chrysler AG in North America. All three of those companies are pursuing fuel-cell technology in-house.
(Skipping along)
"We are years from reaching the stage of fuel-cell technology", Jain said. "That's why our focus will remain on improvements to internal combustion technology...
End
The next article gets even better and sounds like your reference in the NY Times as follows:
(Important excerpts only from this lengthy article in A/N of March 29)
FUEL CELLS STILL POSE THORNY PROBLEMS: Fuel cells are still years away from widespread use by the auto industry. Standing in their path are high costs and the problems of a complex technology. Together, these forces ensure large numbers of fuel-cell powered vehicles will not hit showrooms for a decade or more.
Daimler-Chrysler officials admit the vehicle is overweight by more than 600 pounds, and astronomically expensive. A mass produced fuel-cell system would cost $30,000 using todays technology, says DaimlerChrysler, although Necar 4's hand-built unit is estimated to cost $350,000.
Gasoline engines typically cost $3,000.
Specialized hardware is what drives the fuel cell's costs.
(Skipping)
The fuel cell also needs time to warm the catalysts to operating temperatures, necessitating a bulky on-board battery pack to provide power in the interim.
(Skip)
(Another major problem they have)
"The problem, says Panik, is that "methanol is getting through the membrane, so the hydrocarbon emissions are still too high."
That pretty well sums up the latest (Or, lack, thereof) developments in fuel cell technology.
Regards. |
