On Earth Day 2005 I read an editorial by Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary of Energy, touting Hydrogen powered vehicles as the way out of our current energy crisis. "When research proves successful, zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could become as common as today's gasoline-powered automobiles. The fuel can be produced from out plentiful domestic energy resources, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles emit only water vapor, which results in cleaner air."
Secretary Bodman cites President Bush's commitment of $1.2 billion dollars over 5 years towards a program to develop hydrogen fuel for cars and trucks as evidence that the US and the President are serious about Hydrogen. I say the cars of the future might as well run on piffle.
Hydrogen may be the wave of the future, but most scientists say don't hold your breath or your hydrogen stocks, hydrogen is not around the corner. $1.2 billion over 5 years is not exactly chump change, but lets get real for a minute. We have spent $300 billion in Iraq to transform that country, surely if hydrogen is the answer we should be spending much more to tackle our energy problems.
In the mean time perhaps we could enact stricter mileage requirements on the vehicles we produce. Computerized fuel systems and technology have allowed car manufacures to radically boost vehicle horse power over the last 5 years. Lets dial that back a little and optimize for fuel economy. More horse power maybe sexier, but do we really need it. It's time for us to act in our own best interest and demand more fuel efficient cars. Every barrel of gas that is used unnecessarily is $55 dollars driven out of the national economy enriching some other nation!
It's your choice will your car run on piffle power, or some other fuel source. Lets invest the dollars to make a more efficient tomorrow and while we are waiting lets dial down the testestorone and demand more efficient cars.
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