GAS OR GASOLINE FOR TOMORROW'S TRANSPORTATION?E&MP59.005 Fuel Cells May 19, 1967 NEW YORK, N.Y. - Gasoline may well give way to "gas" as
one of the transportation energy sources of tomorrow if fuel cells
such as this hydrogen-oxygen unit fulfill their present promise. Shown
discussing the possibility are Secretary of Transportation Alan S.
Boyd (right) and Dr. Robert A. Charpie, president of Union Carbide
Corporation's Electronics Division. In recent congressional testimony,
Dr. Charpie predicted that metropolitan vehicle fleets such as taxis,
delivery vans, and buses will be powered with a hybrid system combining
fuel cells and rechargeable batteries in the foreseeable future. The
electric automobile is still some time away, he feels. According to
Dr. Charpie, the hydrogen-oxygen system has the highest theoretical
energy density of any known fuel combination, and operates noiselessly
with water its only by-product. The fuel cell shown is rated at one
kilowatt. The pioneer in fuel cell development, Union Carbide had
a commercial hydrogen-oxygen unit on the market as far back as 1954.
Although originally intended for stand-by power, the fuel cell is
well suited to a variety of other applications.
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