Hyundai fuel cells used in US transport fleet

4 January 2006

Hyundai fuel cells used in US transport fleet

As discussion on alternative fuels increases in New Zealand, Hyundai has delivered the first of 10 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) to a California public transport group.

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) has begun a five-year demonstration and validation project designed to evaluate fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure technologies.

"Hyundai's partnership with AC Transit represents the first time that a third-party has been involved in our fuel cell vehicle research, and it marks another milestone in our effort to bring this technology to commercialisation," explains Dr. Won Suk Cho, president, Hyundai America Technical Center which is responsible for alternative fuel research in the United States.

"Our vehicles will be operating in real-world working environments everyday proving the viability of this technology."

This year Chevron opened its first-ever hydrogen energy station at the Hyundai America Technical Center (HATCI) in Chino, California. In addition to HATCI and AC Transit, fleets will also be placed at Southern California Edison, an energy utility company and the US Army facilities in Detroit to develop and implement a practical, business-based hydrogen energy infrastructure and associated technologies.

AC Transit, one of the largest transit agencies in California, moves more than 64 million passengers a year throughout a 360-square mile region and is recognised as a national leader in the industry. It has been named "National Clean Bus Leader" for its advanced environmental technology initiatives.

ENDS

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