German giants are hedging their bets, developing fuel-cell cars alongside battery-powered ones as part of preparations to abandon fossil fuels
BMW is hydrogen's biggest proponent among Germany's carmakers. Picture: SUPPLIED
Global auto hub Germany is in sharp focus. It is already betting billions on hydrogen fuel in sectors such as steel and chemicals to meet climate targets, and closely-fought elections this month could see the Greens enter the coalition government and further push the technology. “Whether this [technology] is driven by politics or demand, we will be ready with a product,” he said, adding that his team is already working to develop the next generation vehicles.
That hydrogen is so far behind in the race to the affordable market also means even some champions of the technology, such Germany’s Greens, favour prioritising battery-powered passenger cars because they see them as the fastest way to reach their main goal of decarbonising transport. Last year Daimler said it would wind down production of the Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL, a hydrogen fuel-cell SUV, but a source familiar with company plans said the project could easily be revived if the European Commission or a German government with Green participation decide to promote hydrogen cars.
But he added: “It’s not out of bounds to think if the [German] Greens come into power they could accelerate the push to adopt regulations favouring hydrogen fuel-cell cars.” Yet Fitch Solutions’ Cobb said it would still take years before any European policy support for hydrogen-powered cars translated into significant sales.
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