Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Energy Conversion Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Krowbar who wrote (7230)	5/28/2003 11:46:29 PM
From: Krowbar	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8393

DETROIT -- In 25 years, as many as 75 percent of light vehicles produced could be hybrids with the rest powered by hydrogen, according to Bill Ford. "You might be 75/25 at that point," the Ford Motor Co. CEO said in an interview. "The next big event for this industry is going to be the creation of a hydrogen economy," he said. "The transition from where we are today to a hydrogen economy is going to be a huge national and international issue that is going to require coordination with governments as well as fuel providers and ourselves in a scale that we have never seen before." Still passionate Earlier in his career, Bill Ford expressed support for environmental issues and developed a rapport with environmental groups. Some of those groups have criticized him for what they consider a change of heart since he became CEO in October 2001. But he denies having any less passion for the environment. "Prior to me becoming CEO, it was how people defined me," Ford said. "Now, as CEO, I am driving the business. I don't care any less about all that than I did before, but it's just people aren't asking me about it anymore. They are asking me, 'What are you going to deliver this quarter? What are you going to build?' " More than half of the automaker's r&d budget, which the company does not disclose, is devoted to environmental issues, he said. "If you look at our r&d budget, a heavy portion of it is in fuel cells and hydrogen." He acknowledged that obtaining a supply of hydrogen that is not derived from petroleum is a challenge, as are the issues of storing hydrogen on board the vehicle and at filling stations. Fuel cells create electricity without pollution by using hydrogen fuel. But burning petroleum to obtain hydrogen creates pollution. "There are a lot of issues to solve, but I think that is where this world is headed," he said. The company is testing a Ford Focus powered by a fuel cell. Ford Motor owns a stake in a major automotive fuel cell research company, Ballard Power Systems Inc. of Burnaby, British Columbia. The company also is testing internal-combustion engines that burn hydrogen. Del