February 5th, 2010
Why has NASA failed to Answer Call for Hydrogen Convergence?
There is a global competition going on to produce the first commercial hydrogen fuel cell aircraft. Examples of it can be seen on the Hydrogen Convergence YouTube channel. Unfortunately, NASA has not publicly entered the fray. NASA is by far the biggest consumer of hydrogen and hydrogen technology in the United States but it has not devoted any resources to help maintain America’s competitiveness.
Today Buzz Aldrin of Apollo 11 fame shed some light on the delay. In a Huffington Post article, Mr. Aldrin described the colossal system failure which has left the National Aeronautics and Space Administration a shell of its former self. Working and middle class Americans will not be shocked to hear the story of one more ponzi scheme that has robbed them of yet another critical asset.
President Barack Obama in his Fiscal Year 2011 budget has increased substantially funding for Earth Sciences Programs. However, President Obama has done nothing to help the United States remain competitive in the race to develop the first commercial hydrogen fuel cell aircraft. This task has been left to service members in the Air Force and Navy to handle with monies they’ve scrounged.
The plight of America’s Aviation Industry cannot be blamed on the Department of Energy. It can’t be dismissed as just another example of Secretary Chu not believing in hydrogen convergence. This actually points to a much bigger concern that was voiced by Frank Borman, another NASA pioneer, in a different time when he spoke of a “failure of imagination.”
Zachary Alexander
Concepts: Air Force, aviation, hydrogen, NASA, Navy, ObamaJanuary 19th, 2010
Hydrogen Convergence should really be about Big Rig Trucks
One of the things that we at the ebTDesign Forum find most confusing about the mainstream media’s coverage of hydrogen convergence is their pre-occupation with small successes. The DOE released an RFP for a hydrogen storage system for the Yard Dog. It’s just a matter of time before some major media outlet talks about the innovation behind a hydrogen powered yard tractor.
Unfortunately too little coverage will probably be given to the work being done at the Port of Los Angeles on the hydrogen big rig truck. Where is the RFP for additional innovation on 18 wheelers and hydrogen refueling stations to support them? While the Navy is an honorable client, small trucking companies need much more protection from radical changes in energy prices.
There was a lot of discussion about hydrogen forklifts this summer during the debate about continuing the funding for hydrogen car research. However, there was very little talk about long-haul truckers and how they are being crushed by energy costs. Solving the problems of a large economy like the United States requires big solutions like hydrogen convergence and the people in small town America deserve them.
PS: The Navy will benefit too.
Zachary Alexander
Concepts: big rig, DOE, hydrogen, Navy