hwirz
04-04-2005, 08:11 AM
I find it interesting that the Detroit Free Press is reporting that the auto industry is concerned about the 1937 Hindenberg Zepellen Disaster. It seems they should be more concerned about the American auto industry's lack of innovation. Hydrogen fueled vehicles may have other problems but lets not add to them with a misreading of history. The Hindenberg disaster was caused by an electrical spark generated by the metriological conditions at the time of landing. The Hindenberg's outer surface was coated with a type of doping compound that contained powdered aluminum. The doping compound was extremely flamable. The fire was started by the doping compound not by the hydrogen fuel. The colored flames in your photo are actually the burning outer Zepellen skin. Hydrogen flames are not visible.
Detroit has missed every opportunity to build cars that people will buy. They fought safety by rejecting seat belts, air bags and safer auto bodies. They fought fuel economy by fighting CAFE. They are fighting cleaner air and fuel economy by fighting the California Air Resources board. They let the Japenese take the lead in hybred engine technology. Surely they will find a way to avoid changing their history. The hydrogen fuel car, it is ever commerically viable, will surely be built somewhere else. Its far too innovative for Detroit.
Of course Detroit has a history of self interest and the public be damned. It goes back to the days when they bought out public transit systems to make way for more car sales. Too bad Detroit has not learned that the auto industry is the same as any other retail business. If you can't provide solutions that help the consumer--you won't sell anything. Even if you give it away with rebates, zero percent financing or some other gimmick. The public needs and wants better fuel economy. The public wants cleaner air vehicle. I guess those are two better reasons for Detroit to reject the hydrogen fuel car. We don't need to blame the Hindenberg. Do we? :confused:
Detroit has missed every opportunity to build cars that people will buy. They fought safety by rejecting seat belts, air bags and safer auto bodies. They fought fuel economy by fighting CAFE. They are fighting cleaner air and fuel economy by fighting the California Air Resources board. They let the Japenese take the lead in hybred engine technology. Surely they will find a way to avoid changing their history. The hydrogen fuel car, it is ever commerically viable, will surely be built somewhere else. Its far too innovative for Detroit.
Of course Detroit has a history of self interest and the public be damned. It goes back to the days when they bought out public transit systems to make way for more car sales. Too bad Detroit has not learned that the auto industry is the same as any other retail business. If you can't provide solutions that help the consumer--you won't sell anything. Even if you give it away with rebates, zero percent financing or some other gimmick. The public needs and wants better fuel economy. The public wants cleaner air vehicle. I guess those are two better reasons for Detroit to reject the hydrogen fuel car. We don't need to blame the Hindenberg. Do we? :confused: