However, given the increasingly serious environmental problems and the technological limitations that have not yet been overcome, I still believe that we should continue to work towards making hydrogen fuel cell lithium batteries a necessary supplementary energy source for pure electric vehicles.
Independent electrolysis plants can be financed through private equity funds, enabling the rapid rollout of this efficient infrastructure. In fact, H2-Mobility, a joint venture established by several major Japanese automakers, plans to build 80 hydrogen refueling stations by March 2022. Some countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and Germany, and even some regions, such as California in the United States, have already taken the lead and are actively deploying resources, planning to build over 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations within the next five years.
In terms of "green" electricity, hydrogen energy is the most efficient energy storage solution: it can store the electricity generated from non-renewable renewable energy sources (such as solar or wind power). For example, the hydrogen produced by 70m² of solar panels can power a vehicle for 20,000 kilometers. Compared to conventional batteries, fuel cell lithium-ion batteries require fewer key materials, and hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, eliminating any issues with recycling.
Lithium-ion fuel cell technology is an attractive complementary alternative in this field. Lithium-ion fuel cell electric vehicles offer comparable range and refueling time to gasoline vehicles, but with zero emissions. The prospects for lithium-ion fuel cell vehicles are particularly promising in the truck and commercial vehicle sectors, which will inevitably accelerate the development of this technology. Companies such as Pepsi and DHL are already using lithium-ion fuel cell vehicles in their delivery operations, and I believe this will become the new industry standard, especially for cities where last-mile delivery causes severe air pollution. By 2030, it is projected that at least 2 million new cars and more than 350,000 new trucks will be equipped with lithium-ion fuel cell technology.
In light of this, the Faurecia Group has decided to invest €15 million annually in the research and development of lithium-ion fuel cell batteries to fully realize the potential of this technology in the automotive industry. Over the past year, we have collaborated with R&D and technical experts to help the company overcome various technical challenges and tailor high-performance systems for the three key components that account for up to 80% of the value of this technology: developing high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks in collaboration with Stelia Aerospace Composites; processing pressure valves to improve hydrogen storage efficiency in partnership with the French startup Ad-Venta; and developing high-performance lithium-ion fuel cell stacks in collaboration with the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA). This is another example of Faurecia's open innovation and a true source of our competitive advantage.
As lithium-ion battery technology matures and refueling infrastructure develops, Faurecia's ultimate goal is to halve the cost of lithium-ion battery stacks, making them an attractive option for automakers and ultimately making lithium-ion batteries an essential choice for electric vehicles. We believe that the attention from stakeholders to lithium-ion battery technology will drive us to industrialize lithium-ion batteries and strive to make them a clean and efficient power source for automobiles.
Hydrogen energy will become a key component of the future energy system because hydrogen is widely available, which will help diversify national energy supplies and integrate renewable energy sources. Furthermore, hydrogen is easy to store and can achieve true zero carbon dioxide emissions.
In conclusion, lithium-ion battery technology will undoubtedly become a crucial energy solution within the next decade, especially in the field of hybrid powertrains for automobiles. Breakthroughs in technological improvements and cost reductions are essential for its widespread adoption in the automotive industry.
