clean energy summit 2.0
In recent decades, technology fuel cell car has become a buzzword in the industry. But the hype was silenced more than a decade ago. But experts are confident that technology will play a large part in the future of the automotive kingdom.
John Sheridan, President, CEO and director of Ballard Power Systems, remembered with affection and, paradoxically. Sheridan said in an interview: "For the most part, only we had a working proof of concept at the time, "he said." We really had not begun to do anything with it. But everyone was excited about is ".
Between 1989 and 1994, Ballard, fuel cells and hydrogen car companies like General Motors Corp. have begun to invest heavily in fuel cell technology. But there were inherent problems that may limit the public interest. The fuel cell technology is science. And according to some, science often does not meet the needs of the next news cycle. There are trials and errors.
Science has little respect for deadlines. Moreover, is also complicated and expensive. Its complexity defies sound bite, even the political news or rectum. In fact, their expense rattles investors who are more interested in the reward closer than they are in the next bigger or better.
Ballard, founded in 1979 as Ballard Research and now based in Burnaby, had developed a technology destined to change the world. It was a hydrogen fuel cell with a proton exchange membrane. The technology could trigger a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. In cars and trucks, hydrogen fuel cells, mean stop the pollution from the title = "silencer Saturn> Saturn muffler and exhaust systems from other manufacturers. It would also mean curb dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, the technology would eliminate the vehicle as a negative component in the equation environment. The press was agitated and politicians are not lacking. However, the hype and enthusiasm waned.
Ballard and hydrogen fuel cells vanished News, yielded to the plea of gas electric hybrid technology and deceptions of the speedy and the silver bullet. And therein lies the satire. Neither hydrogen fuel cells or Ballard left. In fact, are bigger than ever, as evidenced by a broad investigation of Ballard-and-development and manufacturing plant.
"Maybe we made some mistakes in the beginning with over-promising – that is, giving people the idea that the benefits of this technology would be immediate, "Sheridan admits." The reality is we're in a marathon race. "He suggested that Ballard and technology who has pioneered many more miles to run before it reaches a finish line.
Today, despite its reported loss of $ 14.2 million euros in the first quarter, Ballard's future looks encouraging. And fuel cells are beginning to arise in areas that are largely invisible in the past. Sheridan says that the development and application of the technology amounts to a long distance race.
But at least Ballard and now seem to be gaining more political support evidenced by the Pacific Economic Summit clean energy Conference held last week. Both Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, and the governor of Ballard California Arnold Schwarzenegger praised for their contributions to the development of alternative energy.
"We must take advantage of changes in front of us," Campbell said at the summit. "We have to look at what is offered and ask:" How can we make the world a better place? "That means we must be willing develop technologies that can have an immediate impact, but that will impact 20 or 30 years from now. "
