Alternative Thinking About Alternative Propulsion

February 11, 2009

As a blogger to the Boomer and 50-Plus demographic, I've been immersed in the economic and job market challenges facing us. As a single mom and former corporate executive, I also have felt the pull for balance in family/work life.

A tough challenge last year was a big ticket one -- deciding what new vehicle to purchase. My trusty Olds Silhouette was on her last legs, after a life of great service to my tiny, well-travelled family. Gas prices were soaring and I was also commuting about 3 hours round trip a day on the infamous 405 freeway in Los Angeles. I test drove every mini-van, crossover and hybrid I could find and eventually settled on comfort against mpg. But I became much more knowledgeable about the auto market than I ever had been before. You see, this was the first NEW car I'd purchased since 1992. Every other car had been a used vehicle.

Even though I was "green-minded," when it came to my comfort, I still didn't have the confidence in alternative, hybrid vehicles to plunge myself into that arena. However, since my purchase last year, I've become much more invested in the green economy -- both due to the job market challenges that I am sent emails about every day, and to my desire to leave a healthy world for my daughter and her children's children. As a woman, my nurturing biology gives me even more desire to protect the planet.

While in Detroit for the NAIAS show, I enjoyed an informal and exciting conversation with Gregory Cesiel, General Motors Program Director of the E-Flex Vehicle Team, working on fuel cell & e-flex vehicles. I felt like I was talking to a rocket scientist -- and I kind of was. I'm not a scientist -- and Cesiel took a great deal of time to explain the advances in the hydrogen fuel cell model, and the positive impact on infrastructure, the electric vehicle was about to make on the US.

While we talked of water vapor, steam, and plug-in zones for EVs, I mentioned that plugging a vehicle in didn't seem odd at all to me. Having grown up in Montreal, Quebec and braving terribly cold winters, most cars had block heaters. After a night out and about, we'd plug in our cars at night so that the heaters would keep the oil from solidifying into immovable sludge. Not only do I remember the many nights pulling up in front of our house and plugging in, but I also remember the many mornings of backing out the driveway and forgetting to unplug.

What got me so excited was the passion that Cesiel shared with me for his visions of an ecologically responsible auto industry. Fuel cells have been around for years and now that focus is finally on alternate fuel sources, the type of research that needs to happen to move the technology from space stations and Rovers to consumer goods is here. Currently fuel cell vehicles are testing across the US. An eco-track at the car show was available to test drive some of these innovative vehicles. Cesiel is not a young man. He is a Boomer, like me.

Whether fuel cells and electric become the actual propulsion systems of the future isn't even the story. The story is that alternative technologies not only exist, but if the country really cares, we can go green. The challenge is having enough consumers willing to pay the premium pricing that will come with the first and second generations of alternative fuel vehicles. Whether you agree with nationalization or not, given the strong possibility that Chrysler and GM at the very least will be nationalized, at the outset, the government can have some control over battery and fuel cell creation in the US and at the same time, commission alternative propulsion fleets for government employees.

By Janet Wendy Spiegel
www.GenPlusUSA.com

Popular blogger, Janet Wendy Spiegel (www.GenPlusUSA.com), is passionately dedicated to relevant issues affecting Boomers and 50 Plussers, with a focus on career and employment issues. Living in Los Angeles, she has 15-plus years in senior executive management, team leadership, and multiple location management, combined with a strong hands-on background in social media, content generation, e-business, blog community, and traffic generation. In addition to being a veteran blogger, Janet offers consulting services and is the proud owner of Pooch Buddies, a pet services company.