Jeremy Rifkin, famed author and hydrogen proponent, believes a new paradigm in the world's economic future is about to come to fruition as he opens the 2011 FC&HE.
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The Tucson iX Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) is the third generation and will debut at the conference. (Photo by permission of Hyundai media.)
Rifkin is one of the 13 energy experts who will keynote the annual event, according to the FCHE website .
While GM with its HydroGEN vehicle, and Daimler and Toyota with there own versions, each is a Platinum Sponsor of the event. Honda is a Gold Sponsor.
The Tucson iX Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV), for example, will be able to travel about 650 kilometers on a single charge, due to a 100-kilowatt fuel cell system and two hydrogen storage tanks. This is similar to a gas-powered vehicle and represents a 76% advance over the second generation Tucson FCEV, which couldn’t travel for more than 370 kilometers, which is a little more than a half of what the current-generation Tucson can.
Fuel cells and hydrogen energy are seen as essential elements in clean energy portfolio and key to American competitiveness, job growth and national security.
The fact that major automakers are attending is a mighty statement, in addition to Mr. Rifkin being the best-selling author of eighteen books on environmental, energy and economic related issues including The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the World Wide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on Earth.
This level of participation speaks volumes for the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy 2011 Conference and Exposition. Formerly the NHA Hydrogen Conference and Expo, the FC&HE 2011 will open Sunday, February 13 in Washington, DC and run through the Friday the 16th.
Rifkin’s address, though, will show how hydrogen and fuel cells will transform today's energy infrastructure into a smart, efficient, clean energy network.
He will further lay out a compelling vision of the emerging energy age, where the convergence of alternative energy sources, enabled by hydrogen, and the latest developments in communications create pivotal changes in the world economy.
"We are poised at the cusp of a significant point in history, a point where a new paradigm in the world's economic future is about to come to fruition — and hydrogen will be at the centerpiece of that new revolution: The Third Industrial Revolution," stated Rifkin.
As president of The Foundation on Economic Trends in Washington, DC, Jeremy Rifken’s appearance at the conference is key. Already a teacher at the Wharton School's Executive Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania, Rifkin has also been an advisor to the European Union for the past decade. In that capacity, he has advised five of the last eight Presidents of the European Council including: Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany; Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain; and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France.
Mr. Rifkin also advised Romano Prodi, during his presidency of the European Commission, and José Manuel Barosso, the current President of the European Commission.
There is an urgent need to prepare the infrastructure and marketplace for the coming convergence. Being first to market will be crucial in this new landscape, for countries as well as for the companies that will make this a reality.
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About the Author: After 39 years in the auto industry as a design engineer, Frank Sherosky now trades stocks and writes articles, books and ebooks via authorfrank.com, but may be contacted here by email: FrankS@TorqueNews.com
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