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US FUEL cell groups, the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) and US Fuel Cell Council (USFCC), have criticised plans by the DoE to cut government funding for its hydrogen and fuel cell technology programme by almost 60%.

The cuts “threaten to disrupt commercialisation of a family of technologies that are showing exceptional promise and are beginning to gain market traction,” the organisations say in a statement.

“Fuel cell vehicles are not a science experiment. These are real vehicles with real marketability and real benefits. Hundreds of fuel cell vehicles have collectively logged millions of miles.” The associations add that for the US to meet its goals for energy and environmental security it will need a broad portfolio of vehicle technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells.

Pointing out that fuel cell vehicles now achieve 72 miles per gallon, fuel cell buses have twice the fuel economy of diesel buses and that the production costs of hydrogen cars are on a par with conventional vehicles, the organisations say: “It would truly be a government waste to squander them by walking away just as success is in sight.”