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OK Detroit, your turn now, start building/marketing hydrogen powered vehicles.
There were no funny smells, odd noises or even breakdowns Monday, when a hydrogen-powered pickup truck completed its maiden trip from Aiken to Columbia.
"There was no way you would distinguish riding in one of these with any other," said Rep. Roland Smith, R-Warrenville.
"It has comparable power," added Aiken County Council Chairman Ronnie Young, who rode with Mr. Smith and South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell.
The National Hydrogen Association's four-day expo in Columbia kicked off with the officials' inaugural trip on the newly designated S.C. Hydrogen Freeway.
The 59-mile stretch connects the Sage Mill Hydrogen Station in Aiken with the Columbia hydrogen fueling station. With the opening of South Carolina's first two public hydrogen fueling stations, there are about 200 worldwide, nearly 70 of them in the United States, according to the National Hydrogen Association.
"What you're seeing today in Aiken and later in Columbia is a landmark event for the state of South Carolina. ... You are part of history," said John Troutman, the chairman of the Economic Development Partnership, which serves Aiken and Edgefield counties.
Mr. Harrell and others stressed hydrogen's role in freeing South Carolina and the rest of the country from dependency on foreign oil. Hydrogen fuel-cell technology "will stop us from sending money to people who, frankly, want to hurt us," said the Charleston Republican.
The hydrogen-powered, internal-combustion engine truck that carried the Aiken officials from the Sage Mill station wasn't the only vehicle surrounded by flashbulbs Monday. There was a Kia Borrega, a bus and a forklift, similar to the ones used at the Bridgestone/Firestone facility at Sage Mill Industrial Park.
Reach Sarita Chourey at (803) 727-4257.
Reach Preston Sparks at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
HYDROGEN FUEL
South Carolina opened its first two public hydrogen fueling stations on Monday. Here are some facts about hydrogen fuel-cell technology:
- Hydrogen is the most common element. It makes up more than 90 percent of the universe.
- An amount of hydrogen that's equivalent to a gallon of gasoline would cost $3-$6. The U.S. Department of Energy's targeted cost is $2-$3.
- It would cost $10 billion to $15 billion to build enough hydrogen fueling stations to have one within two miles of 70 percent of the U.S. population.
Source: National Hydrogen Association
Comments
OK Detroit, your turn now, start building/marketing hydrogen powered vehicles.
Good job! Now if Detroit can just catch up with Honda who targets 200 zero emission hydrogen powered cars by 2012 I think. Honda FCX Clarity.. Look it up. These guys have had the right idea for decades.
OK World, Detroit you had your turn and flunked for 2 decades, America is ready to BUY hydrogen powered vehicles, if China can make our VCR for 4 dollars, the car will be an even better deal. Detroit wants to make Camaros, still---can u say heads in SAND?
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