05 Apr 09 The Typical Posture of Congress
By: Ang Biondo
The government forced the Auto Industry to pour billions of dollars into the research and development of “Green” car technology. This research has examined every aspect of technology from hybrid, to electric, to alternate fuels like hydrogen and E85, (85% alcohol, and 15% ethanol). Yet, Congress has done nothing to help or expedite the progress of this technology. They have demanded and set standards in EPA emissions, minimum mileage requirements etc., but nothing to push the development of alternate fuel infrastructure to support the new technology evolving from the industries research. Congress as usual, if they don’t have their head in the sand, revert to their usual attitude of “What’s in it for me?”.
General Motors, in an effort to comply with the demands of Congress, has made every vehicle built “E85” compatible since the 2007 model year. Many of the vehicles they built were “E85” compatible prior to 2007. E85 fuel is extremely corrosive to the standard fuel injector coatings and “O” rings used in the typical engine. Standard gasket material and coatings erode under the harsh conditions of E85. There are currently hundreds of thousands of vehicles on the road across the nation that can take advantage of the cheaper E85 fuel, but virtually a handful of E85 filling stations across the nation who make E85 available. : U.S. Department of Energy - Renewable Energy
Hybrids are available, but costly. Hybrids have an electric/gas drive-train that yields about 10 mpg more than a conventional gasoline engine. The fuel savings doesn’t justify the cost of the vehicle. It would take the purchaser several years to recoup the difference between the cost of the vehicle vs. the cost of fuel. The environmentally conscious consumer purchasing a hybrid vehicle would have to consider if the increased recycling of batteries justifies the reduced carbon emissions produced in the burning of fossil fuels.
Chevy Volt (Electric)
Several companies are working on an all-electric vehicle. GM is planning to debut the Chevy Volt this year. Start of production of the Volt is scheduled for June 1st and is hoped to be the car to save America’s largest automaker. The Volt runs entirely on electric. It’s lithium Ion battery pack is capable of powering the vehicle for 40 miles before its gasoline powered generator powers up to give it an extended range of approximately 680 miles. A person driving 40 miles or less per day would probably never use any gas. It is designed to fully charge in 8 hours when plugged into a 115 volt electrical outlet. If a 220 line is available it will fully charge in 3 hours. Chevrolet techs project the cost to power the vehicle is about 2 cents per mile based on current cost of electricity being about 1/5th the price of gasoline.
As stated above the Chevy Volt uses lithium ion battery packs. The current cost of the lithium ion battery packs is a major cost of the vehicle and will undoubtedly be costly to replace. Those of you who own notebook computers know the life span of these batteries. The lithium ion battery used in the Volt is somewhat larger and will make somewhat more expensive. Another down side of the lithium ion was recently discovered by notebook manufactures when they had to recall an untold number for spontaneous fires, where the battery would suddenly burst into flame for no apparent reason. It didn’t matter if the computer was plugged in or not, in use or not. The problem was extremely dangerous as a fire caused by the shorting of a lithium ion battery is not only chemical but metal as well. Metal fires generate heat in the 1000o F to 1500o F range. Trying to extinguish them improperly can prove to be deadly.
If Congress passes the “Energy Use” tax, it is estimated that the average household will realize an increase of $3100.00 dollars per year or $258.33 per month in home energy costs. A person will literally pay each time they flip on a light switch.
Our best hope for fossil fuel independence is the Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. This would require a significant number of fuel cell regeneration plants throughout the country and possible the continent. Currently there are hundreds of thousands of gasoline stations conveniently located throughout the country. One does not have to travel very far to reach one.
Switching the country to “Hydrogen”, will take several years just to develop an infrastructure. Currently this infrastructure is barely capable of supplying a few test vehicles let alone millions it will need to support for a full conversion. Honda has taken the unprecedented step of building the world’s first production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The Honda FCX Clarity was to become available to an undisclosed number of lucky Southern Californians in the summer of 2008, and its 3 year lease program will run $600 per month, a rate that includes maintenance and collision insurance.
The National Hydrogen Association shows approximately 70 hydrogen generation plants currently in service across the country and another 40 planned for the near future. When comparing this to the number of Gas Stations currently in service it translates to a miniscule in comparison. If hydrogen is to become the standard power train for our vehicles of transportation the Congress will have to get its head out of the sand, give up the earmark spending and make hydrogen power a priority.
Laws and standards are a mandatory necessity. A standard shape, size, vehicle hook-up, location, etc. will be required to ensure all hydrogen powered vehicles will have fuel cells available. They must be easily replaceable canisters mounted in a location protected from collision damage, or imbedded, permanent canisters with refueling standards. Imagine if each vehicle were to use a dedicated fuel cell unique to that particular model or brand.
GM as well as other auto makers have researched and developed hydrogen technology at a tremendous cost. The hydrogen driven vehicle is a reality and in use in some countries such as Japan. It is virtually ready to go into production here – but! Where are the refueling stations? Is it the responsibility of the auto-industry to build the infrastructure required to refill the hydrogen fuel cells?
BMW boasts: “The BMW Hydrogen 7. As the world’s first luxury performance sedan with hydrogen drive, it runs on the most plentiful element in the world and emits virtually nothing but water vapor. And because the infrastructure for refueling a hydrogen internal combustion engine is not yet complete, the V-12 engine also runs on gasoline at the push of a button.”
The BMW Hydrogen 7 can be expected to be burning gasoline for some time to come. The infrastructure for refueling hydrogen fuel cells is not only “not yet complete”, but near nun-existent. BMW’s Hydrogen 7 is the first luxury class vehicle, but there are a number of hydrogen fueled vehicles ready and waiting for the refueling station infrastructure to be built. To read more about the BMW Hydrogen 7 here.
Hydrogen Cars Now has a great article on General Motors entry in this market. Read their complete article at hydrogencarsnow.com. “GM’s Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell SUV, all 100 of them, are supposed to rollout in the U. S. the first quarter of 2008. The deployment plan is being called “Project Driveway” and the idea behind GM’s rollout is to test the marketability, including customer response to hydrogen cars in general and the Equinox Fuel Cell in specific.
The Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell SUVs will be rolled out in California, Metropolitan New York and Washington DC. Currently, California has 23 hydrogen fueling stations, New York has 2 and Washington DC has 1 station. As such, the distribution of vehicles may be weighted more towards California, which has a larger hydrogen support system already in place than the other two regions.”
Ford’s hydrogen fuelled “Fusion 999” ran an impressive 207.3 mph at Bonneville proving no loss in horsepower. My research of Hydrogen fuelled vehicles tells me there is no reason a hydrogen powered vehicle couldn’t run on gasoline and vice versa.
The General Motors, Ford and BMW hydrogen fueled vehicles are very limited production models and none have fully committed a firm build date for full production. With the current economic conditions of the Auto-Industry it may be some time before we see full production of these vehicles.
The auto industry has fulfilled its part and has researched, designed, and produced the concept vehicles and production test vehicles. Congress has passed the $700 billion dollar ‘Bailout’ Bill, the $450 Billion dollar ‘Omnibus’ Bill with its 9000 earmarks intact, and the $785 billion dollar ‘Stimulus’ Bill. In the near $2 trillion dollars allocated to restart the economy, no one has mentioned building the Hydrogen cell refueling infrastructure to wean America off of fossil fuels.
Instead Congress continues to allow the China multi-billion dollar trade deficit grow and borrow money from them literally making it possible for them to build the sophisticated missiles capable of inflating a U.S. Aircraft carrier from 1000 miles away with one missile.
Instead our Congressional leaders are more concerned about campaign donations and earmarks while America is forced to continue buying crude from the middle east, who is interested in buying the Chinese missile that can knock-out our American aircraft carriers.
As usual, I encourage you to contact your representatives and let them know how you feel. And don’t forget to drop us a note and let us know how we’re doing.
The U.S. Senate The U.S. House of Representatives The U.S. Whitehouse
Copyright © PoliticalFinePrint.com™ ( 2009)
All contents are the sole property of PoliticalFinePrint.com. PoliticalFinePrint.com reserves the right to change, modify or delete articles without notice. The material contained within the pages of PoliticalFinePrint.com™, is free to its readers and may be reprinted without pre-authorization from PoliticalFinePriont.com™, as long as it is not modified or changed in any way, and this notice and copyright© is included. PolicalFinePrint.com™ is the trademark of PoliticalFinePrint.com™ and cannot be copied, reproduced or used without the express written permission of PoliticalFinePrint.com™
Tags: Alcohol, alternative fuels, Automakers, bailout, Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell SUV, Congress, corrosive, E85, economical, electric, electric cars, electric vehicles, electric/gas drive train, Ethenol, Ford, gasoline, General Motors, government, Green cars, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Omnibus, Senate, stimulus, SUV\
Reader's Comments
Leave a Comment
As a mother who is transporting children, I would be very hesitant to buy a car with a lithium ion battery pack considering the potential dangers. I know many would call me neurotic but there are enough things to worry about on the road short of your car blowing up. I don’t think the technology for the sizing of those batteries has come far enough to ensure there would not be issues.
you are way ahead of the curve…love the political commentary (as always) and this post about “green” cars is off the hook. Keep it up…I love your stuff!!!!
Lithium Ion batteries have been in use for a good many years and are used in all types of appliances from wrist watches, computers (both notebook and desktop), hand held wireless tools, etc. Lithium Ion technology has been in existance for many years and proven to be stable. However, if modules are improperly assembled at the factory, it could cause the battery to short out, and then there is a problem. Battery packs are made up of many individual cells connecting the positive lead to the negative of the adjacent cell to add up to the voltage required for the appliance it is designed for. It is when one of the cells is wired pos to pos or neg’ to neg’ that the problem occurs. This could cause the battery to short, and it doesn’t matter if its connected, or in or out of use at the time.
Wouldn’t Exxon and Mobil, in order to stay in the game, need to start offering hydrogen fuel stations if the auto industry begins to produce these cars? Furthermore, it seems that the whole idea of “going green” and all the money and incentives offered would include incentives for these companies as well to offer new products or convert to the new fuel cells.
Also, very good point about the fact we are funding China’s weapons programs. Very scary!
In the modern era the energy developed without pollution is needed for us, so to reduce pollution we must give more importance for “Green” technology.
The money that we are using for “Green” car technology research will be a valuable for our nature, We want to give it importance.