GERMAN AUTO REBEL DISSES HYDROGEN, TOUTS EFFICIENCY

Mentioned in this article is an upside to all the future-dreaming about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (as detailed by Joseph J. Romm in The Hype About Hydrogen): To some extent such research contributes to the knowledge base for engineering electric battery vehicles like the plug-in hybrid. (If this is not true, the electric vehicle community will no doubt speak up.)

German Regulator Roils Auto-Emissions Debate; Freidrich Touts Low Tech Over Alternative Fuels; A Tiff Over VW’s Golf
Stephen Power and Marcus Walker, August 23, 2007 (Wall Street Journal)

WHO
Axel Friedrich, transport department head, German Federal Environmental Agency;

From The Wall Street Journal: The Friedrich-inspired low tech improvements. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
Friedrich infuriated VW executives by showing Golf emissions could be cut 25% without cutting horsepower. In public statements, Friedrich was especially disdainful of alternative fuel vehicles such as the hydrogen fuel cell.

WHEN
- 1997: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as environment minister, had list of environmental officials too outspoken to speak in public. Friedrich was Number One.
- 2012: EU requires vehicle emissions to be 120 grams.
- July 2007: German car makers petition EU for extension, saying it will be impossible to meet the requirement. Friedrich’s efficient Golf demonstrates emissions of 131 grams. VW announces a new diesel Golf that will meet 120 gram standard. Mercedes Benz and BMW announce they will show cars next year with several of Friedrich’s modifications and lower emissions.

WHERE
- The California Air Resources Board (CARB) sought out Friedrich’s opinion on controlling emissions.
- EU hearings were in Brussels.

WHY
- Friedrich’s Golf modifications were low tech (see illustration).
- VW contends the car may be more efficient in the lab but cannot be competitive and safe.
- These issues are especially contentious in Germany where 1 of 7 jobs is auto industry-dependent.
- German car companies have done a lot of research with the hydrogen fuel cell despite a rather obvious absence of answers to questions such as “Where will the hydrogen filling stations come from?” Friedrich, once an enthusiast of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, now disdains them.
- Many German auto makers seem worried about moves by GM, Honda and Toyota in the direction of hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

This is the solution to all our vehicle needs. When is somebody going to step up (and make a ton of money)?

QUOTES
- Friedrich: "We all know what to do…It's nothing magic."
- Hermann Meyer, chief rep to EU, Volkswagen: "This was not a presentation which has the backing of Volkswagen…Has he done a crash test to verify this? If he has not made a crash test, he cannot say this."
- Porsche AG Chief Executive Wendelin Wiedeking: "This is a business war in Europe…"
- Alan Lloyd, former chairman, CARB: “[Friedrich] 's been a constant source of advice and knowledge…"
- Wolfgang Reitzle, former executive, BMW/CEO, Linde AG: "It would be a shame if Germany were to sleep through a trend in hydrogen technology the way we slept through hybrids…"
- Friedrich: "Fuel cells are just a gimmick to avoid regulation…"