U.S. Fuel Cell Market Production and Deployment Continues Strong Growth

The Energy Department released 3 new reports on December 19 showcasing strong growth across the U.S. fuel cell and hydrogen technologies market. According to these reports, the U.S. continues to be one of the world's biggest and fastest growing markets for fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. In 2012, 80% of total investment in the global fuel cell industry was made in U.S. companies.

With support from the Energy Department, private industry and the Department's national labs have already achieved significant advances in fuel cell and hydrogen technologies-reducing costs and improving performance. These research and development efforts have helped reduce automotive fuel cell costs by in excess of 50% since 2006 and by in excess of 30% since 2008. At the same time, fuel cell durability has doubled and the amount of expensive platinum needed in fuel cells has fallen by 80 percent since 2005.

The 1st of the 3 reports, the 2012 Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report, details trends in the U.S. fuel cell and hydrogen technologies market. Development on light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles continues to advance, according to the report, and several large automakers anticipate commercialization by 2017. The States of the States, Fuel Cells in America 2013 report, highlights leadership among U.S. states to grow domestic fuel cell manufacturing and deployment. The report acknowledges California, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina for leading the country with continued and expanded support for fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. Additionally, the report highlights efforts in Delaware, New Jersey, Texas, and other states to advance fuel cell technologies.

According to the 3rd report, Pathways to Commercial Success: Technologies and Products Supported by the Fuel Cell Technologies Office, the Energy Department's fuel cell research and development efforts over the last decade have helped the manufacture about 40 new commercial technologies in the United States, supported 65 new technologies that are expected to reach commercial-scale within the next 3 to 5 years, and have helped result in the issue in excess of 450 U.S. patents. See the Energy Department press release and market analysis reports.

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