Governator conquest of the RNC in NY

2004 Republican National Convention

On Tuesday Arnold Schwarzenegger will address the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Gardens in New York City, New York.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is known for many things; he’s a superstar that rides around in massive diesel spewing machines, blowing up bad guys. He is also known as the actor that almost singlehandedly brought the Hummer to life, a vehicle that gets less than 10 mpg and emits greenhouse gases by the Hummer-full.

He is back. In the current world of flip-flops, Arnold Schwarzenegger is now the Governor of California attempting to create a system that would rid us of our dependence on oil and create a world we could breathe in again.

This time he could be our real-life hero.

Schwarzenegger has embraced the adoption of hydrogen as an alternative to gasoline. According to the Schwarzeneggers Hydrogen highway, air pollution has caused 1.7 million respiratory attacks and 6,500 deaths. Its a statement of the obvious to say that we could save millions of dollars and lives if we could figure out a way to clean our air.

Californias Hydrogen highway doesn’t start with hydrogen. The team that includes a fuel cell and vehicle manufacturers, energy providers and government agencies have created a plan that starts now.

The goals for 2010 for Californias Hydrogen highway are;

• Hydrogen fueling and electrical generating stations along with Californias Interstate highway system
• Hydrogen production from renewable resources: farm waste, green waste, solar/wastewater there is no guarantee that all goals will be accomplished by 2010. In assuring that California is doing all it can in the meantime they have set up a near, mid and long term plan;
• Near term –
  Driver Education
  Encourage alternatives to single occupancy
• Midterm – conservation
  Improved fuel economy
  Hybrid vehicles
• Long term – H2 economy
  Hydrogen highway

  There are three Auto industry Advisory Panel;

• US Auto Gerhard Schmidt, V. P., Ford
• Asian Auto Ben Knight, V. P., Honda

European Auto Christoph Huss, Sr. V. P., BMWHydrogen has gone from Science fiction books to the reality of space rockets and now into speeches made by automobile manufacturers. In a speech to the International Motor Press Association (IMPA), Gerhard Schmidt said, “Production of hydrogen can be sustainable. And the production and use of hydrogen – the most abundant element in the universe – would reduce our dependence on imported oil.”

“Hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines are a good bridge to fuel cells, which are still, by our estimation, still a decade away in terms of mass retail sales. Hydrogen “ICE” engines produce near-zero CO2, near-zero hydrocarbons, up to a 25 percent increase in fuel efficiency vs. gasoline, leverage existing manufacturing assets, and use familiar technology compared to a fuel cell.”

“An H2ICE engine is modified to burn hydrogen by increasing the compression ratio, installing hydrogen compatible fuel injectors, modifying the ignition and electrical systems, adding a supercharger or turbocharger, and using a unique control strategy. Hydrogen fuel storage and safety systems are similar to fuel cell vehicles. While other systems are similar to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.”

“Fuel cells are the ultimate long-term solution — the ideal and sustainable propulsion system of the future.”

“We already have more than 25 fuel cell vehicles on the road – most in Detroit, a couple in Sacramento, undergoing testing. The Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicle takes a regular Ford Focus 4-door and adds a Ballard Mark 902 fuel cell stack, a regenerative braking system, and a 5000 psi hydrogen storage system. It produces no emissions except for water and a little heat.”

“Ford supports California Governor Schwarzeneggers Hydrogen Highway Network initiative – to set up a network of more than 200 fueling stations across the state. ”

If hydrogen is to become a part of the mainstream by 2010 more needs to be done to educate the public about hydrogen.