Last week, I wrote a column printed here in the Times, regarding
the coming of hydrogen powered automobiles. My interest was peaked
by my son, who is in the automobile industry and came home for the
holidays.
Last week, I wrote a column printed here in the Times, regarding the coming of hydrogen powered automobiles.
My interest was peaked by my son, who is in the automobile industry and came home for the holidays.
For almost 15 years, he has worked for a well known worldwide company as a semiconductor failure analysis engineer. They manufacture electronics for all cars.
Last July, his subsidiary company moved from Silicon Valley to Michigan.
Now, let me remind you that his company provides the electronics for all cars, foreign and domestic.
My son predicts that within the next fifteen years, the cars in our country and most of Europe will be hydrogen fuel cell propelled.
GM and Ford are doing a “ropa dope,” a sleight of hand, right now, he says, pleading low sales for closing down plants.
He believes what they are actually doing is preparing to retool their companies for the future.
This would cut costs and help them jockey for position as leaders in the next wave of transportation: the hydrogen vehicle.
Not much problem converting cars to hydrogen power. Expensive, yes. He says that the problem with current battery technology is that batteries cannot hold enough energy for any amount of time to emulate a gasoline powered vehicle.
More importantly, these hybrid vehicles have to emulate as close as possible the gasoline powered vehicles for them to be successful in the market place. A few conservationists may buy them.
Gasoline is going to get more expensive because our refinery capacity is diminishing, and exploration in the continental U.S. has stopped. Therefore, purchasing fossil fuels outside our nation presents a challenge to our economic security, environmental security and our homeland security.
Cost of hydrogen vehicles may come in line with conventional cars by 2010 to 2014.
Ford-designed pressurized hydrogen tanks can achieve a vehicle range of 380 miles.
Hydrogen costs should be no more onerous than current standards for other fuels.
Optimistically, by 2015, hydrogen should provide 58 miles per kilogram at $2.33/kg. (Does not account for national and state taxes.)
Consumers will be able to buy hydrogen at energy stations or maybe existing “gas stations,” similar to the present “diesel” pump, now.
Some may even choose to generate hydrogen at home using small systems called electrolyzers that make hydrogen from water using electricity.
Not hybrids, but only hydrogen combustion engines offer the promise of completely removing motor vehicles from the pollution equation.
Although now I drive a gasoline driven SUV at my age of 75 years, nevertheless, I believe that I can look forward to driving a hydrogen combustion vehicle in my future.
Burton Anderson, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Korean War, has lived in California for about 50 years. He has a background in the aerospace industry. He may be reached at ba****@*ol.com.
