Mass Produced Hydrogen Cars by 2011

[Kor37 9]

GM Wants Mass Produced Hydrogen Cars by 2011

Dow Jones

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Sept. 15) - Hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles could hit showrooms as early as 2011, General Motors Corp. Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Thursday.

 

Calling the effort a "moon shot," Lutz said it is vital the world's largest auto maker commits to the new technology, so it can win back its reputation as an innovator and design leader.

 

"This is to re-establish our technological credentials with the American public and the American media," said Lutz, who spoke at the military base where the company was delivering a hydrogen concept car that will be test-driven by Marines in coming months.

 

"And it has a huge re-moralizing effect in the company as our people see how serious we are," he added.

 

Up to $9 billion has been freed up as a result of General Motors' recent restructuring, Lutz said. The company now has more money to invest in hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars, which will form an important part of the auto giant's long-term economic recovery plan.

 

The company, which is suffering from declining U.S. market share at the hands of its Asian competitors, lost $8.6 billion in 2005 amid high healthcare, pension, labor and materials costs.

 

"We are going to make General Motors what it was in the '50s and '60s again," Lutz said.

 

Lutz acknowledged GM lost a technological edge to Toyota by failing to recognize the potential of gasoline-hybrid technology, and promised that won't happen again with hydrogen cars. He did not specify how much cash would be channeled toward production of the new cars or how many vehicles would be produced. But a company said GM has so far spent $1 billion on the technology and will spend a similar amount by 2010.

 

Virtually every automaker is conducting tests of hydrogen-powered vehicles, which have received support from a five-year, $1.2 billion hydrogen initiative first announced by President Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address.

 

German automaker BMW AG said Tuesday it will introduce the world's first hydrogen-powered luxury performance car.

 

The pollution-free technology holds the potential of zero emissions - except steam - and a sustainable source of energy produced when hydrogen and oxygen are mixed. Carbon emissions are reduced to zero, provided the energy used to produce hydrogen comes from renewable sources.

 

Lt. Col. Jay Malik said the Marine Corps is looking at alternative fuels for environmental reasons, and because hydrogen-powered cars could simplify logistical planning on the battlefield, where the distribution of gasoline can be challenging.

 

Many obstacles exist before fuel-cell cars hit showrooms, mainly a lack of hydrogen fueling stations. California leads the nation in installing hydrogen fueling stations, Lutz said, currently with 31 around the state.

 

But even if energy companies fail to boost hydrogen production, Lutz said GM would still have a potentially large international market share.

 

"Whether or not we get a hydrogen infrastructure, it doesn't matter, because China will be the first hydrogen economy," he said.

 

 

 

This can't come soon enough. If China beats us out on this, they will be well on their way to becoming the #1 World Super Power.

Edited September 15, 2006 by Kor37

[MrPsychic 1]

Frankly, they're already on their way to becoming number one. As the article said, BMW is producing a hydrogen powered 7 series, their top of the line flagship. What's interesting about their new car is that it can run on either gasoline or hydrogen, so that people can actually buy them now and have them ready when hydrogen stations start opening up. Mind you, a BMW 7 Series is about 110,000 dollars though.

[mj 7]

If China beats us out on this, they will be well on their way to becoming the #1 World Super Power.

 

 

Frankly, they're already on their way to becoming number one.

 

I don't want to get off-topic, but it is true that they are already on their way to being the # 1 super power, with India a close second.

 

But it is not because of who gets the hydrogen car first. It is because of who has planned ahead and educated their enormous populations for the future. China especially has made sure its enormous population is widely and deeply educated in science and math. They have produced more scientist and engineers than their current infrastructure can absorb, yet their infrastructure is expanding rapidly ( with the most modern plants that American and other industry can build)and will have a place for those who they have produced.

They have the advantage of the centralized decision makers ( and no real freedom.).

 

India also has overproduced scientists and engineers, but also have the rapidly expanding infrastructure to absorb them. India Institute of Technology is one of the best educational institutions in the world, and why?

Because the parents want their children to have a chance to get in, and have them studying from a very young age. becuase of the huge population, and the many who do not get in, they end up being excellent students in some of the top educational institutions in Europe and the US.

 

Yet I saw on Today show a group of American parents organizing against too much homework!

 

Because of our comparatively small population, we are already at a disadvantage in competing. But also here we have lost the vision for excellence, nor take on the repsonsibility to be excellent. We want as much as we can get putting forth as little effort as possible. I am talking about the average mindset.

 

I cannot pass on the joy of learning something challenging or difficult, just the basic joy of learning, to my students because of the current mindset.

 

In a democracy, unlike in a centralized totlitarian state, it is individual responsibility for doing a job well, and for being one's best. That is the vision we seem to have lost as a society. It is making us second rate.

 

Getting back to the car issue, I also hope that we continue to develop alternative fuel sources that use grains grown by American farmers. It does not hurt to have more than one alternative automobile.