Hypercars: Speeding the transition to solar hydrogen

Brett D. Williams

Renewable Energy, 1997, vol. 10, issue 2, 471-479

Abstract: A discontinuous transformation now underway in automotive technology may accelerate the transition to transportation powered by solar hydrogen. Even using internal-combustion engines, ultralight, ultraslippery, advanced-composite, hybrid-electric “hypercars” can be severalfold lighter and lower-drag than present steel cars; many times more efficient; and over two orders of magnitude cleaner; yet equally safe, sporty, comfortable, durable, beautiful and (probably) affordable. The required design integration is technically and culturally difficult. Yet important manufacturing advantages permit a free-market commercialization strategy impelled not by government mandates or subsidies but by manufacturers' quest for competitive advantage and customers' desire for superior cars.

Keywords: Hydrogen; proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells; hypercars; light vehicles; hybrid-electric vehicles; distributed resources; power generation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1997
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:10:y:1997:i:2:p:471-479

DOI: 10.1016/0960-1481(96)00106-1

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