“Thin Air” (#1335)

Internet Premiere
Friday, 10/16 @ 12:00pm ET
Detroit Public TV
Sunday, 10/18 @ 10:30am ET
(Original Airdate)

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Podcast:

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  1. PLAYING: Entire Show

  2. Open: John's Opening Thoughts

    (1:35)

  3. Segment 1: Future Propulsion Technologies

    Guest:

    Panel:

    (22:36)

  4. Close: John's Closing Thoughts

    (1:04)

  5. EXTRA: Mark Vann, General Motors Project Driveway


    (1:59)

Synopsis

Alan Taub, General Motors, Paul Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau, Sam Abuelsamid, Autoblog. Topic: Future propulsion technologies.

Climbing mountains is difficult and dangerous. Not only is it treacherous traversing the rocks and the snow, but if you're not in shape, just try breathing in all of the "thin air." Reaching for the summit of anything is time-consuming and perilous but rewarding as well. Especially when the prize -- like so many in the auto industry are striving for -- is alternative power independence. That's the brass ring the everyone from manufacturers to oil companies continue to chase. We've heard for years we're getting close, but, it seems, never close enough. On this week's Autoline, GM's new R and D guru, Dr. Alan Taub, shows us how the finish line is getting closer thanks to the success of developing "thin" materials. From batteries to fuel cells, Dr. Taub lays out the where his company is and the near-term future of plucking what we could call "thin power" out of the "thin air."