Originally published January 31 2005
CEO for Metaldyne Corporation calls for fuel cells in cars during Automotive News World Congress
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The CEO of Metaldyne Corp. told a group of auto industry executives that the auto industry must unite to create cars power on hydrogen fuel cells. Tim Leuliette says that this can be done if the auto industry flexes its lobbying muscle and pushes Congress to enact a gas tax to pay for research and development. Otherwise, according to Leuliette, the United States will become even more dependent on shrinking foreign oil supplies.
Metaldyne Corp. Chairman and CEO Tim Leuliette told a group of automotive executives Wednesday that the industry must unite toward hydrogen-powered cars and proposed a gas tax to fund development and infrastructure.
Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress in Dearborn, Leuliette said the industry and the country can't ignore dwindling oil supplies, especially with China's gobbling more each year.
That would put the economic health of the United States in the hands of the Middle East, Russia and Venezuela, the world's major oil producers, he said.
"There's a drug this industry is hooked on, and it's called oil," Leuliette said.
"It's the most critical strategic issue facing this industry.
... Short of an all-out war, nothing this government will do will be so important."
He called for a joint government, industry and labor project to develop fuel cells and a refueling infrastructure.
Leuliette said the United States should mandate that 80 percent of all new cars built in the country by 2020 have hydrogen fuel cells.
Hybrid and diesel cars will only delay the problem, he said.
To fund development, Leuliette called for a 10-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax by 2008, to increase 10 cents a year until 2012.
That should raise $180 billion toward the effort.
Leuliette has long complained that the auto industry doesn't flex its muscle in Washington as much as smaller industries.
He thinks the auto industry got out-lobbied by the steel industry when President Bush enacted steel tariffs in 2002.
Getting the government to agree to a gas tax and real fuel-cell development will take unity from automakers, suppliers and labor unions like never before.
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