Americans will have a unique opportunity to see what the future holds for hydrogen in the United States with the launch of an historic two-week, cross country trek of a fleet of clean, efficient hydrogen vehicles.
“Five years ago, President Bush challenged America’s innovators to develop new hydrogen technologies to help reduce our nation’s dependence on oil, and today we have a fleet of hydrogen vehicles making their way across the country,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary Thomas Barrett. “These hydrogen vehicles are the non-polluting cars of tomorrow and they are being demonstrated today on our nation’s roads.”
Nine auto manufacturers, the U.S. Department of Energy, California Fuel Cell Partnership, National Hydrogen Association, and U.S. DOT are sponsoring the Hydrogen Road Tour to show that hydrogen vehicle and fueling technologies are approaching commercial availability, even as new research and development breakthroughs continue.
“The technology necessary to put these cars on the road, and keep them moving, exists today,” said Administrator Paul Brubaker of the U.S. DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA). “The question is not if hydrogen powered vehicles will be available commercially, but when.”
Brubaker noted that six transit agencies across the country currently operate hydrogen-powered buses, Southern California auto dealers are leasing hydrogen vehicles, and hundreds of individuals are driving hydrogen-powered vehicles in demonstration programs across the United States. And, he added, hydrogen can be used as a fuel for both a fuel cell vehicle or in a modified internal combustion engine.
“Hydrogen is part of a balanced and diverse energy portfolio that will help address our future energy, environmental and economic security needs,” U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary Clarence "Bud" Albright, Jr. said. “This tour provides Americans an opportunity to see what the future could hold for hydrogen powered vehicles, as we work to help make these vehicles cost competitive and available for all.”
The tour will make 31 stops in 18 states, stretching from Maine to California. Hydrogen vehicles from BMW, Daimler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen will be making the journey, and will be joined by hydrogen transit buses along the route.
As the vehicles travel from Maine to California, they will fuel at a number of the 61 hydrogen stations that are operational today. For the most part, the vehicles will use mobile stations from Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., and Linde. Both companies have been providing hydrogen worldwide for decades. Most hydrogen in the U.S. today is created from natural gas. According to well-to-wheels studies, when hydrogen from natural gas is used in a FCV, greenhouse gas emissions are about 55% less than a comparable conventional vehicle. When the hydrogen is made from renewable sources, such as water or biomass, the GHGs are zero.
CaFCP coordinated the logistics for the trip with regional hydrogen, fuel cell and Clean Cities programs. “Together, we can show the country—and the world—how individual state and local programs are making a national change,” CaFCP’s executive director, Catherine Dunwoody said.
The Hydrogen Road Tour’s goal is to showcase the progress that industry and government have made together, and emphasize the next steps to commercialization evan as R&D continues. Some automakers are taking the first steps to market by leasing a limited number of FCVs in selected areas. Many expect to see commercial roll-out in the 2015-2020 time frame.
“Bringing these vehicles to market requires continued commitment from government and industry,” Dunwoody continued. “Building convenient, accessible hydrogen stations is crucial in the next few years.”
