Following the national H2Mobility initiatives that have been started across Europe in Germany, UK, France, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal. The US Department of Energy (DOE) on May 13, 2013 launched H2USA. Structured as a public-private partnership, H2USA, will focus on advancing hydrogen infrastructure to support more transportation energy options for US consumers, including fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy indicated that “fuel cell technologies are an important part of an all-of-the-above approach to diversify America’s transportation sector, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase our competitiveness in the global market. By bringing together key stakeholders from across the U.S. fuel cell and hydrogen industry, the H2USA partnership will help advance affordable fuel cell electric vehicles that save consumers money and give drivers more options.”
The new partnership brings together automakers, government agencies, gas suppliers, and the hydrogen and fuel cell industries to coordinate research and identify cost-effective solutions to deploy infrastructure that can deliver affordable, clean hydrogen fuel in the United States.Current members of the H2USA partnership include the American Gas Association; Association of Global Automakers; the California Fuel Cell Partnership; the Electric Drive Transportation Association; the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association; Hyundai Motor America; ITM Power; Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition; Mercedes-Benz USA; Nissan North America Research and Development; Proton OnSite; and Toyota Motor North America.Through H2USA, industry and government partners will focus on identifying actions to encourage early adopters of fuel cell electric vehicles; conduct coordinated technical and market analysis; and evaluate alternative fueling infrastructure that can enable cost reductions and economies of scale.For example, infrastructure being developed for alternative fuels such as natural gas, as well as fuel cell applications including tri-generation that produce heat, power and hydrogen from natural gas or biogas, may also provide low cost hydrogen for vehicles. In addition, increased fuel cell deployment for combined heat and power, back-up power systems and fuel cell forklifts can help pave the way for mainstream hydrogen vehicle infrastructure.
The CTC Network promotes the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies for low carbon and climate resilient development at the request of developing countries.
