California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has introduced an environmentally friendly Hummer — but not the converted hydrogen-powered car he promised voters he would build when he campaigned for office.
LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has introduced an environmentally friendly Hummer — but not the converted hydrogen-powered car he promised voters he would build when he campaigned for office.
Criticized by environmentalists for owning a gas-guzzler, Schwarzenegger said during last year's recall campaign that he would convert one of his Hummers to run on hydrogen.
Though he hasn't done that, the governor did introduce an alternative recently — a hydrogen-powered Hummer custom-built by General Motors at his request.
The governor drove the shiny blue SUV to a hydrogen fueling spot at Los Angeles International Airport to tout his $100 million (euro80.55 million) plan for a "hydrogen highway" of such stations.
Schwarzenegger was the first person to buy a Hummer, a civilian version of the military vehicle that caught the public's attention during the Gulf War. GM estimates the latest version of the vehicle, the 6,400-pound (2,880-kilogram) H2, gets 10 to 13 miles (16 to 21 kilometers) per gallon (3.8 liters). Dealers put the figure at 8 to 10 miles (13 to 16 kilometers) per gallon.
Though Schwarzenegger arrived at the event in a low-pollution vehicle, he left in a gasoline-powered SUV that typically gets about 15 mpg (24 kilometers). Officials said the hydrogen Hummer needs to refuel every 50 miles (80 kilometers) and there are only about a dozen fueling stations across the state.
Source: Associated Press
