Juan Carlos Pulsic, the respected Buenos Aires physicist who invented the hydrogen car and who taught at the National University of La Plata (UNLP), died last Saturday, November 15, in Bariloche, according to the Balsero Institute in that city in the province of Río Negro.
The entity stated, “The Balsero Institute expresses with deep sadness the death of Juan Carlos Pulsic, a graduate and professor of this institute, which occurred this Saturday, November 15, 2025, in the city of Bariloche.”
Juan Carlos Pulsic was a doctor of physics. Born in the city of Necochea, he studied the first years of engineering at the National University of La Plata, then entered the Balsero Institute to study a bachelor’s degree in physics, from which he graduated in 1972. He worked in the Department of Physics of Minerals and Nuclear Materials at the Bariloche Atomic Center, and obtained his doctorate in 1982.
He was a professional committed to energy and environmental issues. Bulčić founded and chaired the Argentine Hydrogen Association and then the International Hydrogen Energy Association.
Likewise, he chaired the World Hydrogen Congress in 1998. In Rio Negro, he was one of the key figures in the green hydrogen project recently promoted by the province.
Juan Carlos Pulsic was born on August 28, 1947 in Necochea, Buenos Aires Province. His passion was physics, so, after studying mechanical engineering for two years at the National University of La Plata, in 1969 he decided to move to Bariloche to continue his studies at the Balsero Institute (Bariloche Atomic Center).
He received his bachelor’s degree in physics in 1972. He then continued to work at the Bariloche Atomic Center as a researcher in metal physics and nuclear materials. He obtained his doctorate in physics in 1982. His thesis focused mainly on studying the effect of hydrogen on zirconium alloys, which are of great importance in nuclear reactors.
At this stage his administrative activity was also important. With his unremitting efforts, he strongly cooperated in the construction of the Dr. Daniel Esparza Science and Technology Building, which was opened in 1995. In addition, he struggled to obtain funds and obtain apparatus and machines for the laboratories of the new building.
In what is stated here, Juan Carlos’s desire to use knowledge of technological developments in Argentina and his clear awareness of the importance of achieving adequate infrastructure, both in terms of capacity building and equipment as well as human resources, are clearly visible. For example, he clearly defended the concept that to develop certain materials it is necessary to have the ability to manufacture them, which is why he was interested in purchasing an induction furnace to manufacture high-melting point alloys. As an anecdotal detail, it has been confirmed that the design of the building to be built actually anticipated the arrival of said furnace one day.
Hydrogen car
He then devoted himself primarily to exploring the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. In 1997, he was able to operate a car using only gaseous hydrogen as fuel. Juan Carlos gained notoriety with this experience and has become Vice-President of the International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE) for Latin America since 2012, and President of the Argentine Hydrogen Association (AAH) since 1996.
One of Juan Carlos’s mother’s ideas was to obtain hydrogen produced from the electrolysis of water through a renewable energy source such as a wind farm or a solar park. It is called green because it does not generate emissions in the process of its production or during its combustion. He actively participated in drafting the technical aspects of amending Law No. 26.123 which regulates and stimulates the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the country.
Juan Carlos was a very enthusiastic and persistent scientist. Once he identified an idea, he would push it forward with indomitable determination, thus managing to stand out as a qualified expert on the production and use of hydrogen in clean energy production, topics that became his great passion and which he tirelessly shared with those who wanted to listen to him.
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