David Stansbury KB3KAI

Burning our past and polluting our future. Big business raking us at the fuel pumps to keep our inefficient vehicles running. The electric company jacking prices 72 percent in July, just in time for the summer surge in electrical consumption.

I’ll tell you, I’ve just about had enough. Today, right now, we have the tested and proven technology for a “hydrogen economy”. Separate hydrogen from common, renewable sources - even water - and have water as the byproduct. Recapture that water and use it again!

What is it going to take for us to make the switch? Get cut off from Arab oil? Terrorists start sinking oil transport ships in our ports? Global warming catastrophe? A real national security initiative with balls?

Hydrogen fuel is here today, a basic transport infrastructure is in place (but would obviously need to be expanded) and of course is renewable. If there is a hydrogen spill or release - so what? - it will harmlessly dissipate into the atmosphere, possibly to return one day as normal raindrops.

The numbers: gasoline vehicles are ~15% efficient, hydrogen ~50%. Hydrogen will initially cost more “at the pump” but with greater efficiencies the cost per mile is much less! (current costs are comparable to a hybrid vehicle) So hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will cost less to drive, no pollution, no noisy running engine. It’s a no-brainer, people!

I think we can change by simply wanting it. Get out of our stinky gasoline comfort zone and move into the 21st century. Write your elected officials and demand action to promote fuel cell technology.

Speaking of action - General Motors plans to have ethanol fuel cell vehicles on the road by 2010. When they come out, trade in “old smokey” and invest in your family’s future. Investigate the technology and embrace it, this is good stuff people!

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