Helping to drive British Columbia's Hydrogen Highway, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, delivered two hydrogen-fueled shuttle buses today to Sacré-Davey Innovations of Vancouver. The new hydrogen internal combustion powered (H2ICE) buses produce nearly zero emissions.

Sacré-Davey, a leader in hydrogen energy systems, will be putting the Ford buses to the test in real-world conditions over the next year. This testing program is critical to demonstrating the commercial viability of using hydrogen as a safe and clean alternative to fossil fuels.

Ford of Canada was the first automaker to deliver hydrogen-fueled vehicles for fleet use in Canada last year. Three shuttle buses featuring hydrogen internal combustion engines replaced gasoline-powered buses used by the Senate of Canada in Ottawa. In addition, Ford of Canada is preparing five more hydrogen shuttle buses for use in other regions of Canada.
 
The Canadian Government provided financial assistance that made this project possible. Industry Canada's contribution of $4.2 million under the Hydrogen Early Adopters (h2EA) program is part of an $8.5-million project being undertaken by Ford of Canada to demonstrate the operation of hydrogen-powered shuttle buses in real-world conditions.

Five firms in four provinces were involved in the development, testing and production of the H2ICE bus.

    * High-pressure storage tanks were made by Calgary's Dynetek Industries
    * Cold-weather testing occurred in northern Manitoba
    * The 235-horsepower 6.8-litre engine was made at Ford's Windsor Engine Plant in Windsor, o­nt.
    * The hydrogen fuel was supplied by Air Liquide of Montreal
    * Bus bodies are made by Les Entreprises Michel Corbeil of St.-Lin-Laurentides, Québec 

Hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines have many advantages including high efficiency, all-weather capability, and near-zero emissions of regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases (CO 2). They can also be easily hybridized for further gains in fuel efficiency.

While the hydrogen internal combustion engine shuttle buses will provide valuable real-world experience, Ford is also conducting research into next generation hydrogen internal combustion engines, including features such as direct injection to enhance power and fuel economy.

Hydrogen Part of a Broader Effort

Ford’s strategy for alternative fuels is built around multiple technologies, including hydrogen internal combustion engines. This flexible approach allows the company to meet goals for customer needs, environmental impact and shareholder interests. The strategy does not focus o­n o­ne catch-all solution, but offers a flexible array of options, including hybrids, clean diesels, bio-diesels, advanced engine and transmission technologies and E85 ethanol.

Additionally, the company also has a fleet of 30 hydrogen powered Focus fuel cell vehicles o­n the road – including five throughout British Columbia – as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real world testing of fuel cell technology. The 30-car fleet has accumulated more than 384,000 km since its inception. Ford of Canada also offers the new 2008 gasoline-electric Escape Hybrid.

The first Canadian H2ICE shuttle bus benefited from more than 7,000 hours of engine development and testing to ensure optimum durability and performance. The engine development process replicated the same stringent durability standards applied to other Ford engines.

Specialized components in the engine include :

    * Valves and valve seats – special hardened materials are used to compensate for hydrogen’s reduced lubricating properties compared to gasoline or natural gas
    * Spark plugs – Iridium tipped plugs allow for increased spark plug life
    * Ignition coils – high energy coil-on-plug coils, to manage unique ignition characteristics
    * Fuel injectors and fuel rail – Fuel injectors designed specifically for hydrogen and high volume fuel rails
    * Crank damper – tuned for hydrogen fuel to ensure smooth operation
    * Pistons, connecting rods and piston rings – high output designs to accommodate the higher combustion pressure of hydrogen combustion
    * Head gasket – accommodates increased combustion chamber pressures
    * Intake manifold – all-new to accommodate twin screw supercharger and water-to-air intercooler
    * Twin screw supercharger and water-to-air intercooler – added to improve power output and maximize efficiency
    * Engine oil – full-synthetic formulation developed in partnership with BP/Castrol optimized for hydrogen combustion properties