Bosch, a German auto supplier, has announced intentions to invest more than 2.5 billion euros ($2.8 billion) in hydrogen fuel cell technology between 2021 and 2026. By 2030, one in every five new trucks weighing more than six metric tons is planned to use fuel-cell powertrains, generating around 5 billion euros in income. Despite the benefits of hydrogen fuel cells, such as faster refueling and longer range as compared to battery-electric vehicles, infrastructure is still lacking, and the technology is less energy-efficient.
Bosch has begun production of fuel cell power modules, which are used in automobiles to create electricity from hydrogen, at its factories in Stuttgart-Feuerbach (Germany) and Chongqing (China). Nikola Corporation has been designated as the modules’ pilot customer, and its Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle is scheduled to join the North American market in Q3 2023. Daimler Truck expects to deploy a hydrogen truck in the latter half of the decade in collaboration with Volvo, while Stellantis plans to provide medium-sized vans powered by hydrogen fuel cells in Europe by the end of 2021. Traton, a Volkswagen company, is completely focused on battery-electric development.
Stefan Hartung, CEO of Bosch, stressed the company’s commitment to hydrogen, stressing the company’s growth potential in this sector. While hydrogen fuel cell technology shows promise, improvements in infrastructure and energy efficiency will be required for widespread use and success in the car sector.
