Automotive Engineering - February 2022 - 24

READER
FEEDBACK
Hydrogen springs eternal
Your December article on Faurecia's hydrogen developments
was interesting. My company has been a supplier to various
hydrogen R&D programs including GM and Mercedes and
we've witnessed the technology's steady progress since the
1990s. It appears that generating the fuel and providing a fueling
infrastructure are the two remaining challenges for industry,
but it's remarkable to see a seating-systems supplier
embracing the technology. I have
high hopes that hydrogen will
emerge as a commercially viable
fuel this decade.
Alex Anuda
EV subsidy soundoff
Great piece on EV subsidies ( " Let's
End the EV Subsidies, " October). I
completely agree that the government
footing the bill in a space
where the consumer is a niche clientele
is crazy. I see the Teslas lined
up in our local town center to " refuel "
because their apartment
buildings do not have charging
stations. I read recently that 54% of
the gas stations are minority
owned-so we are going to disadvantage
those businesses in the
name of " green. "
I am in the aviation business and
the fuel density of JET-A cannot be
overcome by hydrogen and batteries.
Again, the government has
large subsidy programs for this and biofuels. The current subsidy
is $1.70/gallon going to over $2 - nuts.
Keeping putting the " common " in sense. It is good reading!
David Downey
Downey Aviation Service
Southlake, Texas
Your October AE editorial caught my eye. Where is the limit of
the nonsense of money pits? Google the worldwide lithium-ion
battery production, divide that total by an average battery
pack of 50 kWh and the result shows the BEV hype and future
projections are sustained in " maybes " and assumptions.
Aside from the present raw-materials price rise, it seems
the market will suffer a strain between offer and demand in
no more than two years because Europe, the U.S., and China
want to go electric at the same time. Mother Earth cannot
supply in time the amounts required to feed all the mega factories.
I´m certain the future will be 100% electric, but the
timing cannot be pushed by decree.
Ing. Sergio Ricardo Bellido
What a ridiculous editorial. Why should [EVs] be cost competitive?
Cars and trucks are overloaded with gizmos that almost
nobody uses but I don't see any criticism of that. American
consumers are addicted to buying vehicles with larger engines
and bigger bodies than they need. Marketing has been selling
them on " lifestyles " and not needed functionality.
Are you a global-warming skeptic then? Electrics are cost competitive
now. My Bolt certainly was.
Chris Pollard
Thanks for the excellent points in
your October editorial. EVs now have
the features and capabilities to sell
themselves without a dime of " taxpayer
crutch. " Enough is enough.
Peter Woods
RE: October AE Editorial: " Where
does this madness end? " is a key
phrase that people like yourself are
ideal to make - take a cut out of
the industry here and there and
bring the [electrification] discussion
to a new, manageable level.
Herb Everss
I'm a design engineer currently
working in two EV programs for a
supplier and agree with your commentary
on subsidies. Tesla's continuing
success since its sales total
ended the company's purchase-tax
rebates proves the point. Tesla's stying, features, performance,
cachet and, for many customers, the 'Musk mystique,'
sell the cars. No one cares that there is no cash on the hood
of a Model 3 or Y.
Melanie Wong
Editor's note: Thanks to all for your feedback. No, I'm not a
" global warming skeptic " and it's not up to me or the SAE
publications to advocate one technology over another. I simply
stated that because EV commercial attributes are now
equivalent to IC vehicles then it's time those attributes sell
the vehicle, rather than have taxpayers subsidize them.
- Lindsay Brooke
READERS: Let us know what you think about Automotive
Engineering magazine. Email the Editor at Lindsay.Brooke@
sae.org. We appreciate your comments and reserve the
right to edit for brevity and clarity.
24 February 2022
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
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Automotive Engineering - February 2022

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