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Energy Secretary Chu Says; I Would Put Every Cent Into Electric Cars

 
12 3,013 views October 14, 2009

Energy Secretary Chu

Energy Secretary Chu

The U.S Secretary of Energy is widely known for his straightforward comments.  Many of which make headlines from time to time.  Recent comments from Chu included asserting that electric vehicles are inevitable and even wildly stating that all cars should be E85 capable.  Additional ramblings have centered around the importance of hydrogen vehicles and reassuring the public that the government is serious about hydrogen.

Now a new comment is floating around.  According to an unnamed source who was in attendance at a recent meeting discussing alternative fuels, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, "If it were up to me, I would put every cent into electric cars."

This recent comment, if true, shows that there is a disagreement amongst some in Washington, D.C.  Recently, the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee reinstated the hydrogen vehicle funding indicating that perhaps the government believes that fuel cell vehicles are key to the future.  Perhaps Chu disagrees, but nonetheless the funding continues.

The DOE has awarded numerous loans to companies with the intent of producing electric vehicles so it seems as though they have future interest in both EVs and fuel cell powered vehicles.  Chu's statement simply asserts his view, a view that is shared by many right now.

Source:  Biofuels Digest via AutoblogGreen





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Comments (12)

  1. By Rashiid Amul Posted: 10/14/2009 7:41am PDT

    I completely agree with Energy Secretary Chu.
    All money should be poured into making batteries have a longer range with the ability to charge very quickly.
    Hydrogen is bunk. Electric vehicles using batteries are 10-20 times cheaper than a Hydrogen vehicle.
     
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  2. By russ Posted: 10/14/2009 8:38am PDT

    The quote is correct! My brother's wife heard it from her hairdresser who knows somebody that lives in Washington who was told by the janitor at the energy department.
     
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  3. By BobS Posted: 10/14/2009 9:30am PDT

    I thought Hydrogen fuel cell cars were electric cars? The Hydrogen fuel cell is just another form of a battery that supplies electricity.
     
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  4. By Desertstraw Posted: 10/14/2009 9:40am PDT

    You can't fight the obvious, electric cars are our future and sooner rather than later. With all the people working on the problem, a breakthrough on energy storage is inevitable if it hasn't already taken place (Eestor anyone?). Secretary Chu is a shining star among a lackluster Cabinet.
     
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  5. By Noel Park Posted: 10/14/2009 11:15am PDT

    Rashiid:
    I completely agree with you.
    Desertstraw:
    As to Secretary Chu being a shining star, I completely agree with you as well.
     
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  6. By LizR Posted: 10/14/2009 2:48pm PDT

    This is gossip, not news. Credible news sources shouldn't be repeating what an unnamed person overheard someone say to someone else.
     
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  7. By Chu-bacca Posted: 10/14/2009 4:43pm PDT

    @Desertstraw
    Eestor!?! You have zero credibility. Eestor is a scam, along with Zenn and that vaporware "Zennergy Drive Train". Chu and the DOE have provided loans and grants to legit companies with legit solutions - EEStor and Zenn didn't make the list because they have nothing.
     
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  8. By HanSolo Posted: 10/14/2009 9:10pm PDT

    Chu-bacca you're just a hater... why not sit back and see if their tech pans out before making an idiot of yourself. It might just work and they say they'll have working units out by end of year... not too long to ask IMO. I'd like to see what tech you think will actually pan out since you are an apparent expert on green tech.
     
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  9. By Joseph Posted: 10/15/2009 4:53am PDT

    I think electric cars will bring about the second coming. It's un-American, it's un-patriotic, and we all know God doesn't stand for un-patriotic. I'm putting my money into camels. We'll all be riding camels when the oil runs out and God for sure likes camels...manger scene anyone?
     
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  10. By jjpro Posted: 10/15/2009 7:01am PDT

    Amul, You are incorrect. Hydrogen is not bunk. We are going to fall behind Germany and Japan if we don't put more money into hydrogen, fuel cells and the necessary infrastructure. Fuel cells are heading to be $73 per kilowatt, as stated by the DOE's own program. Advanced batteries are not even close to that. There are a lot of issues yet to be solved with batteries. Batteries alone are not a panacea. Chu is flat out wrong when it comes to his remarks about hydrogen energy technologies. The guy is just misinformed. When he gets the facts, you will see an increase in funding for hydrogen. Hydrogen and batteries are synergistic technologies, not competing. Batteries alone are good for certain application, and fuel cells are good for others. We should not be picking winners at this early stage. People who don't like hydrogen don't know hydrogen. Study, and learn the facts.
     
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  11. By Duncan Posted: 10/15/2009 9:12am PDT

    Last I heard, the plan was to produce hydrogen from oil. Has this changed? If not, aren't we still looking at control by the oil companies, plus big time rising costs as it get harder to extract the remaining oil?
     
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  12. By  Paul Posted: 11/30/2010 9:46pm PST

    Sorry I found this a year later, but I was watching something on the Smithsonian Channel where they were talking about how we could use hydrogen as a way to extend the life of the energy grid. I tried to sum it up in an article, but it basically says that we could work to avoid blackouts in our power grid by changing up to a system that uses hydrogen as an energy source. So I wouldn't want to give up on hydrogen.
    As for electric cars, unless your house is powered by nuclear, hydro, or solar, most of the electric car charges are being supplied by coal electricity.
     
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