Mar. 31, 2005 - 18:50 MST

THE WONDERING JEW

Too Little Or Too Late ?

In this morning's Rocky Mountain News is an article by Ken Thomas of the Associated Press which indicates a modicum of progress in the process of making fuel cell technology available to the public. In part:

Industries, Uncle Sam rev up fuel-cell car research

WASHINGTON -- "A group of automakers and energy companies will develop and build hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in a multimillion-dollar partnership with government."

"The partnership aims for mass marketing of the vehicles within 15 years. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Wednesday."

"The Energy Department announced plans for several "learning demonstration teams" involving General Motors Corp., Daimler-Chrysler AG, Ford Motor Co., as well as energy companies ChevronTexaco, BP and Shell, and Ballard Power Systems, a leading manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells."

"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."

"DaimlerChrysler, which now has the largest fleet of fuel cell vehicles of any automaker, and three energy partners also will invest $44 million to place such vehicles with consumers who will provide feedback on their performance."

"Other 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."

"President Bush since 2003 has pushed a five-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 demonstation 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."

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Opinions of an amateur. I think the practicality of hydrogen fuel cells has been proven many times over. But setting up the infrastructure to supply the fuel is a daunting task, surmountable but complicated nevertheless. And then getting hydrogen-fuel-celled automobiles in mass production is also a complication. Anybody can build a prototype or two, even ones that actually work. But by the millions ? Takes money and time.

But I think it can be done in time. Just wonder how long it will take to bring it out to the public in a form that Joe Q. Public can afford to buy and operate a Hydrogen-fuel-cell automobile ?

Then being a bit of a cynic, I wonder how much time and effort will be devoted by the biggies to ensure that we Joe's will be spending as much or more for fuel and maintenance than we do at the present time ? Especially considering the Oil background of many of our leading governmental officials.

I do have high hopes, but wonder if in the end, will it be Too Little Or Too Late ? . . . . . . . . . . . .

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