Fuels of the future: Chase the dream but keep working on what you've got - 2-pronged strategy pursues the hydrogen vision and keeps tweaking old reliable gasoline-burners

摘要

Continuous Improvement or Great Leap Forward? Can unglamorous gasoline and diesel engines be improved bit by bit to prosper in an era of costly petroleum? Or will automakers manage a Great Leap Forward by developing affordable fuel cells? Actually, General Motors has adopted both strategies. In the short run, the automaker is pursuing continuous improvement - a kaizen approach, in which incremental improvements can add up to big gains in fuel economy. In the long run, the company is betting on a Great Leap Forward with hydrogen-powered fuel cells and electric cars. Here are the gurus who are managing GM's twin powertrain strategies. Later, we'll make some predictions about their likelihood of success.