Consumers may avoid FCVs due to dirty hydrogen & costly tech

According to a recent report from IHS Automotive, annual hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could reach sales of around 70k per year by 2027, representing less than one in a thousand new vehicles produced. The report states that to prevent this situation from occurring more hydrogen needs to be produced from renewable sources, and technology must improve so that less platinum (which is expensive) is required to be used as a catalyst in fuel cells.

Consumers may shy away from fuel cells because of their cost and lack of infrastructure support

Fuel cell vehicles may be the future of the transportation world, but they face many challenges that could slow their adoption among consumers. Very few of these vehicles are currently available to the public, with most automakers opting to wait for a hydrogen infrastructure to become well established. IHS Automotive has predicted that, even when fuel cell vehicles become popular, sales of such vehicles may be somewhat slow. The organization suggests that it may be several years before these vehicles becoming a prominent force in the transportation market.

70,000 vehicles with fuel cells expected to be sold annually by 2027

According to IHS Automotive, annual sales of fuel cell vehicles is expected to reach 70,000 by 2027. Cars equipped with hydrogen fuel cells will represent less than one in a thousand of the new vehicles being produced every year. Lacking infrastructure and the high cost of fuel cells may make consumers wary of vehicles equipped with fuel cells. Other clean vehicles, such as those powered by lithium-ion batteries, are likely to be consumer favorites for some time.

Hydrogen production will need to shift toward renewable energy rather than fossil-fuels

IHS Automotive suggests that the sale of fuel cell vehicles can grow, but in order to do so, automakers and other organizations will have to take action. First, organizations will have to focus on the development of a comprehensive hydrogen fuel infrastructure. Moreover, the hydrogen production process must be revamped, focusing more heavily on the use of renewable energy rather than fossil-fuels. Fuel cell developers must also devise new technology, making fuel cell systems less expensive and more efficient. If the cost of fuel cells drops, vehicles using these energy systems may become more attractive to consumers.

Automakers are investing in fuel cells and the development of a hydrogen infrastructure

While few automakers currently offer fuel cell vehicles, those that do have strong faith in this technology. Companies like Honda and Toyota believe that these energy systems could unlock a more environmentally friendly future for the auto industry. These companies are not only investing in fuel cell technology, of course, as they are also committing funds to the development of a hydrogen fuel infrastructure.