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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DMaA who wrote (216075)	1/9/2002 10:58:29 AM
From: gao seng	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769667

I think that the snag is the automakers. If they get behind it, it may work. Feature: GM takes fuel cells forward Jump to first matched term Date: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 4:09:41 PM EST By AL KOSKI The zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle is hardly the kind of car that brings choruses of "oooohs" and "ahhhs" from auto buffs. Are they joking? What is this "thing" that looks like a 6-inch-thick slab of metal on four tires? Perhaps an entry in a soapbox derby? That poor first impression for a concept nicknamed "the skateboard" turned to "wow!" when the vehicle rolled before everyone's eyes with no internal combustion engine, no transmission, no drive train, no axles, no exhaust system, no radiator and no standard steering wheel, braking or common linkages. It runs on the magic of electrons, protons, water and air -- making electricity from hydrogen fuel with only heat and water vapor as byproducts. "It's going to take a while ... we have a lot of work ahead of us," GM President and Chief Executive Officer G. Richard Wagoner said at Monday's introduction. The fuel cell car, he said, is a "revolutionary concept ... (that) could literally reinvent the automobile ... a vision of hydrogen economy ... vehicles propelled by renewable energy sources ... The key to this vision is the fusion of fuel cells with drive-by-wire technology." He named it "AUTOnomy." Ford and Chrysler also are well along in developing fuel cell concepts. Ford's P2000 vehicle set a 24-hour endurance record in early October, traveling 1,391 miles, stopping only to refuel. Wagoner and Larry Burns, vice president for GM research and development, touched on some snags: the need for a government policy to encourage investment in and acceptance of "energy independence, which results from hydrogen replacing petroleum as the primary energy source for transportation." The skateboard concept rolled out with an interchangeable body docking on the chassis; an absolutely stunning design which can be fitted to any chassis from roadster to minivan without the current constraints of a conventional engine. "This occurs through a single portal," Burns explained, "with the body docking on the chassis much like your laptop computer connects to your docking station at work or at home." Industry analyst David Cole said the introduction of AUTOnomy "may be the most significant press conference ever" and most certainly would impact the whole automobile industry. Once the crowd thinned out, GM designer Chet Wisniewski, who put the skateboard together, told United Press International that part of his inspiration came from nature in taking hikes and running and getting a feel of how airflow works around his own body. His skateboard creation included fins on each side of the chassis. "This is real," Wisniewski said. "Working on this project to get little bits and pieces, a little more every day, and when something (clicks) ... wow, it kind of gives you chills. I've worked on this since last May." He said production of AUTOnomy in the next decade would put an end to America's dependence on foreign oil. newsalert.com