The number of fuel cell vehicles that will be introduced to the world in the coming decade will reach 800,000 by 2012, according to a new study by research firm Allied Business Intelligence (ABI). "Fuel cell vehicles launched by Honda and Toyota will be contributing critical knowledge for early roll outs in niche markets, in the second half of this decade", explains Atakan Ozbek, ABI Director of Energy Research and author of the study.

The number of fuel cell vehicles that will be introduced to the world in the coming decade will reach 800,000 by 2012, according to a new study by research firm Allied Business Intelligence (ABI). "Fuel cell vehicles launched by Honda and Toyota will be contributing critical knowledge for early roll outs in niche markets, in the second half of this decade", explains Atakan Ozbek, ABI Director of Energy Research and author of the study.

ABI believes that greater attention is finally being given to fuel cells, and there is as much awareness in the European Union as there is in Japan. The US will have to more aggressively execute its strategy of solving technological challenges and infrastructure layouts if it is to help early fuel cell vehicle introduction by the second half of the decade. Recent announcements by the Bush administration to increase funding of hydrogen and automotive fuel cell research are a necessary right step in this direction.

"We have started to see more enthusiastic participation in automotive fuel cells in the European Union in the last year," continues Ozbek. "Japan already has been so active in this field that it is taking the lead along with the US."

However, due to powerful energy stakeholders in the US-namely, the oil industry-the US has to push the fuel cell sector toward meaningful infrastructure deployment.


ABI has updated its forecasts for fuel cell vehicle shipments in the study and also updated its analysis of the changing global fuel cell business environment. The study exposes regional characteristics of the automotive fuel cell sector and outlines a timeline for potential fuel cell penetration in the next ten years.

The new ABI report, "Automotive Fuel Cells: Global Market Issues, Technology Dynamics, and Major Players," analyzes market opportunities for automotive fuel cells from passenger cars to buses and trucks. Niche market opportunities, including fleet applications and airport ground support vehicles, are also covered. The study details the technical challenges and opportunities from both market/economic and environmental perspectives. The major players in the industry are delineated, along with the status of their technologies and the most likely applications in the near term, from 2002 to 2012.

Allied Business Intelligence Inc. is an Oyster Bay, N.Y.-based technology research think tank and consultancy founded in 1990. ABI publishes research and technology intelligence on the wireless, automotive, electronics, networking and energy industries. Details may be found at www.alliedworld.com or by calling 516-624-3113.