Ford Gets $6 Million For Fuel Cell Research; Here's What India Can Learn

The Department of Energy in the US has granted Ford and the Los Alamos National Laboratory $6 million to speeden up the process of developing hydrogen fuel cell technology. The grant was announced on Thursday.

The US Representative for Michigan, Debbie Dingell said, "Ford is helping lead the nation in the research and development of next-generation technologies that will make our cars cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient."

"This announcement will help accelerate American innovation in clean energy technologies, and keep Michigan and the U.S. at the forefront of developing the cars and trucks of the future."

Ford will use the funds granted to develop low cost production system for fuel cells, which are too expensive and make fuel celled cars also costly to be sold at a competitive price in the market.

So what can India learn?

Indian carmakers have come to peace with the fact that an alternate resource is needed for the transport of tomorrow. Although electric cars is a good solution, carmakers have a lot to learn and implement in that particular field, but lack support or funding.

The Indian government can assist carmakers, which will not only help save the environment and the air we breath, but also encourage other companies with the know-how to invest in India. Carmakers such as Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda have the vehicles and the potential to make cleaner cars. Support from the government is a hurdle for them.

Take Mahindra for example, which has the base in terms of the Reva. A little support in terms of technology and funding will work wonders for the carmaker, and to the country.