France deploying test fleet of 50 fuel-cell light commercial vehicles

[nationalize the fed]

GreenCarCongress.com 10 October 2014

Renault Kangoo Z.E.

Under the project HyWay, France will deploy 50 fuel cell light commercial vehicles around 2 hydrogen distribution stations in Lyon and Grenoble. The project is jointly supported by the government (DREALs and ADEME) and the Regional Council of Rhône-Alpes .

The 18-month project will use 50 Kangoo ZEs fitted with fuel cells. Seven industrial partners, alongside the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), are conducting this demonstration project: Air Liquide; the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR); Gas Electricité de Grenoble (GEG); McPhy; PUS (Cofely Services); STEF; and Symbio FCELL...

...In a second phase, the project provides for the development and production of hydrogen from local renewable energy.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/10/20141010-france.html

Source: The first fleet of hydrogen vehicles will be deployed in France
Avere-France Mobilite Electric October 10, 2014
Translation: Google

The Tenerrdis now works with as many as seven industrial partners alongside the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) to conduct this demonstration project preindustrial Air Liquide, the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), and Gas Electricité de Grenoble (GEG), McPhy, PUS (Cofely Services), STEF and Symbio FCELL.

For 18 months, the project will aim to HyWay operation, the Rhône-Alpes region, 50 vehicles Kangoo ZE fitted with integrated hydrogen kits. Multiple stakeholders will participate and lend itself to experimentation of hydrogen mobility, including companies, research centers or local authorities...
http://www.france-mobilite-electrique.org/la-premiere-flotte-de-vehicules-a-hydrogene-va-etre-deployee-en-france,5670.html

**************************

"Personally, I don't care what Elon, Carlos, or Jonathan say about fuel cells" Toyota SVP Bob Carter said at the Automotive News World Congress this week, referring also to Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and former VW America chief Jonathan Browning. "If they want to "plug in and tune out" other technologies, that's fine." Carter's outspoken comments come as Toyota announces another sales milestone for its hybrid fleet. SOURCE

[NYC_SKP]

1. H2 is ok for a fleet with central compressor and fueling, but not for individuals.

It's just too inefficient.

[caraher]

2. Wait, this can't be right...

I hear some person on Reddit says there's no difference between electrolysis + fuel cells and charging and discharging batteries...

I've seen numbers more promising than your graphic for fuel cell efficiency, but even the very best I've found still don't push what you label "grid-to-motor efficiency" higher than 50%.

This chain of efficiencies is critical. I'd consider joining a hydrogen bandwagon were it not for the brute facts embodied by these numbers, but the hydrogen cheerleaders haven't come through with any plausible numbers that call into question this basic efficiency analysis, and my own best efforts to find well-sourced, more favorable values haven't changed the picture.

[dumbcat]

3. The hydrogen cheerleaders

don't like math very much.

But they are big on pictures of cars and hydrogen filling stations.