Yes, he was right. And it’ still true.  The Apollo program got fuel cells a lot of attention back then. Make water and electricity from H2 and O2, a perfect application for space flight. Until an oxygen tank blows up!

 

From: David Beierl <dbeierl@gmail.com> 
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2020 12:03 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
Cc: vanagonlist a <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Subject: Re: Friday NVC

 

 was a chemist back in the ‘60s and ‘70’s, and we were all convinced we’d be driving electric cars powered by fuel cells long before now. Those here old enough to remember the OPEC fuel embargo of the ‘70s will know why.  

 

Fuel cells were in the magazines around '62.  I mentioned them to my dad and he just said "They have a long way to go".

Ten years ago I learned that at the time he was in charge of the Navy effort to develop them for submarine propulsion...make a clam look sloppy, that man.

 

Yrs,

d