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Markets and Demand: Mobile Energy Innovation

by h2admin — last modified 2007-02-21 14:29

The potential of hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles (H2FCVs) to provide various benefits (e.g., reduced emissions) has been described in detail, it is often considered difficult to justify the private investment necessary to achieve these social benefits. This conundrum is particularly acute in private-vehicle markets where FCVs can justifiably be seen as expensive and inferior relative to today's cars and trucks. Accordingly, the commercialization pathways for H2 as a transportation fuel are unclear.

Mobile Energy Innovation

This project focuses on how FCVs and other electric-drive vehicles, such as plug-in hybrids, might become valued in the marketplace. Two major approaches are: 1) strategic niche marketing and 2) creating innovative value, often from unique product-attribute/service combinations.

One set of promising opportunities, which we call "Mobile Electricity" innovation, connects vehicles (whether ICE-hybrid or fuel-cell) to other energy systems in non-conventional ways. Mobile Electricity innovations include home recharging, powering tools/appliances/gadgets, providing emergency power, and using parked vehicles to support the complex operation of the electrical grid (so-called vehicle-to-grid (V2G) power). Although these innovations present major technical and economic challanges, creating markets for Mobile Electricity innovations could provide private value that would help drive the adoption of fuel cells and other electric-drive technologies as they mature.

Publications from this project:

Williams, Brett D., "Commercializing Light-Duty Plug-In/Plug-Out Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Vehicles: “Mobile Electricity” Technologies, Early California Household Markets, and Innovation Management," PhD Dissertation, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, CA, February 2007.

Williams, Brett D., Kenneth S. Kurani, "Estimating the Early Household Market for Light-Duty Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Vehicles and Other "Mobile Energy" Innovations in California: A Constraint Analysis," Journal of Power Sources, Elsevier Press, April 2006.

Williams, Brett D., Kenneth S. Kurani, "Commercializing light-duty plug-in/plug-out hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicles: “Mobile Electricity” technologies and opportunities," Journal of Power Sources, In Press, Available online 17 January 2007.

Presentations from this project:

Williams, Brett D. "'Mobile Energy' as an innovative driver for early fuel-cell-vehicle markets," UC Davis GATE Center of Excellence Annual Review Meeting, Davis, CA, November 28, 2006.

Brett Williams, "PH2FCV Adoption In California: Mobile Energy Innovation, Early Markets, & Vehicle-to-Grid Power," Presented at the Hydrogen Pathways Workshop, Davis, California, September 26 - 27, 2006.

Brett Williams, "The early California household market for hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles, plug-in hybrids, & other “Mobile Energy” innovations," Poster Presented at the 2006 Hydrogen Pathways Advisory Board Meeting, Davis, CA, July 25, 2006.

Williams, Brett D. "H2 FCV Adoption in California: Mobile Energy Innovations, Early Markets," California Fuel Cell Partnership Working Meeting, Sacramento, CA, June 6, 2006.

Williams, Brett D., "H2FCV Adoption In California: Mobile Energy Innovation, Early Markets," Presentation National Hydrogen Association (NHA) Annual Conference, Long Beach, California, March 12 - 16, 2006.

Williams, Brett D., "The Early Household Market for Light-Duty, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in California," 2005 Fuel Cell Seminar, Palm Springs, CA, November 18, 2005.

Williams, Brett D., "'Mobile Energy' Innovation and the Early Household Market for Light-Duty, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in California," Grove Fuel Cell Symposium, London, United Kingdom, October 5, 2005.

Brett Williams, "Innovative Drivers for Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell-Vehicle Commercialization: Establishing Vehicle-to-Grid Markets," Presentation at the National Hydrogen Association 2004 Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA, April 26 - 29, 2004.

Research Faculty: Kenneth S. Kurani, Tom Turrentine
Graduate Student Researcher: Brett D. Williams 
Funding: University of California Transportation Center (UCTC), Toyota, UC Davis GATE Center of Excellence and Hydrogen Pathways Program