Fuel Cell Works Supplemental News Page

**Expo shows promise of hydrogen vehicles life-cycle strategies**
Publication date: 22-June-04 Source: UPI
Washington, DC, Jun. 22 (UPI) -- Fuel cell companies Tuesday gave members of the U.S. Congress a glimpse of technologies that could make hydrogen engines a realistic alternative to gas motors. The U.S. Fuel Cell Council held its 4th annual Fuel Cell Expo on Capitol Hill to demonstrate the possibilities of mobile hydrogen-driven power cells, with one of General Motor Co.'s Hydrogen 3 Opel Zafira Minivans available for a test drive. Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity and water, which is emitted as a vapor as the engine's only byproduct. Hydrogen fuel cells not only produce zero emissions, they also are reliable, even in power outages, and are nearly twice as efficient as gas motors, said Raj Choudhury, manager of GM's hydrogen fuel cell demonstration program. This type of vehicle cannot yet be commercialized because a retail infrastructure for hydrogen is lacking, the systems are expensive to make and it is difficult to develop a competitively efficient storage method, Choudhury told United Press International. USFCC Director of Outreach Programs Bernadette Geyer told UPI the technology also could be used to power other mobile devices, such as laptop computers or even aircraft. "We try to show members of Congress the promise of the technology," Geyer told UPI. "We also try to get them to look forward to the applications that fuel cells can be used for." ~

Washington, DC, Jun. 22 (UPI) -- Fuel cell companies Tuesday gave members of the U.S. Congress a glimpse of technologies that could make hydrogen engines a realistic alternative to gas motors.

The U.S. Fuel Cell Council held its 4th annual Fuel Cell Expo on Capitol Hill to demonstrate the possibilities of mobile hydrogen-driven power cells, with one of General Motor Co.'s Hydrogen 3 Opel Zafira Minivans available for a test drive.

Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity and water, which is emitted as a vapor as the engine's only byproduct.

Hydrogen fuel cells not only produce zero emissions, they also are reliable, even in power outages, and are nearly twice as efficient as gas motors, said Raj Choudhury, manager of GM's hydrogen fuel cell demonstration program.

This type of vehicle cannot yet be commercialized because a retail infrastructure for hydrogen is lacking, the systems are expensive to make and it is difficult to develop a competitively efficient storage method, Choudhury told United Press International.

USFCC Director of Outreach Programs Bernadette Geyer told UPI the technology also could be used to power other mobile devices, such as laptop computers or even aircraft.

"We try to show members of Congress the promise of the technology," Geyer told UPI. "We also try to get them to look forward to the applications that fuel cells can be used for."