Title: Testing technological tableaux: actor coalitions in hydrogen and fuel cell development

Authors: Pal Nasje

Addresses: SINTEF Industrial Management, New Praxis, NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway

Abstract: This paper describes the dynamics between the energy industry, car industry and public policy using the case of fuel-cell development activities as a pivotal point. The paper seeks to illustrate the dynamics of early phase concept development, where the concept itself is tested while not knowing if the concept is feasible: production-wise, technically, nor if there is a market for it. Thus, in relation the analytical framework proposed by Boyers and Freyssenet, concept development of this kind has a local, company specific style, but also an important relationship to the active policy-framing of cars and transport. In the policy field, demonstrations are important as they give life and reality to different technological visions (Dierkes), such as Hydrogen Economy and where demonstration sites are parts of different actor coalitions that try to realise such visions.

Keywords: early-phase development; environment; fuel cell cars; hydrogen; innovation; public policy; concept testing; concept development; automobile industry; energy industry; automotive product development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2004.005330

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2004 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.276 - 288

Published online: 23 Sep 2004 *

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