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CVs Electronics eMobility Manufacturing OEMs Powertrain Safety Suppliers Research Megatrends
Co-opetition: the secret to lower
cost hydrogen FCVs?
07 Mar 2013
by Mark Morley, GXS
Posted in: Comment, eMobility, OEMs, Powertrain
Over the past few years, the electric vehicle industry has received its fair share of news
coverage, both positive and negative. Despite their size, EV start-ups Fisker and Tesla
have been particularly prominent in recent news reports, with battery supply issues
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and likely change of ownership occupying Fisker’s attention, and Tesla defending its
technology, ambitious plans and charging network roll-out. As well as OEMs,
governments play a key role, and one such example is the recent announcement by the
UK government of a significant investment in the country’s charging infrastructure, to
encourage greater adoption of EVs. But can a change in ownership of a leading EV
manufacturer and broader access to charging sockets help to reignite interest in the
market?
Interestingly, in EV development, many OEMs have continued along their own path, only
deviating to partner with suppliers of key components, such as lithium-ion battery
packs. In fact, many car manufacturers have made strategic battery supplier
announcements in order to guarantee the supply of one of the more important parts of
an EV, investing heavily in building new battery plants close to EV factories. However, if
the aim of the car manufacturers is to obtain broader acceptance of their EVs amongst
today’s fastidious consumers, then why haven’t more OEMs decided to collaborate to
achieve this common goal.
Interestingly, in EV development, many OEMs have continued along their
own path, only deviating to partner with suppliers of key components,
such as lithium-ion battery packs
Running parallel to battery EVs (BEVs) in the development of zero emission cars are
hydrogen-powered vehicles, which, unlike their electric counterparts do not require an
equivalent charging infrastructure. However, safety and development cost related
concerns have really slowed down the introduction of hydrogen powered vehicles into
the market. And, even though some hydrogen refuelling points have been introduced
at more traditional filling stations, it will still take time and money to introduce these on
a wider basis.
Hydrogen vehicles certainly appear, on the surface at least, to be more practical than
BEVs . However, the ability to fill up your vehicle at a hydrogen filling station, then drive
for miles for relatively little cost and produce nothing but water from the exhaust, has
to be seen as the Holy Grail of car production. But how will fuel retailers feel about
installing numerous hydrogen filling machines on their forecourts, knowing that these
vehicles are likely to eventually eat into the profits of their more traditional gasoline
and diesel based fuel sales? For the time being at least, forecourt retailers are not too
worried about this prospect, perhaps because they assume hydrogen vehicles will not
enter the mainstream any time soon – but is that about to change?
One can only imagine where the EV industry would be today if OEMs and
suppliers such as Panasonic, Toshiba and Sanyo had all worked together to
develop a common battery pack
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2. At the end of January 2013, just weeks after BMW and Toyota signed sustainability
agreements, Ford, Daimler and Nissan announced that they would be working together
to develop a next generation hydrogen fuel cell. The aim is to combine resources by
working together to develop a hydrogen fuel cell that can be installed within their
respective vehicle platforms. Which again begs the question why has this not
happened sooner? One can only imagine where the EV industry would be today if OEMs
and suppliers such as Panasonic, Toshiba and Sanyo had all worked together to
develop a common battery pack.
Even though the automotive industry is highly competitive, there are occasions where
combining both technical and financial resources can help the industry to move in new
directions. The Ford/Daimler/Nissan announcement is a great example of co-opetition,
and the alliance has made clear that the joint aim is to bring the next generation
hydrogen vehicle to market within four years. Given that many OEMs are starting to
introduce global car platforms to help reduce development costs, how long it will be
before other key car systems are essentially commoditised and co-developed by
different car manufacturers? If this particular hydrogen vehicle alliance is a success,
then it is highly likely that the co-opetition trend will continue.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the
positions of Automotive World Ltd.
Mark Morley is Automotive Director at GXS
The AutomotiveWorld.com Comment column is open to automotive industry decision
makers and influencers. If you would like to contribute a Comment article, please
contact editorial@automotiveworld.com
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