Jay Leno Speaks Out On behalf of BMW's Hydrogen Initiative - VIDEO STORY
![]() |
How The AUTO CHANNEL Sees It
By Marc J. Rauch, Exec. Vice President & Co-Publisher
My partner, Bob Gordon, and I have put a fair amount of time into examining the
issues and alternative technologies available to solve the energy/pollution/foreign
oil dependency problem. Frankly, it’s surprising that we could have arrived at a
serious position on any topic since we laugh and joke about everything, almost
non-stop.
But we have, and in short, it’s this: Internal combustion engines are still the
way to go, but not gasoline or diesel-powered.
For the near-term, car companies should be building compressed natural gas (CNG)
vehicles (mandated by legislation, if necessary). Currently, of all the large
car makers, only Honda is producing CNG cars (Civic) in the U.S. CNG is in
plentiful supply, right here and right now in America; it’s cheaper than gasoline
and provides more power per gallon than gasoline (corn ethanol, by comparison,
produces less power per gallon than gasoline); and it doesn’t cause the air
pollution problems that gasoline or diesel do. CNG distribution should be
mandated immediately. Every filling station should be required to have at
least one CNG pump. States like California had no trouble forcing oil
companies and gas stations to produce and sell that poison MTBE gasoline,
so they owe us, the public, to do something correct. This would be a good
first effort.
Also, for the near, but more important longer-term, we believe, like Jay Leno,
that the hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine is the ultimate solution.
Hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine technology is here, right now –
BMW has proven this. As compared to hydrogen fuel-cell engines or stored-electric
engines, it doesn’t have to wait for battery technology to improve to give us
the driving characteristics that we are used to (speed and driving range). And,
like hydrogen fuel-cell engines, the internal combustion hydrogen engine does
not pollute. The base ingredient is water, and the end result is water.
The only thing lacking is hydrogen fuel availability on a large scale local
level; but then this problem is shared by hydrogen fuel-cell engines, which
requires the same hydrogen fuel. So, presuming that the Federal or State
Government(s) can mandate CNG distribution, then they can do the same for
hydrogen fuel. Why bother waiting for battery technology to improve when
we can go straight to hydrogen internal combustion.
It’s disappointing that other than Quantum Technologies (www.qtww.com),
no other car makers have supported the BMW vision, and unfortunately Quantum’s
support seems to be waning in favor of other commercial opportunities. We hope
that they will re-new their own energy to continue with internal combustion
hydrogen engines and that the other car companies will see the light
(especially if it’s a wind-powered electric light).
We’ve yet to hear good, rational reasons why the hydrogen fuel-cell
alternative is better than hydrogen internal combustion. If you know of
any, please share it with us and our audience.
Thanks for your time, and now, herrre's Jay: