Fuel Cell Works Supplemental News Page

**Paving the way for a clean drive**-Burbank one of five regional cities to embrace hydrogen power by buying five hybrid vehicles
Publication date: 24-April-2004 Source: LA TImes
To the average Burbank resident, five hybrid cars the city is getting should appear to be nothing out of the ordinary. But underneath the hood lies the possible future of vehicle power. Burbank officials are accelerating toward fuel alternatives by joining a pilot program that will add converted cars running on hydrogen and electricity to the city's vehicle fleet as soon as next spring. The program, spearheaded by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, bridges the gap between oil-fueled autos and ones that operate on hydrogen, said Marisa Garcia, an administrative analyst for the city's Department of Public Works. "We're trying to make the transition to fuel cells easier," Garcia said. "So this is more of a transitional step in the ultimate development of fuel-cell vehicles." The city will spend $125,000 to purchase five Toyota Prius hybrid cars, which will go to such "high usage" city employees as building inspectors. The AQMD will contribute more than $2 million to convert the city's autos, along with five cars each from the cities of Ontario, Riverside, Santa Ana and Santa Monica, said Chung Liu, the executive officer heading the organization's technology advancement office. The Department of Defense is also expected to give $500,000 to the program. The end result of the program is to pave the way for cleaner transportation in Southern California, Liu said. "Fuel-cell vehicles don't use a combustible process, they use a chemical process [that emits no exhaust]," he said. "Although there is some air pollution when creating hydrogen fuel, the car's electricity comes from a green source and is basically pollution-free." The AQMD will also build a hydrogen fueling station in each city, including a site at 810 N. Lake St. The plan is to make the stations available for public use once hydrogen-cell cars are on the market. The program's ultimate goal is to help the four-county region meet federal standards for the ground-level ozone air quality deadline in six years, said Councilman Todd Campbell, who is also the policy director for the nonprofit organization Coalition for Clean Air. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected sometime this spring to unveil a plan that would create about 200 refueling stations for hydrogen-powered cars along state highways and interstates, Campbell said. "By doing this, we're not only helping out the basin, we're also supporting the governor and his efforts to ensure the state reaches its goal by 2010," he said. Burbank has 12 electric and 31 natural-gas vehicles, Garcia said, adding that the city expects to have 15 natural gas refuse trucks in its fleet by June. ~

To the average Burbank resident, five hybrid cars the city is getting should appear to be nothing out of the ordinary.

But underneath the hood lies the possible future of vehicle power.

Burbank officials are accelerating toward fuel alternatives by joining a pilot program that will add converted cars running on hydrogen and electricity to the city's vehicle fleet as soon as next spring.

The program, spearheaded by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, bridges the gap between oil-fueled autos and ones that operate on hydrogen, said Marisa Garcia, an administrative analyst for the city's Department of Public Works.

"We're trying to make the transition to fuel cells easier," Garcia said. "So this is more of a transitional step in the ultimate development of fuel-cell vehicles."

The city will spend $125,000 to purchase five Toyota Prius hybrid cars, which will go to such "high usage" city employees as building inspectors.

The AQMD will contribute more than $2 million to convert the city's autos, along with five cars each from the cities of Ontario, Riverside, Santa Ana and Santa Monica, said Chung Liu, the executive officer heading the organization's technology advancement office. The Department of Defense is also expected to give $500,000 to the program.

The end result of the program is to pave the way for cleaner transportation in Southern California, Liu said.

"Fuel-cell vehicles don't use a combustible process, they use a chemical process [that emits no exhaust]," he said. "Although there is some air pollution when creating hydrogen fuel, the car's electricity comes from a green source and is basically pollution-free."

The AQMD will also build a hydrogen fueling station in each city, including a site at 810 N. Lake St. The plan is to make the stations available for public use once hydrogen-cell cars are on the market.

The program's ultimate goal is to help the four-county region meet federal standards for the ground-level ozone air quality deadline in six years, said Councilman Todd Campbell, who is also the policy director for the nonprofit organization Coalition for Clean Air.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected sometime this spring to unveil a plan that would create about 200 refueling stations for hydrogen-powered cars along state highways and interstates, Campbell said.

"By doing this, we're not only helping out the basin, we're also supporting the governor and his efforts to ensure the state reaches its goal by 2010," he said.

Burbank has 12 electric and 31 natural-gas vehicles, Garcia said, adding that the city expects to have 15 natural gas refuse trucks in its fleet by June.