As of: March 6, 2024, 9:30 a.m
By: Sebastian Oppenheimer
Comments
Press
Split
In California, Shell is closing all of its hydrogen car filling stations.
(Symbolic image) © Future Image/Imago
In California, Shell is closing all of its hydrogen filling stations for cars. The energy company had already taken this step in Great Britain.
Hydrogen has been considered a promising power source for cars for decades.
Numerous car manufacturers repeatedly presented prototypes, and a handful of models also made it into (small) series production - such as the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, the Toyota Mirai or the Hyundai Nexo.
However, the technology has not yet been able to establish itself on a larger scale.
According to a study, hydrogen has little chance as a drive technology in cars - perhaps more so in trucks or shipping.
The oil company Shell apparently no longer believes in a major breakthrough in the passenger car segment either.
The new WhatsApp channel from 24auto.de is here!
Current news, useful tips & tricks as well as strange stories from the internet about cars can be found on our Whatsapp channel: Click here to go directly to
Automania
.
Shell closes H2 stations in California: “Supply difficulties and other external market factors”
In Great Britain, Shell closed its hydrogen filling stations for cars in 2022 - now the seven public hydrogen filling stations in California will also be closed.
According to Shell, the reason is “supply difficulties and other external market factors,” as the
Hydrogen Insight
portal writes.
Supply of hydrogen filling stations in California drops by 13 percent
As
Automobilwoche
reports, there are 55 public hydrogen filling stations in California - with the closure of the Shell filling stations, around 13 percent of the supply there will be lost.
According to the report, experts see the oil company's decision as a "worrying signal" regarding the expansion of the hydrogen infrastructure.
However, Shell still sees potential in hydrogen - but primarily in the area of heavy trucks, as can be seen on the energy company's homepage.
Difference between fuel cell and hydrogen combustion engine
Basically, when it comes to hydrogen, you have to decide between two different car drive concepts: On the one hand, there are vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells, and on the other hand, hydrogen combustion engines are being developed - including by Bosch: the unit is scheduled to come onto the market in 2024.
Hyundai has also announced that it plans to mass-produce a hydrogen combustion engine by 2025.
The difference is that with the H2 combustion engine, the hydrogen does not first have to be converted into electricity, as with the fuel cell.
My news
New car labeling from May – what it means for drivers read
Bugatti driver shows how far he can go with a full tank - read “I can get further with the electric car”.
Risky license plate stickers cost drivers fines
Motorcyclists in the rain: Why a TikToker advises drivers to “adopt” read
Urgent need in a motorway traffic jam: For experts there is only one solutionread
Changing to summer tires: When is the right time?read
You can find even more exciting car topics in the free newsletter from our partner 24auto.de
BMW boss Oliver Zipse is considered one of the supporters of hydrogen technology, but he generally advocates technological openness for the various types of drive.
But can hydrogen technology really still prevail?
Experts from the renowned Fraunhofer Institute declared a long time ago that hydrogen no longer had a chance as a car drive.
Hydrogen will play an “important role” in industry and shipping.