Audio of Larry Burns speech to the National Hydrogen Association
A couple of weeks ago, GM VP for Research and Development Larry Burns spoke to the National Hydrogen Association. The focus of his talk was to encourage energy companies to get moving with deploying hydrogen filling stations to support a fleet fuel cell vehicles. GM, Toyota and Honda were all at the NHA conference and the three - along with Daimler - have all indicated their confidence in the efficiency, effectiveness, and durability of fuel cell technology. Burns acknowledged it will take several generations of the technology with increased production volumes to get to a point where it is as affordable as today's powertrains. However, it's difficult for automakers to justify building cars if energy companies won't open retail filling stations. In order to make its Project Driveway program happen, GM had to purchase hydrogen fueling systems to support the 100 Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicles. Burns called on the industry to roll out 40 stations within the three counties of Los Angeles and along corridors to Santa Barbara, Palm Springs and Las Vegas and San Diego. Such an implementation would put hydrogen with convenient reach of the entire population of the the Los Angeles area. Burns would like to see this happen before the next wave of fuel cell vehicles is rolled out in the next few years. You can listen to Burns speech here.[Source: GMnext.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lad 7:34PM (4/19/2008)
H2 is a red herring invented by the oil companies to suck up federal and state funding from the development of plug in electric cars. The oil companies do not benefit from plug ins but they maintain control over the distribution of H2 gas.
Don't buy the PR, it's leading us in the wrong direction. Take a hint from project "Better Place." See: http://www.projectbetterplace.com/
Reply
brian hague 1:26AM (4/20/2008)
You know those electric cars need an infrastructure too... man I can't tell you how long I've wanted electricity at my home and work... what will they think of next? Indoor plumbing?
I guess the Hydrogen infrastructure might be easier to implement than an electric one. All you need is electricity and plumb... ing?
[Brian comes to a terrifying realization that electricity AND water would be needed to make Hydrogen]
holy cow!
Lad was right!
Reply
Tim 11:05AM (4/20/2008)
The best technology wins in free competition ONLY when politicians do their job NOT by picking or funding one over the other but by keeping monopolies (like oil) from forming.
When governments funds or conducts technology experiments they short-circuit the dynamics of free competition by stealing labor (wealth) from one to give to the other.
Reply
Dave 3:24PM (4/20/2008)
Larry, please abandon the Hydrogen lobby and work something that is more practical than hydrogen.
Reply