Page 75 - Green Builder MagazineJan-Feb 2019 HOTY Issue

vehicles are already taking o in parts of Asia and Europe. One
attractive bene t of hydrogen is that it can be used to store wind
and solar energy, says Koble. In theory, hydrogen could be used to
store energy during times of peak production and provide energy
during times of peak demand.
Which brings us to another key part of the magic formula to broad
adoption: convenience.

CHARGING AND FUELING INFRASTRUCTURE
EV charging stations are becoming more common, especially
in certain regions. For instance, the Paci c Northwest states and
Canada have collaborated on the West Coast Electric Highway
[https://bit.ly/2CtPDO4], reducing “range anxiety” by ensuring
COURTESY OF TOYOTA

Set to launch. After a strong start in California, Toyota’s hydrogen fuel
cell-powered Mirai is headed for a national rollout.
targets for phasing out vehicles powered by fossil fuels. Norway has
decreed that by 2025 all new cars must be zero-emission vehicles.
Already the country’s incentives and policies have fueled a surge of
EVs [https://reut.rs/2ENst5I], which accounted for more than half
of all new sales in 2017.
India is pledging [https://bit.ly/2qM53Fx] to sell only EVs after
2030. China is taking steps toward phasing out gas and diesel-
CREDIT: PAPIER K¥WIKIMEDIA COMMONS run cars in cities and o ering generous subsidies for EVs, but setting
powered vehicles, not only restricting the number of new fossil fuel-
EV quotas for carmakers and banning “new independent enterprises”
that only produce combustion-engine vehicles.
Some manufacturers are preparing for the inevitable and currently
or plan to o er a broad portfolio of alternative vehicles: hybrids, plug-
in hybrids, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Tesla, with
its three models, continues to dominate the American EV market, but
the eld is about to get crowded—very crowded. GM, much to the
chagrin of thousands of laid-o workers, announced a restructuring
fueled in part by a commitment to EVs. Nissan, maker of the world’s
best-selling battery electric vehicle (the Leaf) recently unveiled two
new “concept cars,” [https://cnb.cx/2AQOZKJ] illustrating its take on
a zero-emissions future. And, more than a dozen automakers have
announced plans to release electric SUVs.
A few automakers are also hedging their bets with hydrogen. Toyota,
building on the success of its signature gas-electric hybrid, the Prius,
now o ers the Prius Prime, a plug-in hybrid, which boasts 133 MPGe
(miles per gallon equivalent) and an all-electric range of 25 miles. But
the company has also committed to fuel cell technology and began
o ering Mirai, its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, to California customers in
late 2015.›Mirai boasts a range of nearly 275 miles on 5 kg of hydrogen,
which is the energy equivalent of 5 gallons of gas. And unlike EV CREDIT: CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
charging, lling the tank with hydrogen takes just a few minutes.
“We see [hydrogen] ramping up similar to the Prius, starting with
a few early adopters,” says Russ Koble, communications manager
for Toyota. He adds that Toyota has committed to building 30,000 Follow the electrons. The West Coast Electric Highway is a network of
fuel cell stacks by 2020. fast charging stations strung along major highways running from California
Though making up only a tiny fraction of U.S. sales, fuel cell to British Columbia.

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