News from Washington:
Byron McCormick Resigns from DoE Panel, Protesting Fuel Cell Funding Cuts

Further to my EnergyIdeas No. 35, released in May 12, 2009, additional news from the Potomac river can be reported now. In the following, we are quoting: The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Letter, Alternative Energy News since 1986 (H&FCL): „ (...) Recently retired General Motors fuel cell executive J. Byron McCormick resigned from the U.S. Energy Department’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee to protest DOE Secretary Nobel laureate Steven Chu’s decision to zero out DoE’s transportation fuel cell budget.

The mock up of the AUTOnomy, a GM-concept study (HyWire) with fuel cells in the Powertrain was a particularly acclaimed exhibit at the Hannover Fair 2003. (Photo / FIG.: Team Arno A. Evers FAIR-PR)

In an e-mail to Chu, McCormick, until last year GM’s executive director of fuel cell activities (H&FCL Jan. 09), wrote that given his “experience of developing, manufacturing and fielding batteries, EV's, hybrid vehicles, fuel cells, electric propulsion systems and fuel cell vehicles, and understand the technical, regulatory, environmental and business issues involved, I am both perplexed and confused by your decision to zero the budget.

“Like my colleagues from the other global OEM's who wrote me this weekend I've spent the last 35 years of my life developing real hardware, fielding real hardware, learning the lessons that the customers and real experience teach us and developing business understandings as to what it takes to make a sustainable/viable business with products customers will purchase...“

He added, “I also know that there are many well meaning passionate advocates who do not have that relevant experience and make their cases based on idealized models or non-realistic or scientifically supportable assumptions. So, I in no way mean to demean them or you in my disagreement with your decision...“

McCormick wrote further: „...However, since I have recently retired to New Mexico, and am as a result being very selective as to where and on what pursuits I spend my time and energy, I have decided to resign from HTAC and focus my attention/experience/knowledge with those who will be moving ahead to make it happen." McCormick concluded his e-mail to Secretary Chu: “I want to wish you the best of luck in developing an energy policy for the United States."

These, I mean, are rather strong words, indeed. General Motors (GM) was participating at the Group Exhibit Hydrogen and Fuel Cells at the HANNOVER FAIR 2003, that was six years ago. At that time, GM was exhibiting the vehicle: AUTOnomy (HyWire), the GM-concept study using fuel cells in the Powertrain in a 1:1 scale mock up. What would have been possible for GM to achieve in the last six years, based on the experience gathered with that car? That is my question at this point.

Links to the news:

• http://www.hfcletter.com
• https://www.hydrogenambassadors.com/hm03/exhibitors/gm.php

Date: 19.05.2009