Bush's program has two major parts: The FreedomCAR program was launched in
early 2002. It's goal is to develop vehicle technologies, one of which is fuel
cells. The program is a joint effort between the Big 3, suppliers and others
and replaced Clinton's Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles. Karl, the
Big 3 includes DaimlerChrysler (along with GM and Ford), so yes, they would be
involved in this.
Bush wants to add FreedomFUEL, a companion program pushing hydrogen fuel
research (production, distribution and storage issues).
GM is already spending $100 million a year on this and will begin testing a
fleet of 100 fuel cell-equipped Opel Zafira vans in Japan in June. I
think FedEx will be using the vehicles.
The Honda program mentioned by Ryan will lease about 30 Honda FCX fuel cell
cars to public entities in Los Angeles and Japan.
The big holdup right now is the cost in precious metals, especially platinum.
Masashi Arita from Nissan says it takes 80 to 100 grams of platinum to make a
fuel cell with the power output of 100 horsepower.
> And has the Bush administration suddenly become environmentally
I can't comment on the political machinations of the Bush administration. I've
never found them to be overtly "friendly" to the environment. But the big car
makers always holler for subsidies. Of all types. Hey, if it can help make
fuel cells a reality, I won't complain.
Kevin Balentine Automotive Writer The Dallas Morning News
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: KH.Ranitzsch@t-online.de
Reply-To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 17:18:49 +0100 (CET)
> Ryan Gill schrieb:
I neglected to mention another huge holdup: The price of building an
infrastructure capable of refueling fuel cell cars is expected to cost between
$500,000 and $1 million per station, with the current technology.
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Kevin Balentine" <kevinbalentine@mail.ev1.net>
Reply-To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 11:23:29 -0600
> Bush's program has two major parts:
> At 11:32 AM -0600 2/4/03, Kevin Balentine wrote:
How much does a standard fuel station cost to build? Those massive tanks that
go under the ground can't be that cheap. Neither can all of the certifications
and inspections that accompany such equipment (or it's installation).
I'll have to research the cost to build a gas station, I don't have those
numbers handy. But, the issue isn't entirely the cost, the issue is that there
are only a handful of hydrogen refueling stations at all. The price quoted
isn't necessarily to build all-new stations, although it's probably
accurate. But it's also the cost to convert an existing gas station to a
hydrogen station.
When you build a gas station, you have a built in customer base. Until that
exists with fuel cell cars, it's hard to justify spending money for a hydrogen
station. And until there are hydrogen stations, mass producing fuel cell cars
is a tough sell.
Catch 22.
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Ryan M Gill <rmgill@mindspring.com>
Reply-To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 13:56:38 -0500
> At 11:32 AM -0600 2/4/03, Kevin Balentine wrote:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
On Tue, 4 Feb 2003 11:32:13 -0600, "Kevin Balentine"
> <kevinbalentine@mail.ev1.net> wrote:
> I neglected to mention another huge holdup: The price of building an
The programme I saw mentioned this as a big deal. This is one of the reasons
hybrids, using gasoline for the hydrogen source, is more realistic in the
short term.