Showing posts with label fuel cell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fuel cell. Show all posts

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Green Econometrics

If you are curious about the numbers involved in the emerging "green economy," surf by my friend Michael Davies' really wonderful site, Green Econometrics. Someone's got to mine the data; do the numbers, and analyse the results for the rest of us. At least if you are as averse to counting beans, or worse yet predicting bean totals, as I am. Econometrics is the science of applying statistical methodologies and quantitative analysis to study, analyse and understand economics.

I first met Mike in the eighties when he hired me to join Marketing Strategies International, a small skunk-works marketing research team that consulted with Ron Roner to help Apple target market niches prior to the introduction of the first Macintosh. Even back then, Mike's favorite book was the Statistical Abstract of the United States. That's right. And fancy regressions were his forte. Since that time, he's gone on to a bunch of Wall Street jobs, crunching numbers and developing data for financial mavens. He got his Bachelor's from Columbia, and his MBA from UCLA. Sort of a bi-coastal guy. And then, he got his CFA to top it all off. You want numbers, Mike is your guy.

So what's the big deal? Just this: we're entering into uncharted waters right now in our journey through endless economic cycles - as we shift from resource exploitation and excess to conservation and alternative resources. Nobody is sure just exactly what's going to happen, and when. So who do you call? The denizons of data; number crunchers extraordinaire; trend prospectors; and, heavy weight analysts. Who else?

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Honda FCX Clarity Rocks the World

Automakers appear to be getting the message. At least some of them, like Honda. The venerable automaker for the great American middle class (hey, everybody's had or owns a Honda) introduced on November 14th the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show. I'm predicting a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in short order, because this car is a smash hit and an instant star.


The FCX Clarity's only emission is water, according to Honda's press release. Gives new meaning to the phrase "clean-running," doesn't it? For serious car lovers, and who isn't, this is great news. And the vehicle is good looking - inside and out. Buttoned-up with that traditional Honda fit-and-finish, the FCX Clarity is a sweet piece of work. And just in the nick of time. I want one.

The FCX Clarity is rated at approximately 68 mpg, with a range of 270 miles. Even interior materials are environmentally friendly. The vehicle uses Honda's V Flow fuel cell technology in combination with a new, compact and efficient lithium ion battery pack that is 40 percent lighter and 50 percent smaller than the current-generation. A 5,000-psi hydrogen storage tank takes care of the fuel, which must be purchased from an appropriately equipped service station. There's not many of those around yet and thus company plans call for a limited, three-year lease program for southern California drivers to get started. Thanks, Honda - for leadership and vision.

Postscript: Honda is forward-thinking enough to quickly grant press credentials to serious bloggers.