Last month, the city received four hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles as part of a three-year demonstration program in a partnership between the city, the U.S. Department of Energy, Ford Motor Co. and British Petroleum. The city had 16 compressed natural gas vehicles before the addition.

Taylor became one of the first cities in the nation to be recognized for their use of alternative fuels in July 2004 when the Energy Department gave nearly $350 million to several cities to study the viability of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Although the city was selected to participate in the program and was named in the grant, it didn't receive any money because Ford provided the cars and test equipment and performed the research

"The main thing is zero emissions from hydrogen vehicles," said Bob Mach, superintendent of vehicle maintenance and compost for the city. "Every gallon burned out of a gasoline-fueled vehicle produces one pound of pollutants."

The city started using the alternative fuel vehicles in 2000 to help test the cars to ensure that they burn cleaner and reduce the dependence on imported oil.

The new fuel-cell vehicles, which are Ford Focuses, will be used by the fire marshal and inspectors in the fire department, a meter reader and by department of public works staff. The older natural gas vehicles consist of three E-250 vans and 13 F-150 pickup trucks.

The vehicles run on natural gas so it costs about $1.23 a gallon to fuel them.

"These trucks operate at a fuel cost of half of what is seen at the pumps today," Mach said. "We have strategically placed the vehicles in those departments for maximum exposure and high usage to maximize data collection for research and development."

Hydrogen-fuel programs are being implemented around the country in partnerships between 180 natural gas companies, equipment manufacturers and service providers, as well as environmental groups and government organizations, said Peter Dreyfus, director of the Midwest Regional Office of the Energy Department.

"We are proud to be partner with the city of Taylor," Dreyfus said. "This will measure how hydrogen fuel cell vehicles work in the real world. "