Fuel Cell Works Supplemental News Page

**$3.5 million Bill for fuel-cell research at Auburn University**
Publication date: 19-June-04 Source: Associated Press
ANNISTON, Ala. - Federal legislation with $3.5 million for Auburn University's hydrogen fuel-cell research program has won approval in a U.S. House appropriations committee. The bill must still pass the House and the Senate. Auburn engineers demonstrated the research to the Department of Defense in December. The next step will be to adapt their laboratory results to a real-world system. The $3.5 million would help them do that. "It has a lot of interest, we really hope it goes through," said Henry Brandhorst, the director of the Space Research Institute at Auburn. Auburn and Anniston Army Depot officials have discussed possibly including in their research the production of military vehicles built at the depot, said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala. At present, all vehicles produced at the depot use diesel engines, which are prime candidates for fuel-cell technology upgrades. Rogers and Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., worked together on the legislation. They said fuel-cell research promises to provide the technology to help solve America's need for affordable transportation that doesn't exhaust the nation's energy resources. "Motorists all across Alabama are feeling pain at the pump," said Rogers, who also sits on the House Armed Services Committee. "It is vital we develop a long-range energy plan that includes alternative fuels, and I am delighted Auburn University will continue to lead efforts that could provide relief to Alabama motorists and further bolster our national defense." The fuel cell is three times more efficient than regular petroleum, and it has the potential to save the military a considerable amount of money, he said. Hydrogen fuel cells are an efficient, alternative fuel technology that some people hope will be the future of the auto industry. One obstacle has been development of a clean method of turning diesel into hydrogen fuel. A lot of diesel-derived hydrogen fuels have had contaminants in them that are damaging to the fuel cells. Auburn scientists say they have found a way. There are many potential applications throughout the military, because fuel cells are inherently quiet. The Navy has shown an interest as well, Brandhorst said. ~

ANNISTON, Ala. - Federal legislation with $3.5 million for Auburn University's hydrogen fuel-cell research program has won approval in a U.S. House appropriations committee.

The bill must still pass the House and the Senate.

Auburn engineers demonstrated the research to the Department of Defense in December. The next step will be to adapt their laboratory results to a real-world system. The $3.5 million would help them do that.

"It has a lot of interest, we really hope it goes through," said Henry Brandhorst, the director of the Space Research Institute at Auburn.

Auburn and Anniston Army Depot officials have discussed possibly including in their research the production of military vehicles built at the depot, said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.

At present, all vehicles produced at the depot use diesel engines, which are prime candidates for fuel-cell technology upgrades.

Rogers and Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., worked together on the legislation. They said fuel-cell research promises to provide the technology to help solve America's need for affordable transportation that doesn't exhaust the nation's energy resources.

"Motorists all across Alabama are feeling pain at the pump," said Rogers, who also sits on the House Armed Services Committee. "It is vital we develop a long-range energy plan that includes alternative fuels, and I am delighted Auburn University will continue to lead efforts that could provide relief to Alabama motorists and further bolster our national defense."

The fuel cell is three times more efficient than regular petroleum, and it has the potential to save the military a considerable amount of money, he said.

Hydrogen fuel cells are an efficient, alternative fuel technology that some people hope will be the future of the auto industry. One obstacle has been development of a clean method of turning diesel into hydrogen fuel. A lot of diesel-derived hydrogen fuels have had contaminants in them that are damaging to the fuel cells.

Auburn scientists say they have found a way.

There are many potential applications throughout the military, because fuel cells are inherently quiet. The Navy has shown an interest as well, Brandhorst said.