Hydrogen Road Tour 2009

Hydrogen Vehicles Drive from Mexico Border to Canada

Washington DC--May 21, 2009--Today, the National Hydrogen Association announced the beginning of the 1,700 mile 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour. For nine days starting May 26, Americans and Canadians in 28 cities between southern California and Vancouver, British Columbia will have a unique opportunity to see what the transportation future holds for with the launch of a nine-day caravan of clean, efficient hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

The California Air Resources Board, California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), Powertech Labs (on behalf of British Columbia), National Hydrogen Association and the U.S. Fuel Cell Council are organizing the 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour. Vehicles from seven major automakers will turn heads as they make the trek from border to border. The Tour will stop in 28 communities along the route, with special focus on the communities where hydrogen technologies-passenger vehicles, transit buses and hydrogen stations-will likely enter the market first.

"The Hydrogen Road Tour is another example that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are not a science experiment. These are real vehicles with real marketability and real benefits," said Jeff Serfass, President of the National Hydrogen Association. "So far, these facts have escaped the notice of the Secretary of Energy's attention, given the request to eliminate the federal hydrogen vehicle program. The Tour will show how capable today's hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are by providing performance, environmental responsibility, a reduction of fuel imports and a pleasant driving experience for anyone who gets behind the wheel."

The NHA's recent Energy Evolution reports shows how scenarios that initially use a mix of vehicles with sales later dominated by hydrogen vehicles can address greenhouse gas pollution, oil imports and urban air pollution. Specifically, the Energy Evolution shows that fuel cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen can simultaneously cut greenhouse gas pollution by 80% below 1990 levels; help the U.S. reach petroleum quasi-independence by mid-century; and eliminate nearly all controllable air pollution by the end of the century."

On the Hydrogen Road Tour, the public will be able to see the latest hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles from Daimler, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen-including several new models-as well as fuel cell transit buses at several stops. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and Powertech Labs are providing hydrogen fuel and mobile refueling stations.

Currently, over 300 zero-emission fuel cell vehicles have been placed on U.S. roads along with 62 operational hydrogen fueling stations in anticipation of plans released by automakers, energy companies and government agencies to collectively roll out 4,300 passenger vehicles to customers in California by 2014. In addition, transit agencies operate fuel cell buses, including BC Transit in Vancouver which will operate a fleet of 20 fuel cell buses for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Cities, businesses and military bases in California, Oregon, Washington and many other American states are implementing other projects that use fuel cells, including forklifts and stationary power for buildings and cell phone towers.

For more details, please visit: http://www.hydrogenroadtour.com/