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Just a Reminder – Look at 2002

Just a Reminder – Look at 2002

Honda clarity

The Clarity, © Honda

During my research for the article on the second generation of Honda‘s fuel cell vehicle, the Clarity Fuel Cell (see Honda Hands Over Keys for First Clarity Fuel Cell), I suddenly remembered days long past. More specifically, I recalled news pieces that I had written or read many years ago. I did a bit of a search and found the following lines, which I would like to share with you:

“One must recognize the distinct accomplishment of the second-biggest Japanese carmaker, Honda, which – like archrival Toyota – succeeded before all automotive manufacturers in the Western world to supply customers with fuel cell cars. (more…)

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Honda Hands Over Keys for First Clarity Fuel Cell

Honda Hands Over Keys for First Clarity Fuel Cell

Honda-figure

Further improvement in energy density, © Honda

Life’s hard on Honda: The Japanese carmaker has always been overshadowed by its biggest rival Toyota. Whereas Toyota is expanding its lead thanks to VW‘s diesel emissions scandal, Honda’s efforts to shine in the spotlight, at least by promoting forward-looking technologies, have been met with only a lukewarm press reception. The latest example of that was the corporation’s unveiling of its second generation of Clarity fuel cell cars in the fall of 2015. The presentation attracted much less attention than when Toyota showcased the first generation of its Mirai. (more…)

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There Is No Stopping Plug Power

There Is No Stopping Plug Power

HyGear_Plug-Power

Plug Power has been partnering with HyGear since June 2016, © Plug Power

If the number of order bookings is anything to go by, then Plug Power is not only doing very well, but the company will be able to easily achieve or even exceed its ambitious goals: New orders worth USD 72 million in the first quarter increased backlog to an impressive USD 278 million. The new booking target figure this year is USD 275 million. The revenue target is USD 150 million – after USD 100 million last year. (more…)

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Ballard Sets Its Sights on China

Ballard Sets Its Sights on China

Gang

Minister Wan Gang in Berlin

One should never be too enthusiastic, but if the Chinese government really takes up the battle against the country’s dramatic pollution levels, fuel cells and hydrogen will become top priorities – domestically and globally. People will take note of the comments that Wan Gang, China’s minister of science and technology, made during this year’s industry conference H2Mobility in Berlin in early April. Gang – an engineer, who had a ten-year stint at Audi – considers the fuel cell‘s versatility and “green hydrogen” to be two key solutions for improving China’s environmental situation (more…)

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Tesla Raises New Capital

Tesla Raises New Capital

elon musk

Elon Musk, © Tesla

Tesla CEO Elon Musk was as eloquent as ever when he raised the targets for the company’s electric car models: Instead of producing 500,000 electric cars (total figure, all models – i.e., Model S, Model X and Model 3) in 2020, the company should already achieve that number in 2018 and increase it to one million in 2020. One can question whether these targets will become reality, as they require even more large infusions of cash, making additional capital increases inevitable. And this although Tesla has just recently sought more money (more…)

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