FSEC Director to Brief Auto Makers on Fuel Cell Technology

COCOA, Dec. 4, 2006 — Florida Solar Energy Center Director Jim Fenton will discuss fuel cells, a promising technique for future energy-efficient vehicles, with the nations leading automakers during a meeting Wednesday, Dec. 6, in Detroit.

As gas price spikes have hit Americans hard in their pocketbooks, talk is increasing over the need for alternative-fueled vehicles to reduce U.S. dependence on expensive oil. Research and design efforts in recent years have made significant progress toward meeting the performance and cost criteria to make fuel cells practical.

At the request of the U.S. Department of Energy, Fenton will speak to the United States Council of Automotive Research (USCAR), the umbrella organization that coordinates research for DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors. The meeting will focus on technologies and applications for America’s future cars and trucks, and it will help to determine the priorities for Department of Energy research programs for the coming year. Read more