General Motors’ latest hydrogen car prototype, called the Sequel, will be unveiled today at a press preview of the North American International Auto Show here. It is a car unlike any other and a glimpse of a possible, very different, automotive future. Most important, it runs on a hydrogen fuel cell, so its only tailpipe emission is water vapor, not the smog-forming pollutants and greenhouse gases that come out of gasoline-powered cars.
The New York Times writes that the Sequel is totally cool and it does sound and look very interesting. But will GM deliver? Here are three quotes from said NYT article that I thought were important. It seems that something has got to give. We are still moving backwards instead of forwards. The Sequel could change that.
Not only is the number of automobiles growing with the population, but the fuel economy of the average vehicle has declined – to 20.7 miles a gallon in the 2003 model year from 22.1 in 1988.
A recent study, financed by the Hewlett Foundation and included in a report by the National Commission on Energy Policy, showed that the fuel economy of cars and trucks sold in the United States was the worst among all the major car markets.
Grazie Craig
Unfortunately, change comes at a rather slow rate. I still seem to see more Hummer H2’s on the road than hybrids. I give OL a lot of props for getting a hybrid considering he probably could afford a nice Porsche! Once big Corporate America finds it profitable then the real push begins!
-Second Tier Thinker
Good points Eric – a lot comes down to what corporate (automotive) America is going to push.
I was in Calgary, Alberta last month for a week. Gasoline there is not quite twice as expensive as here, but considerably more expensive. Driving around town I saw only one Hummer (less than typical USA), I also saw a single Smart Car! But, the vast majority of what I saw on the road were typical late-model American cars. Why? Incentives to buy! When it comes down to it that’s a big deal for “average Joe consumer” (North America anyway). Sure, if gas goes up to European prices then efficiency becomes a bigger factor – but for the car-crazy America gas budget is hardly a consideration (even at Canadian prices).
But more hybrids and the promise of hyrdrogen fuel cells are on the way. At what point will those cars be backed with incentives to buy??? I don’t know. Hopefully sooner than later!