BMW says hydrogen-powered cars are 30 years off, at least in terms of being available to the masses—and yes, I know, they just introduced a hydrogen-power 7-Series model. This 30-year prediction is much more pessimistic than the already pessimistic GM's 10-year prediction.
Full story here .
You know, the more I think about it, the car companies need to step up and offer their own alternative-fuel stations for any of these ideas to take hold with the public...
GM now offers E85-capable cars—but guess what, the last time I checked here in Maryland there were only four stations that offered E85! The same is true with hydrogen; where is a driver going to refill his hydrogen-powered BMW?
Here's a not-so-crazy thought
What if GM, BMW and whoever else is involved in alternative-powered engines partnered up to offer their own stand alone fuel stations across the country. Can you imagine a fuel station that focuses on offering E85, hydrogen, clean diesel and electric recharging? I can. Until the infrastructure is in place to keep these vehicles running, and make it "easy" for customers to do so, it will take forever. I don't expect the existing gasoline companies to do it quickly. Do you?
I think it will take clean-sheet-of-paper type of thinking here to get this moving fast—and who better to do this than the car companies who have the biggest stake here. Toyota, Honda, GM, BMW, Mercedes, others? You guys game? If you folks pool all your resources, I bet it could happen pretty quickly.
As I see it, this has opportunity written all over it...
Here's a not-so-crazy thought
What if GM, BMW and whoever else is involved in alternative-powered engines partnered up to offer their own stand alone fuel stations across the country. Can you imagine a fuel station that focuses on offering E85, hydrogen, clean diesel and electric recharging? I can. Until the infrastructure is in place to keep these vehicles running, and make it "easy" for customers to do so, it will take forever. I don't expect the existing gasoline companies to do it quickly. Do you?
I think it will take clean-sheet-of-paper type of thinking here to get this moving fast—and who better to do this than the car companies who have the biggest stake here. Toyota, Honda, GM, BMW, Mercedes, others? You guys game? If you folks pool all your resources, I bet it could happen pretty quickly.
As I see it, this has opportunity written all over it...
firstwagon says:
01:30 PM, 01/15/07
The trouble with alternative fuels is none come close to working as well as plain old reliable gasoline.
As long as there have been cars, individuals (and automakers) have been experimenting with alternative ways to power them. People have dedicated their lives and governments and big business have dedicated countless billions of dollars towards a solution.
The current conclusion? All the alternatives do work but none work nearly as well as gasoline.
The only percieved disadvantage to gasoline to pollution. Trouble is none of the alternatives are as clean as they claim and modern cars pollute far less then people think. Even if someone where to invest a vast of money to put the infrastructor in place, it's questionable as to whether or not there would be any change in net pollution.
Eventually oil will become scarce enough that the price will rise to the point will somthing else will be cheaper or more practical. In the meanwhile, it's a lot of fuss about nothing.
estreka says:
02:19 PM, 01/15/07
There isn't much incentive to buy alternative-fueled vehicles. True, the infrastructure doesn't exist in most places .Montana actually has E85 stations, go figure. But people will always will go with what's cheapest, which in the long run, is plain ol' petrol. Mileage just isn't that great with E85, and since gas is roughly the same price, that's what people go with. Everyone has noble ambitions when they're in front of a camera or when taking a survey, but honestly, few people really care about reducing their own emissions.