Fuel-efficient autos are 'patriotic'
REUTERS
March 18, 2005
Most Americans believe it is "patriotic" to buy a fuel-efficient vehicle to help wean the country off Middle Eastern oil, according to a poll released yesterday.
Some 66 percent of participants in the survey said they agreed that driving vehicles that require less fuel to run is patriotic, since it could help reduce the U.S. dependency on Mideast crude.
The survey, conducted for the nonpartisan Civil Society Institute think tank, also showed that 57 percent of self-described conservatives considered the purchase of a fuel-efficient vehicle an act of patriotism.
The telephone poll, conducted Feb. 10-13, interviewed 1,013 adults. Its margin for error was 3 percentage points.
The poll also showed that 89 percent of Americans agreed on the importance of government action to reach a 40 miles-per-gallon fuel efficiency level for U.S. vehicles, to cut greenhouse pollution as well as dependency on Mideast oil.
In response to rising U.S. gasoline prices, 50 percent of those surveyed said they already had purchased or were considering buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
The U.S. rules that govern fuel efficiency, known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, were imposed in 1975 after the Arab oil embargo.
The standards have remained at 27.5 mpg for cars since 1990 and at 20.7 for trucks since 1996.
Full Version: Fuel-Efficient Cars and Patriotism
Common Ground Common Sense > Issues that Affect Our Lives > Energy Independence, Environment, Science and Technology > Energy, Environment, Science and Technology Issues Archive
I've often heard the complaint that compacts are dangerous in a crash and some drivers would rather pay more at the pump; than risk greater injury in an accident.
The argument seems to have some of the same flaws as feeling safer in the house with a hand gun "for protection".
The argument seems to have some of the same flaws as feeling safer in the house with a hand gun "for protection".
I have sold my minivan and am just waiting for my Prius to be delivered. I am looking forward to getting 50 mpg! 
And don't forget biodiesel and ethanol. They are the most patriotic of all things transit-related.
- Clean-burning
- Renewable
- Grown locally on American soil, giving jobs to Americans
- No money going to terrorist-harboring nations
If these fuels are not available in your area, you can also help out by using mass-transit more often, writing your city officials in support of using renewable technology, and supporting mass-transit expansion.
- Clean-burning
- Renewable
- Grown locally on American soil, giving jobs to Americans
- No money going to terrorist-harboring nations
If these fuels are not available in your area, you can also help out by using mass-transit more often, writing your city officials in support of using renewable technology, and supporting mass-transit expansion.
Ballard Announces Fuel Cell Timetable
Updated 5:59 AM ET March 30, 2005
http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pr...8958d300&src=ap
By KEN THOMAS
WASHINGTON (AP) - A leading developer of hydrogen fuel cells for automobiles announced a timetable Tuesday for making the technology more feasible by 2010.
Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems Inc. said it would demonstrate a commercially viable fuel cell "stack," which uses hydrogen fuel to generate electricity in vehicles, in five years.
By 2010, Ballard said its fuel cell stack would be more durable, cost-effective and better able to start in freezing conditions.
The company said its "road map" would follow targets set by the U.S. Energy Department and help automakers chart the development of the technology.
"We're showing through our actions and not just words that this technology is real and by 2010 we'll be able to demonstrate its commercial viability," said Dennis Campbell, Ballard's president and chief executive.
Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into water to produce electricity. Unlike batteries that go dead after the reactive chemicals are used up, fuel cells can be replenished with hydrogen and oxygen. The technology has been used in experimental vehicles and as a power supply for some buildings.
President Bush has pushed a $1.7 billion research program to develop hydrogen as America's next energy source and predicted Americans will drive cars operated by hydrogen-powered fuel cells in two decades.
Most major automakers are developing fuel cells but say the cost of the vehicles and a lack of fueling stations make them unmarketable at this time.
Ballard's announcement, made to coincide with the National Hydrogen Association's annual conference in Washington, was aimed at skeptics who question whether the technology will be practical and economical in the future.
Critics note that some hydrogen is produced from natural gas and other fossil fuels, and they stress the need for the development of a safe and cost-effective way to store and distribute hydrogen, a highly flammable gas.
Nick Cappa, a DaimlerChrysler AG spokesman on advanced technology, said several steps would need to be taken before the technology could become widely used. DaimlerChrysler has more than 100 fuel-cell vehicles, the auto industry's largest fleet.
"Although it may be feasible for fuel-cell technology to make that leap in 2010, that does not necessarily mean the market is ready for it," Cappa said. "It does not necessarily mean the infrastructure will be there."
General Motors Corp. spokesman Scott Fosgard said the company has spent more than $1 billion on fuel-cell technology and has said it could be commercially viable by 2010.
"It's great that more than one company is saying this now, and I think what you're seeing is a growing industry will to make this happen," Fosgard said.
Ford Motor Co. called the timetable "pretty optimistic."
"We believe that fuel cell vehicles may begin to be viable in the next 10 to 15 years," said Ford spokesman Ed Lewis. "However, it's impossible to predict when we'll begin to see huge numbers of vehicles on the roads."
David Friedman, research director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Clean Vehicles Program, said Ballard was announcing "important goals" but said the availability of the fuel would be a major obstacle.
"If they can achieve it, it will definitely help bring fuel-cell vehicles to the roads," Friedman said. "The big problem is, where's the hydrogen?"
The Burnaby, British Columbia-based company is partially owned by DaimlerChrysler and Ford, but Campbell said the technology would be "available to all comers" in the auto industry.
Updated 5:59 AM ET March 30, 2005
http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pr...8958d300&src=ap
By KEN THOMAS
WASHINGTON (AP) - A leading developer of hydrogen fuel cells for automobiles announced a timetable Tuesday for making the technology more feasible by 2010.
Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems Inc. said it would demonstrate a commercially viable fuel cell "stack," which uses hydrogen fuel to generate electricity in vehicles, in five years.
By 2010, Ballard said its fuel cell stack would be more durable, cost-effective and better able to start in freezing conditions.
The company said its "road map" would follow targets set by the U.S. Energy Department and help automakers chart the development of the technology.
"We're showing through our actions and not just words that this technology is real and by 2010 we'll be able to demonstrate its commercial viability," said Dennis Campbell, Ballard's president and chief executive.
Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into water to produce electricity. Unlike batteries that go dead after the reactive chemicals are used up, fuel cells can be replenished with hydrogen and oxygen. The technology has been used in experimental vehicles and as a power supply for some buildings.
President Bush has pushed a $1.7 billion research program to develop hydrogen as America's next energy source and predicted Americans will drive cars operated by hydrogen-powered fuel cells in two decades.
Most major automakers are developing fuel cells but say the cost of the vehicles and a lack of fueling stations make them unmarketable at this time.
Ballard's announcement, made to coincide with the National Hydrogen Association's annual conference in Washington, was aimed at skeptics who question whether the technology will be practical and economical in the future.
Critics note that some hydrogen is produced from natural gas and other fossil fuels, and they stress the need for the development of a safe and cost-effective way to store and distribute hydrogen, a highly flammable gas.
Nick Cappa, a DaimlerChrysler AG spokesman on advanced technology, said several steps would need to be taken before the technology could become widely used. DaimlerChrysler has more than 100 fuel-cell vehicles, the auto industry's largest fleet.
"Although it may be feasible for fuel-cell technology to make that leap in 2010, that does not necessarily mean the market is ready for it," Cappa said. "It does not necessarily mean the infrastructure will be there."
General Motors Corp. spokesman Scott Fosgard said the company has spent more than $1 billion on fuel-cell technology and has said it could be commercially viable by 2010.
"It's great that more than one company is saying this now, and I think what you're seeing is a growing industry will to make this happen," Fosgard said.
Ford Motor Co. called the timetable "pretty optimistic."
"We believe that fuel cell vehicles may begin to be viable in the next 10 to 15 years," said Ford spokesman Ed Lewis. "However, it's impossible to predict when we'll begin to see huge numbers of vehicles on the roads."
David Friedman, research director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Clean Vehicles Program, said Ballard was announcing "important goals" but said the availability of the fuel would be a major obstacle.
"If they can achieve it, it will definitely help bring fuel-cell vehicles to the roads," Friedman said. "The big problem is, where's the hydrogen?"
The Burnaby, British Columbia-based company is partially owned by DaimlerChrysler and Ford, but Campbell said the technology would be "available to all comers" in the auto industry.
QUOTE(heritage @ Mar 30 2005, 10:11 AM)
"If they can achieve it, it will definitely help bring fuel-cell vehicles to the roads," Friedman said. "The big problem is, where's the hydrogen?"
Duh?
There isn't any hydrogen. It has to be MADE, and that takes a lot of energy.
Which we could have if not for the "Nuke hysteria" this country suffers from.
QUOTE
There isn't any hydrogen. It has to be MADE, and that takes a lot of energy.
Which we could have if not for the "Nuke hysteria" this country suffers from.
Which we could have if not for the "Nuke hysteria" this country suffers from.
Since the business would start out relatively small scale, maybe Nukes wouldn't have to be built right away. Perhaps solar panels out in the desert and wind farms in isolated areas could make hydrogen to get the industry started. After that maybe geothermal energy could be used for larger scale production.
QUOTE(Eino @ Mar 31 2005, 07:54 PM)
Since the business would start out relatively small scale, maybe Nukes wouldn't have to be built right away. Perhaps solar panels out in the desert and wind farms in isolated areas could make hydrogen to get the industry started. After that maybe geothermal energy could be used for larger scale production.
You are right, I don't think production of hydrogen is the hold up. It is the storage problem.
Production on demand via electricity will be expensive. But solar generated hydrogen, from otherwise "unused" solar energy... why not?
And, compressed hydrogen at 10,000 psi might be OK in a plug-in hybrid, if 150 mile range for a tank of hydrogen was acceptable. Because, the plug-in would allow many "all-electric" miles, without using the hydrogen, so the "grid" could make up for the range limitation... just a thought.
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