(SACRAMENTO) — The California Fuel Cell Partnership today announced that the South Coast Air Quality Management District has joined its public-private venture to demonstrate and promote fuel cell vehicles as a technology both environmentally safe and commercially viable.
The Partnership -- which formally began in April 1999 -- includes auto manufacturers (DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen); energy providers (ARCO, Shell, and Texaco); a fuel cell company (Ballard Power Systems); and government agencies (the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, and now the South Coast AQMD).
South Coast AQMD is the nation’s largest local air pollution control agency, covering all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. AQMD’s familiarity with alternative fuel vehicles will enhance the Partnership’s fuel cell demonstration and infrastructure efforts, especially in an area that is home to nearly half of all Californians.
"We are committed to working with our industry and government partners to determine the best path for establishing zero-emission fuel cell vehicles as a viable technology," said Norma Glover, vice chair of AQMD’s Governing Board. "With more than a decade of support for fuel cell development under our belts, we now look forward to doing our part to address remaining challenges so that fuel cell vehicles can be brought quickly to market and help us achieve clean air goals for the South Coast Air Basin."
The Partnership is a voluntary effort to advance a new automobile technology that could move the world toward practical and affordable environmental solutions. The Partnership will demonstrate fuel cell-powered electric vehicles under real day-to-day driving conditions; will demonstrate the viability of an alternative fuel infrastructure technology; explore the path to commercialization; and increase public awareness of fuel cell electric vehicles. The Partnership will place more than 50 fuel cell passenger cars and fuel cell buses on the road between 2000 and 2003.
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