China’s hydrogen future
25 March 2005 by Hydrogen PowerAs mentioned yesterday, China has a huge stake in the development of hydrogen vehicles and the supporting infrastructure. With a population that is growing wealthier, the demand for vehicles is rising. If that population begins to drive in any large numbers the demand for oil will be enormous. The potential for air pollution the Chinese cities would be high as well. As a result, they have drafted very tough fuel efficiency standards and are moving toward many alternative fuels with hydrogen being at the forefront.
Decades behind developed nations when it comes to supporting a car culture, China may actually benefit from its very backwardness. All those bicycles mean there isn’t a cumbersome - and entrenched - gasoline infrastructure to stand in the way of the next big thing. That’s why China hopes to eventually bypass the oil-based auto culture and go right to a hydrogen economy. “Some theorists believe China has an advantage with fuel cells because it has no resistance,” says General Motors vice president David Chen as he attends to a Shanghai dignitary at Bibendum. “It’s been cut off from the world for 30 years. It may be in a unique situation to leapfrog.”
This will be an interesting test to see if commitment is all it takes to make hydrogen happen. We may see that research, engineering and commercial viability have a deciding role as well.
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