Malcolm Bricklin has hydrogen visions for displaced Chrysler and GM dealerships
Add serial entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin to the list of people interested in getting a crack at the 2,000 or so automotive dealerships that are scheduled to be shut down by either General Motors or Chrysler in short order. Unlike most other interested parties, though, Bricklin's plan would also include his Visionary Vehicles venture purchasing up to 300,000 new vehicles from the two beleaguered automakers, which would then be upgraded with luxurious interiors and, ahem, a hydrogen hybrid drivetrain.We're not completely sure what Bricklin's proposed hydrogen hybrid powertrain would entail, but he tellingly says that everybody else says it's a scam. Yep, you guessed it: an onboard electrlyser would supposedly extract hydrogen from water. According to Bricklin, "I know I have a product that I can put on cars that will make them get 100 percent better mileage." We'll see how it all works out in about 90 days, which is when Bricklin says his first prototype will be ready.
"I really believe this is why I was put on this Earth," he said in a recent interview. "All those mistakes, and all those lessons, and all those experiences have led me to know exactly how to take advantage of this technology." We'll see.
[Source: Boston Herald]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dave 1:55PM (5/27/2009)
what an idiot...
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Jason 1:57PM (5/27/2009)
They're like 9/11 conspirators, but without the excuse of emotional damage caused by a traumatic event. Hydrogen will never be taken seriously by the public as long as people like this remain on the public stage.
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polo 2:29PM (5/27/2009)
What does an attack perpetuated by Bush and Cheney to start a war, a police state, and torture and spy with impunity have to do with hydrogen? You sound stupid.
Jason 2:38PM (5/27/2009)
I figured one of you would come out of the woodwork. Glad to see I was right
Matt 3:00PM (5/27/2009)
Oh, man... they're everywhere. Just put a little bait out and they'll start schoolin'. You know, I think Obama was secretly in on it too ;) ;)
polo 6:08PM (5/27/2009)
"I figured one of you would come out of the woodwork. Glad to see I was right"
There's a whole room of us, waiting for Jason to make incoherent analogies and snide, pig-headed attacks on EVs. The red phone by the desk went off as soon as you typed the second sentence.
RAN 2:20PM (5/27/2009)
Gorr will be with you in a moment, as soon as the multiple orgasms subside...
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jake 2:26PM (5/27/2009)
His recent ventures have all died off before they even go started. I expect this to be the same, especially with this hho scam again.
Even though I'm not a hydrogen fan, I say this kind of thing gives a bad name to hydrogen.
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Tohe 2:31PM (5/27/2009)
George W. Bush must have had it really bad for H20, his legacy of water-boarding and Hydrogen is overwhelming. This guy is no different.
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Salsa Shark 2:47PM (5/27/2009)
Just wait until he announces his groundbreaking technology partnership with Steorn...
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Scott K. 3:07PM (5/27/2009)
Here's me holding my breath. (Deep breath.) I'd say, "I'll believe it when I see it," but with him, not even then. How's this? I'll believe it when I can see it, touch it, drive it, buy it, read that it works, and read about how it actually works. And even then, I'll still have my doubts.
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Jason 3:16PM (5/27/2009)
Physics are physics, energy is conserved, and hydrogen is NOT a catalyst. If you believe and understand those 3 things, you know this can't work.
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polo 6:12PM (5/27/2009)
and that little nugget explains why you know absolutely ZILTCH about anything you just said.
Just give it up, or get a GED and figure out whats wrong with what you just said.
Jason 7:48PM (5/27/2009)
Or, you know, I could use my aerospace degree. Whichever.
If you truly believe systems like this work, I point you to two simple facts: Electrolysis, at its best, is around 85-92% efficient. Burning H2 in air results in EXACTLY the reverse reaction. I.e. it takes 1.15 to 1.08 times the energy to run a 'hydrogen augmented' engine as it would to run the car without hydrogen addition.
Some fanatics claim that the system works because the hydrogen acts as a catalyst. This is NOT true because in a chemical reaction, a catalyst is not consumed. Were this the case here, the hydrogen could simply be recycled and reused, instead of generated.
Two last points:
"What does an attack perpetuated by Bush and Cheney to start a war, a police state, and torture and spy with impunity have to do with hydrogen?"
I think the word you were looking for was perpetrated, not perpetuated. Perpetuated implies the towers are still standing, and Bush and Cheney made it all up. And the stubbornness of people who refuse to see or even consider facts relevant to the topic are the reason both people like Bricklin are actually considered newsworthy.
"...waiting for Jason to make incoherent analogies and snide, pig-headed attacks on EVs"
nicely said, except that this isn't an EV, and the hydrogen addition culture believes that the only reason these systems aren't on every car made today is "because of big oil" The similarities with 9/11 conspiracy theorists are striking.
polo 8:33PM (5/27/2009)
"Or, you know, I could use my aerospace degree. Whichever."
Oh, so today we actually graduated from college?! Priceless but still not as funny as your rambling responses in the EV threads. Random internet
troll throws out random unsubstantiated personal claim to boost cred.
I was waiting for it. This has to be the 3rd or 4th time you've thrown
out these wild-eyed claims on ABG. I could respond by going into my depth of
knowledge on this particular subject, attained during years of work
with D.A.R.P.A., but why waste my time? You've barely got a grasp on
middle-school level science. I can't wait to see what you claim to be next
week. Gorr's been quiet these past few weeks but your posts
are starting to make up for it!
Chris M 3:33PM (5/28/2009)
Polo, you really are quite a hypocrit. You make the accusation of "Random internet
troll throws out random unsubstantiated personal claim to boost cred" then you do exactly that yourself! Working for DARPA? Really? As a janitor, maybe?
You really haven't refuted a thing Jason said, because he is right. Physics IS physics, energy IS conserved, and hydrogen IS NOT a catalyst.
Chris H. 3:34PM (5/27/2009)
As long as he uses all his own money, I say "Go for it!"... :)
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DasBoese 3:42PM (5/27/2009)
"I really believe this is why I was put on this Earth"
Yes, Malcolm, you were put on this earth to be the laughing stock of anyone with even the most basic knowledge about physics and some common sense.
Here's your tin-foil hat. [EDITED FOR LANGUAGE]
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polo 6:07PM (5/27/2009)
Why all the personal attacks on the guy? Its rather simple, either he is telling the complete truth and has perfected some kind of hydrogen system, and will showcase it in a couple months....or not. I'm not that insecure with my beliefs that I need to order a hit to shut up some starry-eyed venture capitalist. The burden's on him so whats the point in prejudging?
gorr 4:07PM (5/27/2009)
I will be interrested to go see one of these cars in a dealership near where i live in canada or in platsburg , new-york state.
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