Vancouver welcomes hydrogen-powered vehicles on Clean Air Day

Vancouver welcomes hydrogen-powered vehicles on Clean Air Day

B.C.’s Powertech provides fueling support for journey from California

VANCOUVER – Twelve hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric vehicles will finish a nineday, 2,700-kilometre road rally in Vancouver today, Clean Air Day. The caravan of cars departed from California on May 26 to give the public a glimpse into the future of cleantransportation.

Powertech, BC Hydro’s subsidiary specializing in clean energy consulting services, has provided hydrogen fueling support for the vehicles.

"This initiative is a great example of how sharing expertise with other jurisdictions can lead to new, sustainable solutions," said Premier Gordon Campbell. "British Columbia will open the first leg of the Hydrogen Highway in time for the Olympics and we will work in partnership with the Pacific Coast states to establish hydrogen fuelling stations that will allow vehicles to travel from B.C. to Baja, California."

Residents at 28 stops along the way had the opportunity to view and drive the vehicles as they made their up the Highway 99/Interstate 5 corridor, also known as the green highway – a proposed network of alternative fueling stations connecting B.C with California.

"The clean hydrogen fuel cell technology being demonstrated and tested in this California to British Columbia rally has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation," said Mossadiq Umedaly, Executive Chairman of Powertech. "Powertech is playing a critical role in supporting the accelerated development and testing of clean fuel-cell technology while supporting the broader deployment of electric vehicles." "Powertech is the leader in providing engineering consulting and testing services for clean transportation solutions, which include hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and high pressure fuelling systems," said Eamonn Percy, President and Chief Operating Officer of Powertech. "We are pleased to be supporting this long distance rally that is demonstrating and testing transportation applications of hydrogen fuel cell technology in real world conditions."

Hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles provide the performance, driving range and refilling times associated with gasoline-powered vehicles but with zero emissions.

The caravan of the vehicles features cars from seven auto manufacturers: Daimler, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. Powertech will be providing 700 bar hydrogen fueling support for the vehicles.

The road rally was organized by Powertech, the California Air Resources Board, California Fuel Cell Partnership,National Hydrogen Association and the U.S. Fuel Cell Council.

In California, 300 zero-emission fuel-cell electric vehicles are currently on the roads, building anticipation for plans released by automakers, energy companies and government agencies to collectively roll out 4,300 passenger vehicles to customers in California by 2014.

For more information on Powertech, visit http://www.powertechlabs.com/cfm/index.cfm?, the Hydrogen Road tour, visit www.hydrogenroadtour.com, and for information on the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2009 Conference, visit www.hfc2009.com.

About Powertech

Powertech, a subsidiary of BC Hydro, is a world leader in implementing clean energy solutions, including testing of fuel-cell electric-vehicle systems, fueling systems and the design and construction of 700 bar hydrogen fueling stations. Powertech developed the world¹s first 700 bar hydrogen fast fill fueling station.

About the California Fuel Cell Partnership

CaFCP is a public-private collaboration of organizations, including auto manufacturers,

energy providers, fuel cell technology companies and government agencies working

together to promote the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen and fuel cell

vehicle technology are a central part of a long-term strategy for air quality, climate

protection and energy diversity.

For more information, contact: