There is a clear distinction between Honda letting go and Jaguar Land Rover marching into the hydrogen fuel cell camp.

With the rapid change of the automobile industry, there is a lot of controversy about the route of new energy technology, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are always at the forefront of controversy. Jaguar Land Rover said on June 15 that it would begin testing a hydrogen fuel cell prototype based on Land Rover guard (Defender) later this year to expand its zero-emission lineup.

"I believe that hydrogen will have a place in the automotive industry in the future." Jaguar Land Rover believes that hydrogen fuel cells can provide higher energy density and rapid replenishment, and minimize range loss at low temperatures, making the technology ideal for large vehicles or running in hot, cold environments.

While Jaguar Land Rover is using hydrogen fuel as a key path to its electrification transformation, another carmaker is saying goodbye to the independent development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. On the same day, Honda announced that it would stop production of the hydrogen-fueled fuel cell car "CLARITY FUEL CELL" this year, speeding up the reform of "selling only pure electric and fuel cell models" by 2040. However, the project of Honda and General Motors to jointly develop hydrogen-fueled models has not been suspended, and new models of cooperation between the two sides will be on the market in the future.

In the domestic market, SAIC and Great Wall are regarded as the "standard-bearers" for the development of fuel cell vehicles. Among them, SAIC has not only launched China's first fuel cell MPV--, the SAIC Chase EUNIQ 7, but also said at the 2021 Capital Market Communication Conference held recently that subordinate science and technology companies, including Jethydrogen Technology, China Sea Court, Lianchuang Electronics, etc., plan to complete the spin-off and listing one after another within three years. Jethydrogen Technology, which is likely to take the lead in realizing IPO, is the main body of SAIC engaged in the research and development of fuel cells and related components.

"judging from the current energy structure and related supporting facilities, the large-scale promotion of hydrogen energy is uneconomical." In the view of Bai Yiyang of the International Research Department of China Merchants Bank, the field of passenger cars should be said to be mixed in the short term, pure electricity in the medium and long term, and there may be opportunities for hydrogen energy in the ultra-long term. "in the future, whether hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can have a place in new energy vehicles may only be tested by time."

In fact, there has always been an air-to-air confrontation around the world about the feasibility of hydrogen energy in automotive applications. "hydrogen" to the most obvious Hyundai, Toyota and other Japanese and South Korean car companies are making great efforts to develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Among them, Toyota has stated many times that since electric vehicles emit no less fuel from production to the road, the concept of "pure electric environmental protection" cannot stand scrutiny, while the reactants of hydrogen-fueled vehicles are only water. while enjoying the sound and vibration texture brought by combustion, zero emissions can be achieved.

Unlike the enthusiastic layout of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by Japanese and South Korean enterprises, Volkswagen Group and Tesla are not optimistic. In May, Volkswagen group CEO Herbert Dis said on social platforms that hydrogen fuel cell cars were not the solution for future emissions-free driving. In the global auto industry, Volkswagen is also one of the car companies that have made it clear that they will not produce large quantities of hydrogen fuel passenger cars.

Another "opposition" Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes that lithium battery is a better new energy solution and better energy storage solution, hydrogen fuel cell used in cars is quite ridiculous, but also to create a "Fuel Cells=Fool cells" (hydrogen fuel cell = stupid deal) golden phrase.

In addition, because of the high manufacturing cost, Daimler terminated the research and development of hydrogen fuel cell passenger cars in April and gradually halted the production of GLC F-Cell hydrogen fuel cell vehicles developed in cooperation with Ford and Nissan.

"compared with electric cars, the development of hydrogen energy seems to be more like a 'big bet' on the future." Bai Yiyang said that once the bet is lost, it will be very difficult for these few "players" to recover the lost market, and if they want to win the bet, they will undoubtedly be at the forefront of technology. However, the disadvantages such as high manufacturing costs and difficult infrastructure construction are destined to be difficult for the development of hydrogen-fueled vehicles. "perhaps this is also the reason why Volkswagen and Tesla deny hydrogen fuel."

However, according to a Deloitte report, fuel cell vehicles are expected to be cheaper than pure electric vehicles by 2026 and lower than new energy vehicles around 2027. "from the perspective of procurement costs, we estimate that the cost of fuel cell systems will fall by nearly 50 per cent over the next 10 years." Deloitte thinks.