N? Not satisfied with our gas prices? Well, honestly I did not, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to believe that perhaps our soaring gas prices and dependence on foreign oil has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The automotive industry has the technology to build fuel efficient cars, it had a lot of this technology for decades, but has not developed this technology into cost effective mass market vehicles. Why? Since the consumer is not required. No matter what, the car industry has been and always will be consumer driven.
As long as consumers continue to buy what the industry is putting out, they will keep the building as a building. Granted, due to emission controls and higher mileage standards over the years now have less harmful emissions and better mileage than we did twenty years ago. Although this is a great start we can not allow to become a stopping point.
Let's take a realistic look at where we are today and how we, as consumers, can help provide more cost-efficient and healthier future of ourselves, our children and generations to come. We now have hybrid cars that provide much better fuel efficiency and fewer pollutants, and fuel cell vehicles that use no gasoline and produce no harmful emissions.
Both hybrid and fuel cell vehicles is currently used in public transport systems in many selected UScities as well as in Canada and Germany, which include public transport buses, taxis and delivery vehicles Such as UPS.
military vehicles - In April, the U.S. Army took delivery of the modified fuel cell Chevrolet Silverado that is capable of generating 188 kW and 317 foot pounds of torque, or roughly the motor torque by GM's 5.3 liter V-8 engine. This is the first time that the vehicle is driven in California. It will be delivered to the Marines at Camp Pendleton in California, later this year for demonstration and evaluation.
"This vehicle has spent the last few months performing civilian-type duty at Ft. Belvoir, Va. where Army estimates its performance and learning first hand about hydrogen and fuel cells, " said Dr. McClelland, director Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) of the U.S. military.
World's First Individual Fuel Cell Vehicle Customer:
California Hydrogen Highway - Spallino family, who live in the Los Angeles area, will be among the first individuals to begin using the first California Hydrogen Highway refueling stations, the national infrastructure to build a course offered Hydrogen fuel cells approach private individuals. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the state's commitment to the Hydrogen Highway in April of this year, creating public-private partnership to build California's Hydrogen Highway 2010
In the Chino project, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage SUVs, powered by fuel cells manufactured by UTC Fuel Cells, will operate throughout Southern California and refuel at the ChevronTexaco hydrogen station. Of particular importance is the on-site production of hydrogen from natural gas. Natural gas, along with the existing distribution infrastructure, is crucial for the eventual transition to a hydrogen economy. This station will also have the future capability to convert other renewable fuel sources like ethanol, to hydrogen fuel for fuel cell vehicles.
Hydrogen refueling station - The EPA has commissioned a hydrogen fueling station at its National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan. station provides compressed hydrogen gas for hydrogen vehicles in Southeast Michigan.
laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan is the first federal facility to install such a vehicle fueling station. This state-of-the art station serves as a real world example for others in the safe installation and operation of hydrogen fueling station. In addition to supporting the Fuel Cell Commercial vehicle testing program, the station will also be used to fuel the hydrogen fueled vehicles deployed in the future in Michigan.
So perhaps our future is looking brighter with less dependence on foreign oil and a good beginning for achieving cleaner air and healthier environment for everyone. However, it rests in our hands, each of us, consumers, and we will make choices that will determine our future.
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