Fuel Cells Will Replace IC Engines, Says ARCO

Automotive Industries, May, 1999 by Lindsay Brooke

ARCO CEO Mike Bowlin late last month became the first chief executive in either the oil or auto industries to state that fuel cell power will obsolete the gasoline-fueled piston engine.

We believe this is the technology that will replace the internal combustion engine," Bowlin told a press conference on the steps of the California state capitol building in Sacramento. He was speaking at the announcement of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, a project aimed at placing a fleet of up to 50 fuel cell-powered test vehicles on California roads between 2000 and 2003.

Speaking afterwards with AI, the confident Bowlin would not say when he expects the shift from IC engines to fuel cells as the primary automotive power source will occur. The Fuel Cell partnership will start its tests using pine gaseous hydrogen, and will also investigate liquid hydrogen, as well as converting methanol and gasoline to hydrogen on board the vehicle.

The Fuel Cell Partnership will evaluate the technology and market-readiness for fuel cell vehicles, and address fueling infrastructure issues The project's partners include DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Ballard Power Systems; ARCO, Shell, Texaco, the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission.