Fuel cell car and hybrid car from Japan - why can the US not focus on such things?

Question

Father-in-law lived in Japan after WW2 and has his own stories to tell. What do you say about their change of focus on domestic technology instead of only-war-stuff?

Answer 1

Japan has been very clever in taking over many US markets, using government subsidies to sell their products in the US for half the price they charge Japanese customers at home letting them drive many US companies into bankruptcy or to overseas production. Now that China makes such a wide variety of products, Japan feels the same pinch we did in the 80s as they can't compete with the price. The quality of Chinese made goods is still lacking, but that was the case with Japanese goods back in the 70s. Eventually we'll use nano-technology to manufacture things so this will be a moot point but right now, cheap labor is king and you just can't beat the price of slave labor by political prisoners so China is ahead.

I think you refer to the change in Japan from the WWII mentality to their current mindset, which is much better than the US one in some ways. The saying "Fix the problem, not the blame" illustrates that, while US executives are still covering their butts, Japanese executives admit their mistake and correct it, which saves a lot of time and money.

Fuel cell cars are very expensive, the fuel cells alone cost more than most cars and they don't last as long. Then you have the problem with producing and storing the hydrogen they require which is a big roadblock right now. That will change with new technologies but it's why only 200 Honda FCX cars will be on the road in the next 3 years. Cost.

Hybrid cars are not being taken off the market for lack of sales, to the contrary it's almost impossible to find one in stock anywhere. The problem they face is that currently they use the same outdated battery technology that the GE EV1 used. The new Chevy Volt will use new lithium-ion batteries that can sustain damage and still function and they won't kill you even if they're crushed in an accident. Try that with a bank of lead-acid or even NIMH batteries. The Volt and FCX will cost quite a bit but keep in mind the market for these cars is tiny so they are practically made by hand. Anything that isn't mass-produced is far more expensive so once they turn out 10,000 a month the price will shrink dramatically.

Answer 2

We're to busy trying to be politically correct, worrying about what Lindsey Lohan is wearing, reading the lines in our foreheads to tell the future, buying houses we can't afford, letting the government take care of our affairs, voting in incompetent people, slamming the rich for knowing how to make money, slamming the poor because they don't know how to make money, worrying about what other people are doing, worrying about what other people think of us, putting people down for being different, putting people down for being the same.  

An edcucation system that is based on what you "feel" should be the answers instead of hard facts that never change nor should change just because times change.  And an education system that is costly, ineffective, and uses children in stupid, ill-planned social experiments that do nothing and prove nothing.  

Japan teaches knowledge and rewards same.  Do the same here and you are rewarded, then investigated, taxed, and will probably have to hire a lawyer because someone will claim to have had your idea ten years ago but never got around ( was too lazy ) to implenting it.

Answer 3

General Motors have a working fuel cell prototype car. However, governments around the world are for some reason slaves to big oil.

Everyone needs to rally together and put pressure on their respective government to make a bigger investment in better technologies.

Or even better, another s*x-scandal to draw media attention.

Answer 4

The US has always been slow to react to change, this is why we were outsmarted by the Japanese during the 80's when Japan figured out how to build a car cheaper and better.  The US auto industry never thought Americans would buy foreign, so they never thought they needed to change.  Today we are seeing the oil company's doing the same thing.  They don't think Americans will go alternative, so they keep us hooked up like a junky to the I-V that is the pump.  And since, the Japanese don't tie themselves down by anything, they are free to change as they please, and will once again outsmart us.

Answer 5

Because 1) all our corporations are too busy sucking the money out of every crevice they can, not planning for the future  2) US govt is Big Oil's beeatch

Answer 6

What presidents in recent history do you know of who was associated with vehicles?   Which presidents have been associated with oil and weapons companies?    The presidency only pays  a couple hundred thousand a year; they have to use that seat of power to be able to make their money somewhere else.

Answer 7

I'm not sure what you are talking about with only-war-stuff. Japan has been focused on creating consumer goods for some time now.

As for hybrid cars, GM and Ford are already using that technology, too, they just aren't willing to blow a huge amount of cash on it. I believe Ford offers a hybrid Escape SUV, and GM offers a hybrid on a few of its models as well. Nobody wants to buy them because they are too expensive.

As for why it is only now that auto manufactures are focusing on green technology - this trend in high oil prices is a relatively new phenomenom. Even in 2002 oil prices were much lower and Americans were buying as many SUVs as GM could make.

The oil price came up suddenly; you can't change an assembly plant in a year. Toyota happened to have a factory already built to create Prius's, and it would certainly be creating more if it could.

GM actually has a car that is much better then any Prius and even better then the Honda Fuel Cell car - the Chevrolet Volt. This is an electric car with 0 emissions for short travels. Infortunately, it takes a while to get a new car to the market. In this case it will take them until 2010 before they have all the engineering plans, the parts plants, approval from the DOT, EPA, and they have all of their factories up.

Even then the Volt is anticipated to cost $40,000. Do you want to spend that much with the Ford Explorer is only $22,000 and can carry your entire family and your dog?

Last year there were two hybrid models that were removed from the sales floor because nobody was buying them. Only one hybrid car is truly successful - the Prius. The rest are only there to maintain customer loyalty and to appear to be "green". People want to say they care for the environment, but they certainly aren't going to pay for it.

By the way, Ford also makes a fuel-cell car. So does GM. Nobody is willing to buy them, however, because they are currently around $500,000 a pop. Not only that, there are only a few gas stations in the world that sell hydrogen. So since they can't sell these cars, Ford paints logos on them and gets them sponsored by various companies and government agencies.

Answer 8

Until about a year ago fuel in the US was very cheap. Japan has had high fuel prices for many years. Now the US has the incentive and will produce what it takes.

The car companies will produce what the consumer wants.

We are hampered somewhat due to our more stringent emissions limits and safety standards. Europe, Australia, Japan, etc. have many nice cars that get over 50MPG. They have had them for a long time, but they will not pass our emission standards. Thanks to our "Environmentalists",those of us who would love to have one are forced to pollute more.

Answer 9

maybe because the US consumer is stupid and has to have an SUV to drive to the market?

that is, until you beat him over the head with $100 a tank gasoline.

and even then ....... that skull is pretty thick.

remember how many say that something has to be done about gas prices --- as if this is all someone else's fault, and they'd like the government to give 'em all free gas.

Answer 10

Because many Americans wanted 3 tons-o-fun. Manufactures will produce what people want to buy.

Answer 11

This is why asian car companies will take over the American car companies