Epa, Ups, And Daimler-Chrysler Test Fuel Cell Vehicles
A new government-industry partnership to put hydrogen-powered fuel cell delivery vehicles on the road has been announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United Parcel Service, and Dailmer-Chrysler.
For the first time, delivery fuel cell vehicles will be tested in a real-world driving environment on the nation’s streets.
This will be the first time zero emission medium duty fuel cell delivery vehicles are introduced as a part of a commercial vehicle fleet in the United States.
The fuel cell test program will be based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.
Later this year, a fuel cell test vehicle based on the DaimlerChrysler Mercedes-Benz A-Class, will be available for use as an express-delivery vehicle by UPS.
In 2004, one or more fuel cell Dodge Sprinters will be delivered as the first medium duty fuel cell commercial vehicle to be put in service in the United States.
The DaimlerChrysler fuel cell vehicles will be used in a typical UPS delivery operations on established routes. The program will enable EPA and the partner companies to continue evaluating fuel cell vehicle attributes such as fuel economy, varying weather conditions and driving performance.
EPA’s Ann Arbor lab will provide a hydrogen refueling station to fuel the UPS delivery vehicles for the fuel cell vehicle initiative.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., of Allentown, Pennsylvania, will design and build the hydrogen fueling station.
This partnership and the promising technologies of fuel cells and hydrogen fuel fit together with EPA’s overall strategy of protecting public health and the environment while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This strategy includes the Clear Skies Act of 2003, the historic recent proposal for nonroad diesel engines, the Clean School Bus USA Initiative, and the SmartWayK Transport program.
In his 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush challenged America to move the country toward greater use of hydrogen as an energy source. His request for $1.2 billion to support research into the development of efficient, affordable hydrogen fuel cells represents a significant investment in both energy self-sufficiency and environmental protection.