Presentations from Ford Motor Company, California Air Resources Board, Shell Hydrogen, ISE Corp. and many others detailed the latest information on hydrogen ICE, fueling infrastructure, blends, economics and regulation to attendees. 

While HICE faces many of the same challenges in fuel economics and availability that confront fuel cells, it relies on readily available and constantly improving internal combustion and drivetrain technology. 

With advances in the arenas of fuel blends, turbo- and supercharging, fuel injection and combustion refinements, HICE can provide up to 90 percent of the benefits of fuel cells in terms of emissions, efficiency and range for a fraction of the cost. 

Optimizing engines with high compression, precise fuel mixture and injection control, pressure boost and aftertreatment, emissions, including NOx, are driven down to miniscule levels. 

While onboard storage remains a problem, the potential for range extension via higher pressure storage and hybridized powertrains is being demonstrated currently. 

The recurring question at the end of the day was, is HICE technology capable of performing beyond what most contemplated as its limits, or is fuel cell technology lagging? 

The answer to that question is being debated, but most agreed that HICE should be considered an enabling technology that can promote a hydrogen-based transportation economy, rather than simply a transitional technology to a fuel cell future.