Following is some food for thought-----------
First, let me state that fuel cell vehicles will benefit ECD, because
they will still need our batteries. The more ICE vehicles replaced by
fuel cells, the better. So, I do not have any axe to grind against fuel cells.
I have a couple of questions for you to ponder:
In who's best interest is it to see the fuel cell vehicles succeed
in the marketplace; the auto industry, the oil industry, or the
fuel cell mfgr's?
Does anyone really believe the auto industry is interested in accellerating the success of fuel cell technology into the marketplace to replace the internal combustion engine?
What about the oil industry?
Then why are we seeing so much hype from so many different sources
pointing the finger at fuel cells as representing the best future
source of power to replace the internal combustion?
All of this hype/propaganda creates a great smokescreen clouding
the progress being made here and now with EV/HEV's, that's why.
Again, for those of you that may not be aware, forty percent of
an automobile dealers profits come from their service department.
That includes a whole lot of parts they buy from the auto mfgr's.
I raised this question several times in the past and it's worth
repeating one more time for the newly informed. An electric car will
go 300,000 miles without any need for oil, oil changes/filters,
mufflers, catalytic converters, tail pipes, radiators, hoses, antifreeze, tuneups/spark plugs, transmissions/fluids (because there is none), among other things. Again, when was the last time you took your refrigerator into the shop for its regular maintenance?
Ford Motor had revenues of $144 billion in 1998, with $22 billion
in profits. That's right, $22 billion dollars in profits! Talk about making money! Does it get any better than that?
If the auto industry were really interested in replacing the ICE
vehicle they wouldn't have to look beyond our EV/HEV's, which is
a here and now product. The facts speak for themselves, the auto mfgr's will continue to promote fuel cell technology, while continuing
to drag this process on forever-more, showing the EPA and the public their earnest efforts to bring about low emission vehicles, that border on being impossible to produce economically. This will take the heat off of them by the EPA, while they continue to work over the politicians in California and Washington to rescind the 10% mandate forthcoming.
In the meantime, ECD will continue making progress in our NiMH
technology, that will improve the driving range and cost, to where
the automakers will no longer be able to keep it a secret from the public. The HEV's will help us inform the public considerably with
the four leading Japanese auto mfgr's invading our shores starting this Fall.
I would welcome anyone to shoot holes in my observations.
Regards.
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