The Technology section is powered by Favbet Tech
General Motors and Honda have announced that their FCSM joint venture has begun production of hydrogen fuel cells that will eventually find use in “a variety of products.”
Hydrogen fuel cells use compressed hydrogen as fuel, the only emission from which is water vapor. A number of automakers intend to take advantage of the technology because of its advantages in the development of heavy-duty vehicles and mobile power generators — as a way to further replace gasoline and diesel vehicles, reports The Verge.
FCSM stands for “Fuel Cell Systems Manufacturing”. The joint venture between GM and Honda was established in 2017. The two automakers have also collaborated on battery electric vehicles such as the Honda Prologue, Acura ZDX and Cruise Origin.
The 6,500-square-meter FCSM plant in Brownstown, Michigan was built with a joint investment of $83 million between GM and Honda. The companies call it “the first large-scale production fuel cell joint venture.”
Hydrogen has not found much success in the passenger car market. Honda was one of the few companies that sold a car with hydrogen engines – the Clarity model, but its production was discontinued in 2017. The problem is the almost complete lack of gas station infrastructure. Automakers are now focusing on work trucks and construction equipment, theoretically suggesting that it will be easier to build infrastructure for vehicles operating in confined areas.
The energy density of hydrogen is relatively low, making hydrogen storage a challenging task, as compact storage requires high pressure, low temperatures, or chemical processes. Overcoming this problem is important for light-duty vehicles, as they often have limited dimensions and weight for fuel storage.
The Biden administration recently proposed new tax rules aimed at making hydrogen production cheaper as a less dirty alternative to fossil fuels. The problem, however, is that most hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, mostly through a process called steam methane reforming, which results in carbon dioxide emissions. Methane is an even more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2.
The Technology section is powered by Favbet Tech
Favbet Tech is an IT company with 100% Ukrainian DNA, which creates perfect services for iGaming and Betting using advanced technologies and provides access to them. Favbet Tech develops innovative software through a complex multi-component platform capable of withstanding huge loads and creating a unique experience for players. The IT company is part of the FAVBET group of companies.
