If you follow any news, you’ve seen former Vice President Al Gore speak about Energy Independence with some specific ideas about it. Gore’s plan includes investments in solar, wind, and geothermal power. He calls for a promise to all coal and oil workers that they will have guaranteed jobs out in the sun and fresh air.His stand is one that why waste time and money on energy that will not ever decrease in price. Gore has chosen an opportune time to bring his proposals into the media spotlight.
The public is growing weary of all of the political posturing over the price of gas, but seeing zero substantial action coming from Capitol Hill. The most recent proposal from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would almost be humorous if it wasn’t such an obvious political stunt for the cameras. Releasing 10% of the reserves equates to about 70 million barrels.Many would love to see us use less fossil fuel for energy supply in our country. According to some expert, right now solar, wind and geothermal power are not reliable enough to supply enough power for our country.
What do you think??
Here’s a video of Al Gore speaking about his energy approach:
Should we drill more offshore or not? Some environmentalists say “no”. An increasing number of impoverished drivers say “yes! yes!” Bush recently responded to the “drill drill” movement. He’s increasing pressure on Congress to expand offshore oil exploration.
“The only thing now standing between the American people and the vast oil resources of the Outer Continental Shelf is action from the United States Congress,” he said. The case is being made that the that oil companies should drill in about 68 million acres of federal land they have already leased for such use — a move the Democrats say would nearly double U.S. production.
Other folks want Bush to to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve — a stockpile set aside for emergencies — and work with Democrats to crack down on Wall Street traders who are driving up oil prices by buying huge quantities of oil just to resell at a higher price.
Personally, I think we shouldn’t put limits on commodity trading. If demand goes down, that will take care of the market! I’m a believer in the fact that eventually our free enterprise system will self-correct any situation instead of counting on our government “to fix everything.” What do you think?
Here are frequently asked questions about Honda’s new FCX Clarity car, an emission free car just now being offered this summer:
Q. The FCX Clarity is a “dedicated platform hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.” What does that mean?
A. Honda has led the way in developing and improving fuel cell vehicle performance. The FCX Clarity was designed from the ground up to be a fuel cell vehicle that runs on electricity powered by hydrogen, and emits only water vapor and heat into the air. In other words, the fuel cell technology was developed by Honda for the FCX Clarity, and was not retrofitted to an existing model. . Instead, our engineers cleared away all preconceived notions of automobile design, challenging themselves to discover the new possibilities that can only be realized with the fuel cell vehicle.
Q. How does a fuel cell work?
A. A fuel cell generates electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen inside of a fuel cell stack.
Q. Does the FCX Clarity need to be plugged in to recharge?
A. No, the FCX Clarity generates its own electricity onboard the vehicle inside the fuel cell.
Q. Does the FCX Clarity run on gasoline?
A. No. The FCX Clarity does not use any gasoline whatsoever. It runs on clean, domestically produced hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe.
Q. How far can I drive it before I have to refuel?
A. The FCX Clarity has a driving range of approximately 270 miles*.
Q. How and where do I fill up the FCX Clarity?
A. A number of hydrogen refueling stations can be found in Southern California with others in development. Honda is also working to develop a home energy station that may eventually supply energy to the home while filling up the car right inside the garage
Q. How clean are the emissions of the FCX Clarity?
A. As clean as they get. This is a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV). The hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity will be certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) and by the EPA as a Tier-2 Bin 1, the lowest possible federal EPA emission rating. It will also receive an EPA Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) rating due to its entirely sealed fuel system. It will qualify for accessing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in California with just one person on board.
Q. What is the difference between fuel cell, hybrid and electric vehicles?
A. While electric vehicles are powered by a battery alone and must be plugged in to recharge, hybrid vehicles combine a gasoline-powered engine with an electric motor. You fill hybrid vehicles up with regular gasoline and they do not need to be plugged in. A fuel cell vehicle does not need to be plugged in to recharge and it does not use gasoline.
Fuel cell vehicles are powered by electricity generated onboard by combining hydrogen with oxygen by the fuel cell stack. From tank to wheel, the FCX Clarity is twice as efficient as a hybrid-electric vehicle and three times more efficient than a conventional gasoline vehicle.
Q. What colors does the FCX Clarity come in?
A. The FCX Clarity is currently available in Star Garnet, a unique deep-red tone.
Q. How many passengers can the FCX Clarity comfortably seat?
A. The FCX Clarity is a roomy four-passenger sedan packed with amenities for a comfortable ride.
Q. How fast does the FCX Clarity go?
A. The FCX Clarity has a top speed of 100 miles per hour on a test track, you’ll have no trouble driving at the posted speed limit.
Q. Is the FCX Clarity fun to drive?
A. If you like smooth, strong acceleration, great handling and a quiet ride, then you’ll find the FCX Clarity to be one of the best cars you’ve ever driven.
Q. Where will I take my FCX Clarity for service?
A. When you qualify to lease an FCX Clarity, you will be provided with a list of the participating Honda FCX Clarity dealerships available to meet any regular maintenance and service needs.
Q. Where can I test drive or lease an FCX Clarity? How much does it cost?
A. A limited number of FCX Clarity vehicles will be available for lease only in the Torrance, Santa Monica and Irvine areas in mid-2008. The lease amount will be around $600 per month for three years and it includes maintenance. As hydrogen-supply infrastructure expands, Honda will make more of these remarkable cars available to the public.
Q. Why is the FCX Clarity only available in Southern California?
A. FCX Clarity owners currently need to reside in the Southern California area in order to have access to service and refueling. As the hydrogen supply infrastructure expands, Honda will make a greater number of FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicles available to the public. Learn more about Driving the FCX Clarity.
Q. Are there any limitations I should be aware of before I apply to lease an FCX Clarity?
A. Yes. At first, vehicle use will be geographically limited. FCX Clarity drivers will need to be able to adhere to specific and somewhat limited rules of usage. Drivers will need to be able to accommodate the vehicle’s reduced range and limited refueling network.
This information came from Honda’s Clarity FCX web site. Pump-less.gac.com in no way guarantees the accuracy and completeness of information provided by the manufacturer. Consumers should use the same due diligence they would use in making any automobile purchase in considering the Honda Clarity FCX.
