Houston partners Billy Donley and David Jarrett were quoted extensively in a December 26 Houston Business Journal article, "Future of Automobiles Expected to Include Gasoline Alternatives."
According to the article, the $17.4 billion loan package designed to help two major U.S. auto makers stave off bankruptcy also comes with what President Bush calls "many concessions"—restructuring retirement benefits, convincing debt-holders to provide capital and charting a viable path to compete with foreign automakers. With an increased emphasis on reducing gasoline dependency in the U.S., as well as a "green" bandwagon, the article investigates what changes may be ahead for the auto industry.
Jarrett, who specializes in the auto industry and technology, said there are still many hurdles to leap but progress in alternative fuel technology is likely to begin turning up within the next few years. "A fresh perspective on new transportation technologies has taken place not only in America but in Japan and Europe," said Jarrett, who, along with Donley, represents various suppliers and distributors in the auto industry.
Competition, Jarrett said, has led to increased funding being made available for research and development of prototype gasoline-free vehicles and more gasoline-friendly vehicles. "Everyone wants to be less dependent on oil and coal, and gas-free vehicles are on the horizon," said Jarrett.
Commenting on the alternatives to gasoline, aside from electric/battery-powered cars, another fuel source that may replace dependency on oil as fuel is compressed natural gas, Donley said. When compressed natural gas would be available as an alternative is the big question, however.
"For any alternative fuel source to become a reality, a couple of things must happen," Donley said. "First, research must prove that alternative fuel is a true alternative to oil. By most all accounts, compressed natural gas has been proven as a true alternative. With that work done, the next major hurdle is adoption of the technology and standardization. Until all of the automakers adopt compressed natural gas as an alternative, progress for this fuel source will be glacial."