Hydrogen-powered Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Planned by Plug Power, Despite Musk's Reservations - FORBES (paraphrased)
Published on May 1, 2023
Plug Power, a leading hydrogen solutions provider, has announced plans to expand its hydrogen production and supply network, marking a significant step towards scaling hydrogen-fueled EV charging stations. This move could potentially impact Tesla's market position, particularly in the fuel cell EV segments.
The company's latest development includes the creation of a new hydrogen-fueled EV charging station designed for electric trucks and commercial vehicles. Over time, some of these stations may dispense hydrogen directly for use by fuel cell trucks. Plug Power is already supplying Amazon with hydrogen for their warehouse vehicles, and Jose Luis Crespo, the company's general manager of applications and global accounts, expects the hydrogen power generation offering to be one of the largest applications for stationary use this year.
Plug Power's focus appears to be on broadening hydrogen production capacity, a critical step toward enabling more hydrogen fueling stations in the future. The company is actively expanding its hydrogen infrastructure, with new plants in Georgia and Louisiana set to support reliable and domestically produced hydrogen supply.
While explicit details on Plug Power’s direct plans for building or scaling hydrogen-fueled EV charging stations were not found, the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure implies a commitment to growing hydrogen fueling capabilities for electric vehicles. This could open alternatives in clean vehicle fueling, potentially impacting Tesla's market in fuel cell EV segments without directly displacing Tesla's battery EV charging dominance.
Tesla, on the other hand, primarily relies on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and a network of battery-based Supercharger stations, rather than hydrogen fuel cell technology. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has been a long-time critic of hydrogen, describing it as an inefficient clean power source. However, Musk has shown less skepticism about hydrogen this year, acknowledging its potential use in industrial processes.
Plug Power believes that hydrogen-powered charging stations, which can be transported to remote locations, will be an attractive alternative to upgraded electric infrastructure. The company's first hydrogen charging station, which combines an 18,000-gallon liquid hydrogen tank with a stationary fuel cell system, is set to be installed by the end of the second quarter for an unidentified customer. The station, debuted at the Advanced Clean Truck Expo, produces more than 60-megawatt-hours of electricity, enough to charge over 600 EVs before refueling.
Despite these developments, Plug Power's hydrogen-fueled charging stations are not the most efficient use of hydrogen, according to Jose Luis Crespo. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on Plug's plans. Musk has ridiculed fuel cells and referred to them as "fool cells" in the past, but he has used hydrogen to fuel SpaceX rockets.
In summary, Plug Power's expansion into hydrogen infrastructure marks a strategic move into the broader clean EV energy ecosystem. While this may not immediately disrupt Tesla's dominance in the battery EV market, it could carve out competitive niches in the fuel cell EV segments, offering an alternative clean energy option for electric vehicles.
Sources: [1] Plug Power Press Release [2] Greentech Media [3] Electrek
- "Plug Power's expansion of hydrogen infrastructure could potentially open alternatives in clean vehicle fueling, potentially impacting Tesla's market in fuel cell EV segments without directly displacing Tesla's battery EV charging dominance."
- "Plug Power's latest development includes the creation of a new hydrogen-fueled EV charging station designed for electric trucks and commercial vehicles, some of which may dispense hydrogen directly for use by fuel cell trucks."
- "In the automotive industry, technology like fuel cell vehicles is advancing, and Plug Power's focus seems to be on broadening hydrogen production capacity to enable more hydrogen fueling stations in the future."
- "The industry, including the finance sector, is closely watching Plug Power's growth in green hydrogen production and supply network, given its potential to scale hydrogen-fueled EV charging stations for various transportation applications."
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