The Tokyo Motor Show went all out for hydrogen vehicles this year, every manufacturer brought their latest hydrogen fuel cell concepts to show they were in the running and working hard on the next automotive power plant. Non fuel cell hydrogen vehicles, too, from companies like Mazda show that the gas is going to be used everywhere, internal combustion engines as well as fuel cells.
The hydrogen contingent is working overtime to show their direction is the best while hybrid vehicles gain mindshare with the general public. Although tech oriented individuals can cite arguments for and against the various new technologies, the general public still has only a hazy understanding of how any of these vehicles actually work. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and how rapidly advances in hydrogen fuel cells actually take place. If the promise of hydrogen is to be realized, real results will have to be shown in an affordable vehicle with realistic performance. We’re not there yet but, as the Tokyo show demonstrates, we’re not standing still, either.