Toyota Announces Fuel Cell Project with Chinese Automakers

Fuel cell technology has a lot going against it, but Toyota wants to move the ball forward incrementally … in China.

The Japanese automaker announced a joint venture with assorted Chinese companies, including FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, Beijing Automotive, GAC, and Beijing SinoHytec. The investment totals 5.02 billion yen ($46 million), with Toyota holding a 65% share.

Of course, the tech, itself, is pretty far from established, with some famous detractors – including Elon Musk, who’s called hydrogen fuel cells “mind-bogglingly stupid,” “fool cells,” and a “load of rubbish.” For Musk, the biggest hitch is the daunting logistics of producing, transporting, and storing hydrogen and the flammability of the gas.

Meanwhile, some big names like Samsung have completely pulled out of the hydrogen fuel cell market.

Then again, the potential is there – the World Energy Council estimates the theoretical maximum efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells at 83%, with internal combustion engines at 58%. Theoretical efficiencies rarely survive contact with reality, but it’s still an encouraging thought.