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GM, Shell push for acceptance of hydrogen-powered autos

Shell and General Motors will bring six cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells and two hydrogen refueling pumps to Washington, D.C., in an effort to make policymakers more aware of the technology, the companies will announce Wednesday.

By Earle Eldridge, USA TODAY

Their goal is to get a federal push toward building the massive network of fuel-cell refueling stations around the country that is key to making the technology a reality.

In the vehicles, an electric motor powers the wheels. A chemical reaction inside a unit called a fuel cell — usually between hydrogen, the most abundant element, and oxygen — creates electricity for the motor. The only emission is water vapor.

The lack of smog-causing emissions and the potential for reducing dependence on foreign oil make the technology an attractive alternative to gasoline engines.

But while automakers can build fuel-cell vehicles, they are useless if owners can’t drive away from home, then refuel them for the return.

"We have to make it real in the eyes of our customers, and we have to make it real in the minds of policymakers," says Larry Burns, GM’s vice president of research and development.

GM says it can have a "compelling and affordable" fuel-cell vehicle ready for regular production by 2010. The six vehicles being used in the D.C. test are based on a compact van called Zafira, which is sold in Europe under GM’s Opel brand. GM calls the vehicle the HydroGen3.

Shell says it will put two pumps at a currently operating gas station in Washington. They will be the first pumps installed at a gas station.

Oil companies like Shell are interested in providing hydrogen refueling stations because, says Donald Huberts, CEO of Shell Hydrogen, "We want to be in the business for the long term. Hydrogen is the fuel of the future."

Building plants to produce hydrogen and a delivery network to get it to fuel stations will be costly.

The Society of Automotive Engineers recently estimated that a new nationwide system of hydrogen fueling stations would cost up to $300 billion.

The network now used to ship, store and sell gasoline for combustible engine vehicles took almost 100 years to develop.

Interest in fuel cells grew when President Bush in his Jan. 28 State of the Union address pledged $1.2 billion over five years to develop a commercially viable technology to power cars, trucks, homes and businesses.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham told USA TODAY Tuesday that his agency is working with automakers, oil companies and others on setting standards for fuel-cell technology and having an infrastructure started within 12 years.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-03-04-fuelcell_x.htm

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