Hydrogen-Powered Cars on US Highways

DaimlerChrysler and BP plc will collaborate with the US Department of Energy (DOE) and other organizations to field-test fuel cell vehicles in the United States beginning this year, the next step in bringing the clean, efficient technology to broad market distribution.
The vehicle test program is part of a five-year “Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project,” funded in part by the US. DOE. The project is designed to gain real-world experience with fuel cell vehicles, to address related issues such as fuels and fueling infrastructure, and to educate the public about this developing technology.
DaimlerChrysler has proposed to supply their fuel cell vehicles to fleets in certain US markets. BP proposes to provide the refueling infrastructure to support the fueling needs of those fleets.
“Fuel cell vehicles have great promise as a highly fuel efficient, virtually emission-free transportation in the years to come. But there is much to learn and a lot of work to be done before that promise becomes reality,” said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO of the Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler. “This collaboration with government, energy providers, and educators brings together the right partners to address these challenges,” Zetsche said.
According to Ross Pillari, President of BP America, “We are convinced that programs such as this supported by the US DOE will provide the impetus for future development of hydrogen production and fueling technologies.”
Fuel-cell cars are electric vehicles that make their own electric power on board by combining hydrogen from a fuel source and oxygen from the air along a special membrane called a PEM (proton exchange membrane). Fuel cells are significantly more efficient than combustion engines, and the only exhaust produced is water.
“We have demonstrated technical feasibility with our concept vehicles over the past decade,” said Dr. Andreas Truckenbrodt, Head of Fuel Cell and Advanced Powertrain Development for DaimlerChrysler.
“The next step is to demonstrate that fuel cell powered vehicles are 'Fit for Daily Use.' We need to get field experience on the road in daily use to determine how our customers use the vehicles and what their needs are. This partnership with the U.S. government is an important part of that process,” Dr. Truckenbrodt said.
“BP has a wealth of experience in producing, distributing and selling a range of fuels and we are applying this experience to hydrogen” said Carol Battershell, BP Director of alternative fuels “This program will give us the opportunity grow the number of hydrogen fuelling facilities we have in operation, which will expand our understanding of the technical, social and economic challenges we face in bringing hydrogen to our customers.”


Ford & BP to Build Hydrogen Fleets, Fueling Stations

Ford Motor Company and BP plc have announced a major initiative aimed at moving the United States closer to a hydrogen economy. Ford intends to place up to 30 hydrogen-powered vehicles, and BP plans to build a network of fueling stations to support them, in metropolitan Sacramento, Orlando, and Detroit.
The automotive company and the energy provider made the announcement recently at joint news conferences in each of the cities where the vehicles and fueling stations are proposed to be based and operated. The proposed fleets and fueling stations are in response to the US Department of Energy's solicitation, entitled "Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project."
"This demonstration and validation project will play a major role in moving us forward toward a hydrogen-fueled future," said Gerhard Schmidt, Vice President of Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “We are delighted to be associated with a strong forward-thinking worldwide energy provider like BP in this effort."
According to Ross Pillari, President, BP America, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with a progressive company such as Ford to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as a fuel. We believe cooperative efforts such as the one led by the US DOE help stimulate progress toward a future that maximizes the potential of hydrogen infrastructure and fueling technologies.”
Carol Battershell, BP's Director of Alternative Fuels said: “BP's work in developing and demonstrating hydrogen applications goes hand in hand with our global commitment to provide lower carbon energy and cleaner fuels today and in the future. BP has the right skills, knowledge, and experience to supply the fuel and the fuelling infrastructure.”
“By testing fuel cell vehicles in everyday conditions and applications, Ford is moving the industry toward commercialization,” said Mary Ann Wright, Director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Programs, the group at Ford Motor Company responsible for research and development of fuel cell products. “Projects like these will provide the data we need to engineer improved performance, reliability and durability of fuel cell vehicles, and prepare the market for wide spread commercialization.”
The Ford and BP joint proposal calls for Ford to provide up to 30 hydrogen-powered Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV). Assembly of the vehicles will begin by the fourth quarter of 2004, depending on the timing of successful contract negotiations with the US DOE and various state and local entities.
The Ford Focus FCV is one of the industry's first hybridized fuel cell vehicles combining the improved range and performance of hybrid technology with the overall benefits of a fuel cell.
The Ford Focus FCV uses an 85kW fuel cell stack supplied by Ballard Power Systems, the world leader in proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology. The FCV is hybridized with the addition of a nickel metal–hydride battery pack and a brake-by-wire electro-hydraulic series regenerative braking system.
BP plans to install a network of stations demonstrating state-of-the art fueling technologies to support the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Some BP hydrogen refueling stations will evaluate technologies that have near-term commercial feasibility, such as reformation of natural gas, while others will explore more long-term technology options and assess the potential to produce renewable-based hydrogen that achieve US DOE hydrogen fuel cost targets.
Under the proposal, Ford intends to station up to 10 Focus FCV vehicles in each of the three metro areas of Orlando, Sacramento, and Detroit.
The hydrogen-powered Ford Focus FCV produces zero emissions from the tailpipe, and uses a Ballard fuel cell engine that converts chemical energy into electrical energy using hydrogen and oxygen. The electrical energy then powers the vehicle's electric-drive motor, producing only water and heat as by-products. Fuel cell technology is projected to provide up to two times the fuel economy of gasoline and diesel engines.