What's holding back the production of fuel cell cars?

Question

With the outrageous price of gas (hyper inflation), you would think that the auto industry would jump on the band wagon and start cranking out the fuel cell cars. Additionally, you would think that the oil companies would start setting up gas stations, or provide some sort of "exchange" station for the fuel cells all over the country? What's the hold up? The technology is here and now, it's been tested and proven for the past 3-5 years.

Answer 1

Big oil corporations and big car makers.  They are whores fornicating in the same bed with the government.

My 2 cents.

Answer 2

GM has a development fuel cell car they've built, it costs over $1,000,000.  Can you afford that?  Me neither!

There are other technologies that are much cheaper that can reduce the amount of gas a car uses.  Hybrids have been around a few years and are gaining in popularity.  If only 1/2 of the vehicles on the road were hybrids, this would greatly reduce the demand for oil in the US and would lower oil prices quite a bit.

Hydrogen fuel cell cars may become economically viable in 15 or 20 years, but right now they are not practical at all.

Answer 3

well said rob-n!

hydrogen on commercial scales is made from natural gas.

we can make gasoline from that same natural gas & use our existing infrastructure for sale & delivery much cheaper than we can develop a new hydrogen infrastructure.

so whats the point?modern cars contribute a small percentage to pollution.

some fuel cells can operate on gasoline, but again whats the point?

its a very complicated expensive solution to a  small problem, that has many other solutions.

Frank Phillips patented the natural gas to gasoline process in 1924, & used it to make aviation gas for many years.

Answer 4

Given the cost of making fuel cells, the cost of producing hydrogen and the fact that hydrogen is nearly impossible to store longer than a couple of days, gasoline would have to cost a LOT more before fuel cells could compete.

Answer 5

I doubt any one is.. however gas is really not that expensive.. we  have been spoiled the last few years.. In 1960 gas was .30 cents a gallon, vehicles got 8-12 miles per gallon.. usually 9-10 mpg..minimum wage was about $1.25 per hour, oh tires would go 20,000 miles cars cost bout $2,500.00 but now gas is $3.50-3.60, minimum wage is like 5.35 I think...but cars get 15-35 mpg.. , tires last 50,000 miles.. so when you figure the cost of traveling a mile based on hours worked ... there is very little difference.. I had to work about the same amount of hours in 1960 to travel 500 miles and I have to work in 2008.  Im only using minimum wage because that way you can compare apples and apples.. The big difference between the two is that in 1960 we didnt have all the other things to spend our money on as we do now.. central heat and air conditioning in our homes, dish washers, washer and dryers, expensive movies, expensive professional sport games.. to attend.. foot ball etc. Bottom line is Its the life style we have come to expect that we cant afford.. the cost of travel is no more than it was in 1960 when it is compared to the amount of work you have to do to be able to travel a certain distance if that makes sense... Its our expensive life styles that's causing the problem... not the price of gas!!!!  Most of us lived very modest lifestyles back then and were probably better off than most people are now.. we have become a spoiled  and wasteful people

Answer 6

A couple of things...

1. Cost to make the cells

2. The oil companies are still making huge amounts of $$$

3. No infastructure for fuel cell cars, meaning that there are not many filling stations for car with fuel cells.

Answer 7

"The technology is here and now, it's been tested and proven for the past 3-5 years."

The technology has been proven to WORK, it hasn't been  proven to be ECONOMICAL:  

An internal conbustion engine puts out as much as 100 hp per litre of displacement, a fuel cell puts out 1 hp/100 ltr of displacement;

Current fuel cells are platinum based, platinum is VERY expensive, cheaper iron based fuel cells are in the testing phase but are less efficient;

and, of course, there is no infrastructure to refuel them.

Answer 8

Well, that's simple to answer.  those companies doing most of the practical "research" also happen to be owned by oil companies.  As you can see, they have no incentive to make you fuel cell cars anytime soon.

Answer 9

The main reasons are a lack of hydrogen fuel and a lack of infrastructure.  Currently we get most of our hydrogen from natural gas, and the process emits as much CO2 as burning the natural gas directly, and is less efficient.  We'd be better off with natural gas cars than hydrogen cars.

Then there's the complete lack of transportation and storage infrastructure.  Even if we had a good source of hydrogen fuel, we would need to transport it to refueling stations and store it there.  You're talking about hundreds billions of dollars of investment to build this sort of infrastructure.

Meanwhile, electric car technology is advancing as rapidly (if not more so) as hydrogen fuel cells, and the infrastructure (power grid) is already in place.  The future is electric, not hydrogen.

Answer 10

you answered your own question,the price of gas.oil companies are making the biggest profits in history.they hold alot of power over car companies and politics......