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View Full Version : Schwarzenegger Opens Stop on 'Hydrogen Highway'


Dialectic
Oct 25th, 2004, 05:15 AM
This is a really cool and surprising (maybe only if you don't live in Cali) piece of news!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=585&e=8&u=/nm/20041022/sc_nm/environment_schwarzenegger_dc

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) dedicated a pioneering hydrogen fueling station on Friday, calling it the first stop in a "hydrogen highway" that would someday stretch across the nation's most populous state as drivers switch to the cleaner-burning fuel.

Schwarzenegger rolled into the station at Los Angeles International Airport in a metallic blue prototype hydrogen-powered Hummer loaned to California by General Motors Corp. as a promotional tool.

Schwarzenegger, who famously drove the first Hummer designed for civilian use, had pledged to convert the gas-guzzling sports utility vehicle to hydrogen power and build the nation's first network of stations where drivers could fill up on the clean-burning fuel.

"We will not just dream about the hydrogen highway or hydrogen fueling stations. We will not just dream about hydrogen cars," he said. "We will build them."

Schwarzenegger, who in April signed an executive order creating a partnership to build a network of hydrogen stations across California by 2010, said he wanted to end the "chicken and egg debate" in the industry over which would come first -- fueling stops or cars to use them.

Though there are other hydrogen fueling stations in the state, the one dedicated on Friday was built to resemble the gas stations that Californians already frequent.

Officials say the station will initially serve a small fleet of hydrogen-powered cars used at the airport but will open for business to the public within five to ten years.

Dave Barthmuss, a GM spokesman, said that automakers consider cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells their "Holy Grail," since they would release only water as emissions and could end America's dependence on foreign oil.

Scowl
Oct 25th, 2004, 05:21 AM
Dave Barthmuss, a GM spokesman, said that automakers consider cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells their "Holy Grail," since they would release only water as emissions and could end America's dependence on foreign oil.

There's gotta be more than a few rich white guys who won't be too happy about that. Then again, there will probably be a bunch who are.

"We will not just dream about the hydrogen highway or hydrogen fueling stations. We will not just dream about hydrogen cars," he said. "We will build them."

I guess it's from watching his movies, but I can't read a quote by Arnold and take it seriously.

Still, I'll be interested in seeing how this develops.

Sothy
Oct 25th, 2004, 05:29 AM
Arnold isn't your typical Republican, and it is the curse of the two-party system that he gets labeled as such (admitedly another spin is that he took advantage of the labelling as he is married to "The" Democratic family).

Still the guy is pro-stem cell research, pro-choice, signed in stricter emission standards for Cali cars, etc.

I read an article in Popular Science where there is concern that Hydrogen cars, while not poluting themselves, may not cause less population than hybrid cars as the production of hydrogen causes population at this point in time...

I gotta say though, obviously, it would be awesome if cars only emitted water...

awong
Oct 25th, 2004, 10:43 AM
i still don't trust hydrogen...I think things like soy or corn oil might be better...especially since it would support domestic farmers...

Dialectic
Oct 26th, 2004, 01:39 AM
Yeah that's a huge concern; I wonder if using corn oil and hybrid stuff can be an effective sort of transitional phase before hydrogen becomes commonly used, if it's possible.

cattygurl
Oct 26th, 2004, 05:08 AM
The problem with hydrogen is that about 90% of hydrogen currently is produced by a fossil fuel, I think natural gas, and the way it is created is just as bad as if you were using gas.


Thanks for posting that before I could get around to it.

Yeah, GWB likes to say he's supporting hydrogen cars, but he's only supporting the form that keeps the big oil and coal companies in business. Until I get a good gander, I'm going to presume that it's along similar lines.

Well, I don't have disdain for Ah-nold like I do for GWB, aka the monkey. He still ripped out a lot of programs supporting the poor. Republicans are always dissin' on the poor and downtrodden, and it pisses me the fuck off. Take the fucking corporate welfare away from the leeching corporations BEFORE you start taking what little assistance the impoverished have.

Sothy
Oct 27th, 2004, 04:06 AM
hey, I didn't give myself enough credit...I meant Scientific American :P

Even the use of Ethanol is contraversial these days...everything is. Cars using hydrogen is good in that kids next to freeways are much better off, worse in that people are further removed from the cause of population (if it is made with fossil fuels...but if it is made with wind, etc....but then is it cost efficient anytime soon?)

Dialectic
Oct 27th, 2004, 05:39 AM
Sothy man, you KEEP saying population instead of pollution!!

awong
Oct 27th, 2004, 10:08 AM
Brazil and other south american countries use ethanol fuel...I haven't read much on it

Sothy
Oct 27th, 2004, 11:41 AM
the States uses more ethanol than Canada does from what I gather (as a percentage of gasoline)...

shit, population instead of pollution...wtf?