Positioning the State of Michigan as a Leading Candidate for Fuel Cell and Alternative Powertrain Manufacturing

Full Description:

The automotive industry enters the 21st century on the verge of a new powertrain paradigm. Recent technological developments suggest the internal combustion engine (ICE), which has been the driving force over the first 100 years, may have a major competitor within the coming decades. Many industry participants believe that fuel cell technology has the potential to replace the ICE as the primary source of propulsion for automotive applications. Although there are significant hurdles yet to be overcome in the development of a cost-effective automotive fuel cell and a viable infrastructure, the implications for the automotive industry and the State of Michigan could be truly profound. There are 10 engine plants and 5 transmission plants in Michigan and nearly 27,000 people are employed in these facilities. The development of a costcompetitive automotive fuel cell would likely make many of those powertrain facilities obsolete. As these plants close, they would likely be replaced by facilities specially built for the new fuel cell technology. This report begins to identify key market trends in new powertrain technologies (including fuel cell) and hybrid electric vehicles—a critical enabler for automotive fuel cell application—and assists the State in identifying critical actions to position itself as a strong candidate for potential automotive fuel cell manufacturing facility investment.

A report conducted for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Automotive Partnership.