German automobile industry leader Volkswagen has recently filed to patent a brand new vehicle which utilizes futuristic and cutting edge hydrogen fuel cell technology. Volkswagen joins industry giants like Toyota in developing hydrogen fuel cell automobile technology as industries go green amidst pressure to switch to alternative energy sources and leaving traditional combustion engines behind.
A cost effective alternative to battery- electric vehicles
Currently, the automobile industry is seeing an uptake in hybrid vehicles and fully electric vehicles (EVs), both of which utilize batteries as a storage component for power. However, Volkswagen seems to be going in a different direction, recognizing the potentials of hydrogen fuel cell technology and its implications for expanding consumer choice within one’s green energy portfolio.
The filed fuel cell stack patent possess a range of 1,234 miles. The project is a joint collaborative effort between Volkswagen and German firm Kraftwerk Tubes. If the fuel cell vehicle was to be developed and become available to consumers, it would be the first fuel cell car for Volkswagen. Currently, Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda are the only automobile companies with commercial fuel cell technology vehicles on the road.
What is exciting to see is that Volkswagen is developing fuel cell technology further than what is offered by Hyundai and Toyota. Volkswagen’s new fuel cell technology contains a ceramic membrane as opposed to standard polymer membranes favored by the Asia-based automobile giants. The membrane is key to the cell generating electricity and a novel ceramic membrane means a cheaper manufacturing process.
New technological developments, but Volkswagen continues to invest in EVs
While it is a cause for celebration for the green energy change that fuel cell technology in the automobile industry is slowly making its way out of Asia and is going global, Volkswagen assures consumers that their EV range is not going anywhere. As Volkswagen begins to develop their new fuel cell technology, EVs won’t be taking a backseat in the process.
Volkswagen has plans to release an affordable EV vehicle “for the people” by 2027. With an estimated price range of $21,450, Volkswagen will have to compete with the likes of Asian EVs which are both affordable and commercially widespread, Nevertheless, Volkswagen is confident that their developing entry-level vehicles will set high standards in terms of technology, design, quality, and customer experience.
Volkswagen continues to aim high as a leader in the European automobile industry
Volkswagen continues to pride themselves as a technological leader in the automobile industry in Europe. If they can be the first European company to develop and release fuel cell powered automobiles, competitors will need to rapidly develop their alternative energy solutions to keep up with them. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently praised Volkswagen’s EVs and Volkswagen’s efforts to manufacture affordable EVs.
Scholz has made further comments regarding Volkswagen, stating that Germany has one of the most influential automobile industries in the world and expressed desire to remain a “global player”. With Volkswagen’s novel fuel cell approach, Scholz’s comments are not merely talk but provide increased evidence for Volkswagen’s superior technological capabilities and advancements.
Volkswagen has continued to develop its fuel cell research since the early 200s. With their prioritization of EVs to reduce carbon emission, fuel cell technology was temporarily put on hold but with increasing competition among automobile giants for are and extensive green energy portfolios, it’s a strategic move by Volkswagen to bring fuel cell technology back into the limelight.
While it is clear that EVs will remain the core component of Volkswagen’s alternative energy vehicle lineup for now, it will be interesting to see in what direction the company goes in within the next decade.
