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Alternative Fuel Technology was available as far back as 1978

I recently blogged about the fact that General Motors had an Electric Car that was recalled from consumers and that those cars were destroyed (around 2003). That was incredible because those cars had technology that could have made America independent of foreign oil.

A comment from a fellow ActiveRainer referred me to a news clip for 1978 when actor Jack Nicholson demonstrated a hydrogen cell car that he was driving.

It is evident that we had the technology - but what no-one will answer is why it was never developed to be commercially viable. In spite of this, taxpayers are now being asked (or rather begged) to provide billions of dollars in support to rescue an industry that clearly could'nt have cared less about America or its citizens.

I encourage you to view the new clip below and then decide what conditions should be set on any financial assistance that may be given to the auto industry.

Posted by Stewart Penn - Los Angeles Condo Specialist on 12/07/2008 09:44 AM

Comments (7)

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7 Comments on Alternative Fuel Technology was available as far back as 1978

DEC

2008

Stewart -

This is incredible stuff - and we know there have been alternative fuel sources available for many years.

However, through the years, we have lacked the political will as a country to champion its development.

Mass development of this kind of technology will take the right kind of government leadership to make it commerically viable. Over the last 8 years, the ties to big oil have precluded any attempts to undertake a task which could undercut the profitablity of the oil companies, materials suppliers, and oil-exporting countries which feed the system.

Perhaps, beginning January 20th, prevailing attitudes will change. They need to, for our long-term future.

And, it is clear, the know-how, and the start-up technology, already exists. It just needs to be used - not buried, or excused.

My two cents, anyway!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

Stewart,

Before the hair stand up on the back of your neck, think about all of what I'm about to say.

None of the alternative energy sources are economically feasible yet. We do have to go through all of the R&D to get there and it will come. There is a government subsidy for wind turbines for example and there wouldn't be very many if it weren't there. Yes they generate power when the wind blows but what about when it doesn't? The utility companies can't close and tear down power plants and rely solely on alternative sources because the alternative are off and on at the whim of nature.

You also have to look at the cost per unit of energy. Coal is still cheaper than natural gas and natural gas is still cheaper than nuclear and nuclear is still cheaper than any alternative without subsidy.

And so it goes with the hydrogen fueled car. If it would have been cheaper or even just slightly more we would all have been driving them. The consumer is going to buy the best deal. If you are selling the second best deal you either have to have a government subsidy or go out of business.

This really ticks me off. The people of this country would have gotten behind the clean fuel technology if the big three had made it available. The popularity of our current Hybrid cars proves that beyond a shadow if a doubt. The problem was big money <read Oil companies> did not want it to succeed and cut into their profits. So now we are all paying the price and will continue to do so for generations to come. The big three are dinosaurs, let them go. They need to learn and accept the American people will not be herded like sheep. They simply need to adapt to survive just like everyobe else. We must have alternative fuels as a viable and affordable alternative to gas.

Dean - I think we're right on the same page.

Bruce - I had to re-read your comment to make sure I wasn't missing what your point. Can you honestly rationalize over $60 Billion in aid to the auto industry now - after they failed to invest in proper research and development earlier on?

I believe big oil interests controlled what was or wasn't developed. You are also ignoring the impact on the environment.

Betina - You make great sense in what you say. Look at how Polaroid disappeared as a market leader because they failed to keep pace with technology. They could have been the leaders in digital photography.

Stewart- The documentary , Who Killed the Electric Car was a very good documentary. The car was a good car and in demand. There were people ordering that car and waiting for it to be delivered. But the real killer of that car was not just the auto industry but the state of California who after putting into law the fuel efficiency bill, assigning some new created department to investigate which would be the best car, voted against the order they had for the electric car which was much cheaper and already there and instead voted for a hydrogen car that was not even developed yet and would cost a lot more money. Still, the auto makers could have and should have shunned California's snuffing and sold it to many other states and people who wanted the car. The battery techology is here. There is a man who invented a battery for the car that is even solar powered on your roof for a few hours, thin and does not weigh hardly anything. Shell bought it from him and then we never heard about it again.Katerina

Great post!

Stewart, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have an electric car that would serve 90% of the people in this country well. It doesnt go FAST, it doesnt go FAR, but it gets me around. The technology is here, people are just over looking cars like mine because they can't reconcile themselves to driving something the consider "less of a car". What I have would fill the gap till the Big 3 can get their act together

DEC

2008

Terry - Talk about being asleep at the wheel ..... these auto companies are pathetic, ignoring American consumers needs until they got themselves in deep throuble.

Those executives who received bonuses over the last 10 years should have to repay them in order for the companies to receive any assistance - with the condition they could recover their bonuses after the companies are back in profit.

How's that as an incentive for management to perform?

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