Future Cars: Battery Electric vs Fuel Cell

With fuel cost and environmental issues mounting, the 100 year old technology of the internal combustion engine is in its twilight years. But who will lead the revolt and what technologies will be successful?

Automakers know that a sea change is coming, and that under-capitalized or unresponsive players may be eliminated.

But there is no consensus as to the mechanics of the solution. Gas-electric hybrids are already being criticized for failing to achieve fuel economy goals, and for battery disposal issues. Toyota and GM have significant money sunk in hybrids.

General Motors, chastised for killing their first electric car, has shifted to the plug-in hybrid gasoline-electric theme with Chevy Volt.

Both GM and Toyota appear to be stalling, waiting for the chips to fall before committing their large ships to the battle.

Renault-Nissan and Honda have cut back on hybrid research and are pursuing all-electric models. Nissan is ready to gamble on developments in not-ready-for-prime-time lithium-ion-battery technology, while Honda thinks hydrogen fuel cells are the future.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn believes his all-electric car can be ready for market in 2012.

"I would say there's no future for the auto industry without fuel cell cars,"

Takeo Fukui, CEO Honda

I say there is no future for anybody without focusing on solutions, Toyota and GM need to get working. Even with a massive industry commitment, we'd face an enormous challenge.