Audi (ETR:NSU) has bought fuel-cell patents from Vancouver-based Ballard Power Systems (TSE:BLD), a company that is one of the world’s leading companies in the technology of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Ballard provides clean energy products that reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their fuel‑cell programs. The German car manufacturer Audi will push up investment in car-making operations by 2 billion euros ($2.44 billion) to a record 24 billion euros over the next five years. Most of these funds will be directed to their production plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm which accounted for half the carmaker’s
Hyundai's 2015 ix35 (Tuscon) Fuel Cell Goes 435 Miles
Hyundai’s much awaited fuel cell car, the internationally known 2015 Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell or the North American Tuscon Fuel Cell. This car is Hyundai’s latest FCEV vehicle that is actually coming to market and will be available around the world fairly shortly as it is a 2015 model year vehicle, meaning we’ll see it on the road later this year. What’s such a big deal about Hyundai’s FCEV is that it is a fuel cell powered electric vehicle that can do hundreds of miles on a single ‘tank’. Instead of being powered by batteries and large battery packs, the ix35 Fuel Cell is basically powered
Cracking, Not Fracking, May Help Fuel Tomorrow’s Cars
A process known as “cracking” is being viewed as a potential for making hydrogen power more realistic for automotive purposes. Hydrogen is thought to be one of the best alternative fuel sources, but managing it has complications. Ammonia cracking is seen as a safer, less costly method of making hydrogen available. Cracking separates ammonia into one part nitrogen and three parts hydrogen. Hydrogen is typically produced by steam reforming natural gas, a process that wastes some of the energy stored in the gas, but a more significant result is the release of large amounts of CO2, considered to have a negative effect on the environment.
Toyota Moving Away from Tesla Battery Tech
Toyota has announced that they would be moving away from Tesla’s battery technology, which they were originally one of the first supporters in Tesla’s battery technology and took a 3% share (worth about $690 million) of the company in addition to adopting their battery technology. Keep in mind that currently, Tesla manufactures battery technology for Toyota and Mercedes and is in the process of building a $5 billion gigafab in order to increase their battery capacity. So, while Tesla is looking to expand their battery manufacturing capacity, one of their closest partners is moving away from Tesla’s tech. Toyota is claiming that they are moving towards