Korea to Export Fuel Cell Cars By 2010
Now here is a better idea then exporting stem cell technology to put Korea on the map:
South Korea’s government unveiled a five-year plan to develop and commercialize fuel cell-powered and hybrid-engined cars by 2010.
The plan to assist research and development of environment-friendly vehicles was approved at a cabinet meeting, the ministry of commerce, industry and energy said.
The government will offer tax breaks and ask state firms and public agencies to buy the new vehicles, it said.
The ministry suggested South Korea could produce more than 4,000 hybrid-engined vehicles by 2008.
I am a big advocate for alternative energy for cars and there is a huge market there for those who are willing to think outside the box. The Japanese have already jumped on this market and currently dominate the hybrid car market while US automobile companies continued to focus on making SUV’s and are now suffering huge losses because of it.
If a company makes a fuel efficient car that looks and performs like a traditional gasoline powered car people will be willing to pay a bit extra to buy it because they understand the amount of money they will be saving at the pump. Now if the government would offer tax breaks for people buying fuel efficient cars than the market would really take off.
Just think about the trickle down effect buying less gasoline would have. Yes, it would improve air quality, but most importantly it would improve national security because less oil money going to autocratic Middle Eastern regimes means they have to liberalize their economies to order to survive in today’s globalized world which means their citizens would actually have to work for a living instead of living off the oil wealth which allows them to hang out at the nearest madrassa all day and learn how to properly behead infidels.
However, one word of caution for Korean automakers; don’t make the fuel cell version of the Rodius. That would be disastrous.
