This Is Why Hydrogen Could Cause a Shift in the Auto Industry Worldwide
With energy conservation the industry standard globally, the auto industry is set to face a wind of change that may send some top brands in a struggle for survival.
A look at the 4th China International Import Expo industrial exhibition in 2021 had the South Korean brand, the Hyundai Motor Group rise to prominence. it showcased its eye-catching hydrogen products, electric products and exported products at the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center.
Li Hongpeng, vice president of Hyundai Motor Group (China), says the group adopts the “hydrogen + electricity” development roadmap in China.
Hyundai Motor Group will aggressively help China’s new energy vehicle development in a variety of ways. It formally announced the “Hydrogen Energy Vision 2040,” in which it intends to popularise hydrogen energy in transportation and other industries by introducing new technologies by 2040.
With this vision in mind, Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled the most recent hydrogen energy concepts, technologies, and products in order to lay the groundwork for a future hydrogen energy civilization.
During the show, for the first time, Hyundai Motor showcased the Chinese version of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle NEXO. And it seems to be a groundbreaking step forward for Hyundai Motor. This is what could be the game-changer according to analysts, that is the hydrogen tech.
This, coupled with a new hydrogen fuel cell energy modular system, which can form a powerful 500kW or 1MW (megawatt) power output by stacking 100kW unit modules like “Lego blocks” as an emergency power supply system for large-scale ships or IT companies and other large-scale power-consuming enterprises, cold add more worries for electric vehicle makers.
For the first time, the E-GMP pure electric platform models Ioniq 5 and EV6 premiered on the same stage. The show also saw the debut of a hydrogen-powered intelligent unmanned transport vehicle (trailer drone), a rescue hydrogen generator vehicle (RHGV), and a new hydrogen fuel cell energy modular system.
Hyundai Motor’s series of hydrogen car products unveiled at the CIIE provides a window into South Korea’s rapid and steady progress toward hydrogen society.
Hyundai Motor’s goal is to provide solutions for developing global hydrogen-powered civilization, not just hydrogen-powered automotive products.
South Korean acquisitions in the United States also demonstrate the country’s progress toward a complete hydrogen energy development aim. In contrast, Japan, which previously led the way in hydrogen car research, may become more conservative and reluctant in the future, says Anbound, a China-based think tank. Anbound says this is a solution for zero carbon emissions.
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What this will do is put a lot of pressure on other carmakers. While South Korea is taking the lead in hydrogen, others will have to play catch up.
Nevertheless, it could mean that Tesla, the biggest and most popular EV maker in the world may face a big challenge coming from Seoul. The Japanese too might also have to battle it out to catch up with the Koreans. Anbound believes conventional passenger cars in the United States are essentially on their last legs and have no future.
It says while the automobile industries in Germany and France had a glorious past, their future now is rather uncertain. Protectionism and the refined manufacturing traditions may not be sufficient to help them against the potential that hydrogen technology presents.
And what about Japan? It appears the Japanese are facing serious problems with a lack of thinkers who can transform their auto industry as they did in the 1960s. However, the corporate and industry knowledge of Japanese could make them the biggest competitors to the Koreans.