Hydrogen fuelled vehicles:

CHINO: ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures LLC on February 18 unveiled its first hydrogen energy station at the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Centre in Chino.The station is part of a cost-sharing programme with the US Department of Energy which is being used to demonstrate hydrogen as a safe outlet of energy.The demonstration involved a small fleet of Hyundai’s Tucson vehicles, which are powered by fuel cells developed by UTC Fuel Cells. The first vehicle showed was driven by legendary race car driver Mario Andretti.

The centre converts substances such as natural gas into hydrogen, which when used in the specially-designed fuel cells, creates clean electric energy for the fleet of vehicles. The vehicles can travel about 200 miles before needing to be refueled.

ChevronTexaco Hydrogen Co, which is a subsidiary of ChevronTexaco, will be building up to six hydrogen energy stations under the DOE programme. Florida agreed with Ford Motor Co and fellow ChevronTexaco subsidiary ChevronTexaco Hydrogen Co, to construct a hydrogen energy station to fuel Ford hydrogen-fueled shuttles for use at the Orlando International Airport.

Vehicles on alternative fuel :

SuperShuttle CNG VanThe Light-duty Alternative Fuel Vehicle Evaluation Programme was originally designed to help DOE meet the requirements of the Alternative Motor Fuels Act (AMFA) of 1988. AMFA required the placement of alternative fuel passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks in the US federal fleet, along with studies of their performance, fuel economy, safety, and emissions. AMFA required the collection of information for transit buses and heavy-duty trucks in commercial fleets.

DOE’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity evaluated and provided unbiased information about alternative fuel vehicles to help fleet managers and other purchasers and users make informed decisions about acquiring and operating AFVs.