Vegas bound!

We had just one event today in New Mexico near Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque. Sandia is a government research and development laboratory that works closely with DOE and business partners on a host of issues, including hydrogen research. This was an excellent opportunity to show employees and the general public the vehicle in action, and about 250 people attended the event. While we got many of the same questions we always hear: “Why aren’t these vehicles on the road?” we also got more informed and technical questions from Sandia employees.

Check out the full road trip crew gearing up for the visit to Sandia National Laboratories.

But regardless of who was asking the questions, at some point my response would be, “because the infrastructure isn’t there yet.” The reality is, it’s not just the infrastructure – it’s also education. One of the reasons we aren’t taking the cars from Albuquerque to Las Vegas is due to permitting concerns. Permitting for mobile fueling stations was an issue at some of the places along the way. Believe it or not, some permitting groups don’t understand hydrogen and we need to do a better job communicating and educating on that front.

I’m getting ready to board a plane to Las Vegas, and looking forward to our event tomorrow at one of the largest permanent fueling station in the world. It’s a model for what we could do across the country and a good opportunity for us to educate the public on future possibilities.

Why are boarding a plane?  This video will give you the answer.

I also have to admit I’m looking forward to a caravan down the Las Vegas strip, and if time permits, maybe a little time at the black jack table. Sorry I haven’t been able to post photos or videos. The internet connections have not been the best, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to upload some new media this evening.