Environment DEC
From the December 2004 issue
State First Government Customer to Lease New 2005 Honda FCX Vehicle
Governor George E. Pataki announced an agreement with Honda Motor Corp. to lease two Honda FCX hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, adding to the state's growing fleet of alternative fuel vehicles and further demonstrating New York's leadership in the development and use of clean, highly efficient energy technologies. New York is the first state government customer for these vehicles in the United States and will be the first to operate them in the Northeast.
American Honda
Motor Co, Inc.
President & CEO
Mr. Koichi Kondo and
Governor George Pataki
with the fuel cell
prototype car Honda FCX
"New York is pleased to partner with Honda to utilize these innovative fuel cell vehicles, which use emerging technology to significantly reduce energy use, promote cleaner air and help break our dependence on foreign oil," said Governor Pataki. "Fuel cells-like those used in this vehicle-have the potential to revolutionize the transportation and energy industries, and we are proud that the state will play a major role in helping to develop the next generation of clean, energy efficient vehicles."
Testing Program
As part of Honda's testing program for the 2005 FCX, New York State will lease two cars for a period of two years with the first vehicle expected to be delivered in December and the second in mid-2005. The vehicles are the first fuel cell vehicles in New York's fleet.
This new Honda automobile's
fuel cell technology will help
reduce air pollution and
save energy
The state's participation in the testing program will play a critical role in demonstrating the cold-weather performance capabilities of the Honda FCX and the breakthrough Honda FC stack, which has the ability to start in sub-freezing temperatures.
The Honda FCX is a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle, which converts compressed gaseous hydrogen into electricity for motive power, with water as its only emission. The 2005 FCX has a range of up to 190 miles and seating for four people, making it practical for a wide range of real-world applications. The Honda FCX is the world's most advanced fuel cell vehicle. It is the only fuel cell car to be certified by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for regular daily use.
Other Partners
To advance the development of a hydrogen infrastructure and the future viability of hydrogen power for the automotive industry, Honda also has partnered with Latham, NY-based Plug Power, Inc. on the development of a home energy station (HESII). The HESII would allow customers to refuel their fuel cell vehicles at home while supplying supplemental electricity and heat for the home.
The HESII prototype is located at Plug Power's headquarters in Latham and will provide the state with refueling options while providing real-world data for further development of this innovative technology. Honda also has agreed to provide an Air Products mobile refueling station at the Harriman State Office Campus in Albany for use in refueling the state-leased vehicles.
State Clean-Fueled Vehicle Program
New York State's Clean Fueled Vehicle Program was created in 1996 through the $1.75 billion Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act. The program was established within OGS with the purpose of acquiring clean-fueled vehicles for state use and testing and evaluating new technologies. It is operated by the Clean-Fueled Vehicle Council, which includes OGS and representatives from 16 agencies and the State University of New York.
Beginning in model year 1997, the Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) required state agencies to increase their acquisitions of alternative-fueled vehicles for state fleets. New York State has exceeded these federally mandated requirements for the sixth consecutive year-in model year 2003, by nearly 14 percent. In 2003, 89 percent of all light-duty vehicles purchased by New York State were alternative-fueled vehicles.
Currently, the state has 4,141 alternative-fueled vehicles in its fleet, using a variety of different fuels, such as CNG, ethanol, propane, electric and hybrids. These vehicles make up 32 percent of the total vehicles in the state's fleet, and by 2009, that number is expected to rise to 62 percent.
Fuel Cell Vehicles
Fuel cell vehicles (FCV), such as the Honda FCX, represent a radical departure from vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines. FCVs powered by clean, highly efficient hydrogen emit little or no greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants, can help reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and are quieter and more energy efficient than conventional fuel vehicles.
Like battery-electric vehicles, FCVs are propelled by electric motors. But while battery-electric vehicles use electricity from an external source and store it in a battery, FCVs create their own electricity. Fuel cells on board the vehicles create electricity through a chemical process using hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air.
FCVs can be fueled with pure hydrogen gas stored on board in high-pressure tanks. They also can be fueled with hydrogen-rich fuels, such as methanol, natural gas, or even gasoline. However, these fuels must first be converted into hydrogen gas by an on board device called a "reformer."
FCVs fueled with pure hydrogen emit no pollutants, only water and heat. In addition, FCVs can be twice as efficient as similarly sized conventional vehicles and may also incorporate other advanced technologies to increase efficiency.
Hydrogen Roadmap
Earlier this year, New York committed $750,000 to help create a "Hydrogen Roadmap" in the state that will identify the steps needed to systematically put in place a hydrogen infrastructure and educate the public about hydrogen-related energy. In addition, NYSERDA has partnered with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to create one of four new hydrogen technology learning centers in the country. These centers will serve to educate students, potential end-users, local officials and the public about the vision of a hydrogen economy, hydrogen technologies and applications, the safe use of hydrogen as an energy carrier, and the challenges to achieving a hydrogen economy.
