U.S. auto industry problems are the beginning of painful change required to move to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.)

Over the last several hours, I watched the Congressional hearings on the potential U.S. auto industry bailout.  At this time, it is unclear whether or not there will be a bailout.  But one certainty is that GM, Ford, and Chrysler will continue to go through much more painful change.

As I watched the hearings, the dominant thought that kept running through my mind was that this is part of the inevitable process of transitioning from gasoline-powered internal combustion engine vehicles to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.  If we could fast forward twenty years and look back on this moment, my guess would be that the transition started in early 2008 when oil prices hit $100 a barrel for the first time.

This is when most people really started to wake up to the reality that oil prices will be much higher in the future.  And subsequently, this is when consumer behavior really started to change.  Sales of large trucks and SUVs plummeted.  In recent months, the financial and credit crisis has been the cause of the continued decline in auto sales.  This has made people realize that they usually don’t need new cars.  In most cases, they can do just fine driving their current vehicle for several more years.

My guess is that the economy will continue to be very sluggish for the next six months to a year.  However, once the economy starts turning the corner, I believe oil prices will quickly go back up to the levels that they were over the summer.  This will remind consumers once again that oil prices are going to be high over the long-term.  And this will make them question the wisdom of purchasing a new car and making a ten to twelve year commitment to oil.

Clearly, while it is not pleasant to think about, the painful change that is happening right now with the U.S. auto industry is only the beginning.  A lot more will happen before hydrogen fuel cell vehicles replace internal combustion engine vehicles and hydrogen produced from solar and wind power completely replaces gasoline.

However, this painful change is necessary to avoid the much worse scenario of doing nothing and dealing with the economic, national security, and environmental consequences of maintaining this Titanic’s current course toward the iceberg.

Did anybody else watch some of the hearings today?  What were your thoughts?

(Everybody is affected by the oil crisis due to its impact on the economy, national security, and the environment.  Our way of life is at risk.  Action needs to be taken now to get the hydrogen fueling infrastructure built.  Please spread the word about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to your friends, family, and co-workers and by posting comments on blogs or articles where energy issues are discussed.)