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While I won't debate the facutal differences between the Model 3 and the Mirai, I don't think it's right to judge the potential of FCEV vs. BEV based on the car
by Youden 5y ago
While I won't debate the facutal differences between the Model 3 and the Mirai, I don't think it's right to judge the potential of FCEV vs. BEV based on the cars on the market today.
BEVs are a relatively mature technology at this point. Tens of thousands (hundreds? millions?) of BEVs have been sold, there are many production BEV models and they've received decades of research at this point.
FCEVs are still in their infancy. There are only 6 production FCEVs and the technology hasn't received nearly the same level of R&D as BEVs.
Comparing the present-day Mirai to the present-day Model 3 is like comparing the Tesla Roaster to an early Prius. If you'd done that, you'd have concluded that BEVs are too expensive and impractical to ever be viable and that hybrids are the future.
Give the FCEVs some time and they'll get closer to their potential.
- _ph_ 5y agoThe Mirai just has been replaced by a new version, so it is not a first generation car any more. And the fundamental problems of FCEV can't be addressed so easily. The tanks are huge and you cannot make them smaller. This means, space in a FCEV is more constrained. Nor can you change the energy consumption of the hydrogen delivery much. But the fundamental question now becomes: considering the performance of the electric cars you can already buy, what is the incentive to invest billions into FCEV development and even more so into fuel stations and distribution? Especially, as there isn't much green hydrogen anytime soon?