FROM ELECTRIC CARS TO HYDROGEN CARS: LEARNING LESSONS OR JUST ANOTHER TALKING DONKEY STORY?

JUANICÓ, L.E.

Handbook of Sustainable Energy

NOVA SCIENCE PUBLISHERS Inc., 400 Oser Ave., Hauppauge New York, USA

Lugar: New York; Año: 2010;

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:ES-AR;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> In 1991 the Department of Energy (DOE) launched the USABC’s program (U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium) together with the Big Three U.S. automakers. Its objective was to push the development of new batteries that would be necessary for the new market of electric cars. This action was in line with the Californian Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program that had intended a goal of 10% of zero-emission cars in California at 2003 and other federal initiatives, as the Clean Car Initiative launched in 1993. But already in 1998 and after 300 millions dollars spent on USABC, the Federal Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems had to recognize that there is no battery technology available that could satisfy this target. Despite future battery improvements, it is clear nowadays that the next generalized use of electric cars is only a chimera.