Energy Secretary Unveils Plan For Hydrogen-Car Systems

Autoparts Report, Nov 19, 2002

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced the "National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap" at the recent Global Forum on Personal Transportation in Dearborn, MI. This "roadmap" details a plan for putting fuel cells in the nation's cars and trucks and further committing the United States to a hydrogen-based transportation system.

"Creating the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of the future presents complex technical challenges," he told business leaders. "Overcoming them will take an intensive and equally complex effort -- but it will be worth it because the stakes really are so high."

The Department of Energy and the nation's leading car and oil companies began work one year ago on the "Roadmap," Abraham said.

Alan P. Niedzwiecki, President and CEO of Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., led the development efforts of the segment addressing hydrogen storage.

"We strongly support the Federal Government's move toward a hydrogen economy and believe that the Roadmap will help guide the nation to solve some of the problems that America faces today with energy independence and environmental concerns." Niedzwiecki added, "We are excited about the implications this Roadmap has for hydrogen storage technology development, and demonstration programs for applications that use hydrogen."