Mercedes to "pull the plug" on Hydrogen fuel cell cars?

[grober]

After this promising message
The new GLC F-CELL.
It would appear that the future of Mercedes Hydrogen fuel cell cars may be in doubt.*
Head Of Daimler Says Electric Cars Are More Realistic Than Hydrogen

*there appear to be some doubt about the translation of exactly what he said??

ps perhaps we should not take from this that the technology is not developed enough but rather that Mercedes simply can't make enough money on it?

 

[Doodle]

I wonder if the problem is more the infrastructure than the vehicles.

 

[whitenemesis]

Honda have a hydrogen refuelling station at the their factory in Swindon. Cars/buses arrive on transporters to be refuelled ...

 

[rf065]

The owners club "Gazette" magazine has a story on the first GLC F-Cell models stating they have been delivered in Germany to selected customers. Also states other businesses & customers will be able to rent them from Spring 2019 onwards.

 

[grober]

Taken from the MB press release -

Marketing in hydrogen cities.



In view of the new technology and the fact that the hydrogen filling station network has only just started to expand, the market launch of the GLC F-CELL is taking place in selected metropolitan regions. Above all the focus is on major cities which are already comparatively well equipped with hydrogen filling stations, such as Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich and Cologne. At market launch the SUV will be handed over successively to selected customers in Germany. The GLC F-CELL will be offered exclusively in the form of a full-service rental model. This will include all maintenance and possible repairs together with a comprehensive warranty package covering the entire rental period.Also when it comes to the hydrogen infrastructure, progress is constantly being made. Together with its partners in the H2 Mobility joint venture, Daimler has drawn up a plan of action. By the end of 2019, the hydrogen refuelling station network is already expected to grow from its current level of 50 to some 100 stations. The long-term objective of the partners is a network of up to 400 hydrogen refuelling stations. Similar infrastructure projects are being promoted in Europe, the USA and Japan.

So perhaps the first question for any prospective H2 cell vehicle customer would be -where's my nearest refueling station?

 

[grober]

Here is a page from the UK H2 mobility site. How much of this is a projected model and how much translates into actual filling stations is unclear! I was looking for a " find your nearest H2 station map" application but failed to find one.
Refuelling Infrastructure | UK H2Mobility

This gives some more info but the map on page 20 gives little re-assurance unless you happen to live around london?
http://www.ukh2mobility.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Communication_pack_January_2017.pdf

 

[whitenemesis]

Hydrogen refuelling stations worldwide

Map | Hydrogen Filling Stations | netinform

 

[merc85]

I read that Lithium used in the production of Batteries for EV's has at the current growth rate appox 18 years before the worlds Resources are depleted.

 

[Scotia]

Hmmm...conspiracy theories