Design engineering at large

Wanted: Mechanical and petroleum engineers

Mechanical and petroleum engineers are the most sought after upon college graduation, according to a story in Yahoo Hotjobs. Of course, now I can’t find the story to link to, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway. The demand for mechanical engineers was attributed to increasing retirements. Hotjobs current lists 9,465 engineering positions.

Electric Car Do-It-Yourselfers

CNN has a great story about folks who couldn’t wait for the big automakers to come out with electric cars….do-it yourselfers. Check it out.

Hydrogen Budding in New England

Hydrogen refueling stations and the idea of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are taking root in New England, which surprisingly, given the region’s technology and innovation prowess, has lagged behind the leaders, California and the Mid-Atlantic states. The Public Works Dept. in Hampden, Conn., has one now to fuel public transit vehicles and Nuvera, a fuel cell company, opened a PowerTap station in Billerica, Mass. What’s more, a DOT-backed 31-stop/18-state tour of FCVs from nine manufacturers just kicked off in Portland, Maine.

So hydrogen doubters, take note: the momentum is building. It’s too early for FCVs to put a dent in gasoline consumption, but they will. Crude is falling (it’s up $3 today to $116), and in a lasting sense, the decline is driven by consumers abandoning SUVs, pickup and gas-guzzling sedans for more fuel efficient vehicles (a point which seems to have been overlooked).