The greater Audi confidence in fuel cells springs from Volkswagen Group’s concern about a future lithium battery shortage. “We really want to speed up electric vehicle battery supplies,” Audi CEO Bram Schot told Digital Trends May 8, 2019. “We are going to put more priority into hydrogen fuel cells – more money, more capacity of people and more confidence.”
2019 6th-Gen Fuel Cell Underlines Greater Audi Confidence
Bram Schot goes on to confirm Audi will unveil a prototype sixth generation fuel cell later this year. He hopes to see a ‘limited production’ FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle) out on lease by 2021. However, we may only see full production later in the decade.
Greater Audi confidence was already evident through an h-tron fuel cell concept quattro model at Detroit Auto Show in 2016. This featured separate motors per axle with total 308 horsepower (230 kW) output. The company’s goal remains twelve all-electric vehicle models by 2025. That is going to require a significant amount of sustainable electric power.
And Then You Come to Electric Fuel Cells …
“If this transport modality is here to stay, you have to try to find the most effective and efficient way” Bram Schot reiterates. “And then you come to hydrogen fuel cells as an attractive, high volume solution.”
The White House has rattling sabers with China. America is significantly reliant on their lithium for its next gen EV batteries. If this source dries up we may have cause to appreciate this greater Audi confidence. Especially for the progress it inspired along the road into a greener future.
However, Audi is not alone in exploring new fuel cell technologies. It is partnering with Hyundai through a 2018 cross-licensing agreement. We find the South Korean company’s three-fuel-cell electric, autonomous Nexo SUV with 372-mile range per charge particularly interesting.
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Preview Image: A7 H-Tron Quattro Fuel Cell Power
