Hybrid Critics Have Fuel Cell Ties

A new paper from a prominent French business school (Grenoble Ecole de Management) claims that hybrid vehicles are impeding the progress of truly sustainable transportation such as fuel cells, according to Wired's Autopia blog. But guess which technology is backed by one of the university's key corporate partners?

The researchers at the university claim that misinformation is driving the current hybrid craze in the U.S. It is true that non economic-factors such as a desire to appear eco-friendly are driving a fair portion of the sales of the Prius and other hybrids. But the fuel savings and reduced emissions cannot be denied, and with the cost of gasoline increasing the economics can make sense in many cases.

Manufacturers such as Toyota have proven that hybrids can be sold at a profit, though the paper points out that this is not done quickly or easily. But it can be done. Hybrids have also paved the way for plug-in hybrids, which are even more sustainable because they will produce less greenhouse gas emissions and will be less costly to operate. Without hybrids we would never get to their plug-in counterparts.

Fuel cell vehicles on the other hand, while potentially emission free, are still not close to commercialization. Today, and for the foreseeable future, the hydrogen fuel to power them would come from fossil fuels, which deflates the sustainability argument. The cost of infrastructure to support fuel cell vehicles is increasingly viewed as prohibitive, hence the waning of interest in a "hydrogen highway."

Is it possible that these researchers are keen on discouraging technology that reduces transportation's carbon emissions now and are enthusiastic about a technology that is still years away because of a university relationship?

Gaz de France, an energy company that has heavily invested in fuel cells. is listed as one of the "corporate partners" on the university's website. I'm guessing that Gaz de France makes some contributions to the university in addition to offering "career advancement" opportunities for students.

So similarly to think tanks that fund "research," it is wise to consider the relationships of a university that produces a highly opinionated paper.