One of these with wheels
Posted on 03/30/2005 5:19:49 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AP) - A group of automakers and energy companies will develop and build hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in a multimillion-dollar partnership with the government, aiming for possible mass marketing of the vehicles within 15 years, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Wednesday. The marketing will start in California.
His department announced plans for several "learning demonstration teams" involving automakers General Motors Corp., DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Co., Hyundai Motor Co. Energy companies ChevronTexaco, BP, and Shell.
Ballard Power Systems, a leading manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells, will also join in the partnership.
"If our research program is successful, it is not unreasonable to think that we could be approaching commercialization and mass marketing of these kinds of vehicles in maybe 15 years," Bodman said at the National Hydrogen Association's annual conference in Washington.
Bodman said the teams would share in at least half of the project funding, estimated at about $380 million.
The companies will evaluate the fuel cells under hot and cold conditions, consider production options and ways of evaluating hydrogen infrastructure.
As part of the program:
- GM plans to build a fleet of 40 hydrogen fuel vehicles and distribute them in California and Michigan as well as in Washington, D.C., and New York City. It plans to spend $44 million in total for their manufacture, transportation and upkeep and the building of hydrogen refueling stations in California and the East Coast corridor from New York City to Washington, D.C.
- DaimlerChrysler, which now has the largest fleet of fuel cell vehicles of any automaker, and three energy partners will also invest $44 million to place such vehicles with consumers who will provide feedback on their performance.
- Others companies will search for the best way to produce hydrogen and test the fuel cells and how the technology would fare in hot, humid climates.
The fuel cells run on the energy produced when hydrogen and oxygen are mixed, rather than using gasoline. The only byproduct of a fuel cell is water. The technology has been used in experimental vehicles and as a power supply for some buildings.
President Bush since 2003 has pushed a 5-year, $1.7 billion research program to develop hydrogen as America's next energy source. He has predicted Americans will drive cars operated by hydrogen-powered fuel cells in less than two decades.
The program has involved workshops with state and local officials on the benefits of hydrogen power and conducted demonstration projects nationwide, Energy Department officials said.
Most major automakers are developing hydrogen fuel cells but say the cost of the vehicles and a lack of fueling stations make them unmarketable for now.
In separate efforts, Ford has announced plans to deliver eight hydrogen-run shuttle buses to Florida and to distribute Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles in the United States, Canada and Germany.
DaimlerChrysler, meanwhile, is developing a range of fuel cell vehicles, including a four-door passenger car called the Mercedes F-Cell, the Dodge Fuel Cell Sprinter van and a fleet of fuel cell-powered Mercedes Citaro buses.
Among Japanese automakers, Mazda is road-testing a hydrogen-fueled, rotary-engine version of its RX-8 sports car that allows the driver to select hydrogen or gasoline with the flick of a switch. Toyota is developing a fuel cell hybrid vehicle based on the Toyota Highlander, a mid-size sport utility vehicle.
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On the Net:
General Motors Corp.: http://www.gm.com/
U.S. Department of Energy: http://www.energy.gov/
not those....but THESE:
http://www.unitednuclear.com/h2.htm
now thats much better....
Are they going to distribute hydrogen also?
This, teamed up with Toshiba's revolutional new Nano-Battery will make electric-hydrogen hybrids that will replace gasoline powered vehicles.
"Are they going to distribute hydrogen also?"
That's the part that liberals don't seem to get.
One of these with wheels
In how many years and I might add, what's next? I really don't think battery powered cars are the future.
Where are they going to get the hydrogen in California?
It's probably going to be made from steam-naphtha reforming, which means that the car will require oil anyway. Maybe the H2 will be made from steam-methane reforming, which means that the car's fuel would be made from natural gas. In either case, the car still needs hydrocarbons. The only thing different is that the fuel and the car will be more expensive.
Before they can distribute the hydrogen, they have to make it. It seems that the hydrogen promoters always leave that part out.
Hydrogen cars? What holds them together? It seems as if they'd just dissipate as soon as they're manufactured...
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAHA! And all on the government dole too!
That's some fleet of cars - my company buys that many every year.
I'm glad their trying new stuff, it might be viable when I'm dead.
We're awash in oil in the USA: off the California and Florida coasts, Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, etc. All we need is the political will to go get it.
I'm trying to remember when I last saw a hydrogen filling station.
200 millions cars in the US----- how much pollution to produce the Hydrogen? The landfill from all those Batteries will be very tasty. Next...
"I'm glad their trying new stuff, it might be viable when I'm dead." Hope you have lived a long and healthy life because America is once again being forced into making innovation reality.
When GM thinks up something "good", run like hell. They eliminate vehicles that work and which people want (EV1\2), eliminate popular body styles (Caprice) and types (F-Body, evil bastards) and step in to meddle in any unit showing success (Saturn).
If former GM management are hired at a company you own shares of, sell. If they cook dinner for you, order take out...
"aiming for possible mass marketing of the vehicles within 15 years"
WOW!! Now thats what I call a definite committment and a timely response to help reduce our dependency on oil imports.
And a fleet of 40 Hydrogen powered vehicles is about insignificant.
Government started "talking" about reducing oil imports in the early 70's. We were only importing 40% of our oil then. Now imports are over 60%. I guess they have had time to "think" about energy for 30 plus years.
Now with the idea phase completed, it is time for our government officials to start thinking about implementing some ideas over the next 15 years.
WHAT A FARCE! They are patting themselves on the back for doing absolutely NOTHING for 30 years but thinking.
America is once again being forced into making innovation reality.
Waddya mean? We are always innovating! We might not have the Cold War or Space Race to motivate us anymore, but I still think the U.S. is the technological world leader and will continue to be, as long as we are free (thanks to the sacrifices of our Armed Forces). I'm all for innovation!
I was sorta making a little left-hand compliment. As I see it, the EV1 was only a failure because of lack of market demand (gas isn't expensive enough yet), but I'm glad some one at GM is looking into alternatives to fossil fuels.
My only problem with Hydrogen powered vehicles is where do you get the Hydrogen? Extract it from the atmosphere? What's the energy cost of that, and where does the energy come from? Extract it from water and dittos.
Heck, I'd love to live up on a mountain top with an off-the-grid solar powered house.
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