Bill: Once again, I've been trying to break my addiction to commenting on Ballard every time I see patent nonsense being posted. I managed to stay away for a month or two last time I tried this, until some posters started up with gratuitous insults and misrepresentations of my viewpoint, forcing me to defend myself. If you would like me to stay away so you can all enjoy your fantasies in peace, don't do that.
Of course I reserve the right to comment any time I feel like, and I'll do so now: Nothing from the various auto shows changes my opinion that the car of the future, at least until maybe 2010, will be the gas/electric hybrid. They will be here much sooner (like 1999) than fc cars, they will outperform them, they will cost much less, and they require an investment of zero, not billions, in a supporting infrastructure.
I have no doubt that Daimler and Ford are making a serious effort to create a commercial fc car, but it is really just a side bet and image ploy. For every fc R&D dollar, they are spending hundreds of R&D dollars improving their internal combustion engines. And publicity about ultra clean fc cars way in the future makes you feel warm and fuzzy about the companies now, so you don't feel guilty buying their high margin, low mileage SUVs. Next year's auto shows, IMO, will be all about hybrids, and the first of what will be a long series of delays in the projected introduction date of fc cars.
I have also seen nothing, including high profile partnerships, that indicates any great likelihood of success in the stationary power market. The characteristics that make PEM plausible for cars are drawbacks when it comes to stationary power, where high temperature fc's are vastly more efficient, cleaner, and should cost less to buy.
There. Now the unpleasant ghost will try to disappear again. Summon him at your own risk! |
