The "Green" Car

The world's major automakers are tempering their enthusiasm for hydrogen-powered fuel cells to solve the environmental and geopolitical problems caused by dependence on gasoline.

Instead, as a three-day "green car" conference sponsored by French tire maker Michelin Group wrapped up in LA last week, representatives of the major automakers said redesigned diesel engines, hybrid gas-electric cars and several alternative fuels would be the short-term answer to reducing emissions and cutting gasoline use.

"No one has a silver bullet that will cure everything," said David Hermance, executive engineer for environmental engineering at the Toyota Motor Co. research and development unit in Torrance.

Automakers have been trying numerous possibilities: Cleaner-burning gasoline engines; hybrids, which Toyota and Honda Motor Co. already have on the market; various diesels designed by European automakers; and battery-powered vehicles.

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