Hydrogen highway

A hydrogen highway is a chain of hydrogen-equipped filling stations and other infrastructure along a road or highway which allow hydrogen powered cars to travel. It is an element of the hydrogen infrastructure that is generally assumed to be a pre-requisite for mass utilization of hydrogen cars. For instance, William Clay Ford Jr. has stated that infrastructure is one of three factors (also including costs and manufacturability in high volumes) that hold back the marketability of fuel cell cars. (On the flip side, some commentators such as Amory Lovins in Natural Capitalism, argue that such infrastructure may not be necessary). Hence, there are plans and proposals to begin developing hydrogen highways through private and public funds.

The use of hydrogen cars has been proposed as a means to reduce local pollution and carbon emissions because hydrogen fuel cell cars emit clean exhaust. However, as long as the majority of hydrogen continues to be produced by burning fossil fuels, some pollution is emitted by the hydrogen manufacturing process.

Canada

For more details on this topic, see BC hydrogen highway.

British Columbia

In British Columbia, Canada, the BC Hydrogen Highway is planned to link Vancouver and Whistler. Seven fueling stations were planned. On March 13, 2007, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced funding of almost $200 million Canadian for environmental projects in B.C. including the hydrogen highway.

Germany

Germany has a variety of hydrogen initiatives such as National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Programme (NIP), promoted by government institutions such as NOW GmbH (National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology) and industry groups including the Clean Energy Partnership and DWV (German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association). These initiatives incorporate development of hydrogen stations. In March 2008, the government of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia launched the "NRW Hydrogen HyWay" initiative along the existing hydrogen pipeline (total length 230 km) in the Rhine-Ruhr area.

Italy

One of the first hydrogen highways in Europe is the Motorway of Brennero. It runs from Modena to Verona.^{[citation needed]}

Japan

For more details on this topic, see Hydrogen highway (Japan).

Japan's hydrogen highway is part of the Japan hydrogen fuel cell project. Twelve hydrogen fueling stations have been built in 11 cities in Japan.

Scandinavia

For more details on this topic, see Scandinavian hydrogen highway partnership.

The Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership (SHHP) links the three current hydrogen highways HyNor, Hydrogen Link and HyFuture.

Norway

HyNor - In Norway, a 7 (planned) station hydrogen highway from Oslo to Stavanger, opened on 11 May 2009 in Oslo. In October 2011, Statoil announced they wanted to close their filling stations in Stavanger, Porsgrunn, Drammen and Oslo after 2012.

Sweden

Hydrogen Sweden (formerly Hyfuture / SamVäte i Väst) is the development of a hydrogen highway system in the western region of Sweden.

Denmark

The hydrogen link network is a planned 15 station Nordic Transportation Network (NTN) that serves to link Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Germany.

Spain

The first three Spanish fueling stations are located on the A-23 between Huesca and Zaragoza, opened in June 2010.

United States

There are plans and proposals for hydrogen highways in the United States. In August 2008, fuelcelltoday reported that three new hydrogen fueling stations were opening in the U.S., bringing the total to 70 in the country. In April 2009, however, BNET Auto reported that there are currently 65 hydrogen stations in the U.S.

California

For more details on this topic, see California Hydrogen Highway.

Hydrogen fueling stations began to be built in California by the California Fuel Cell Partnership around 1999. However, they were not systematically positioned to form a hydrogen highway. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a State of the State address in 2004, said: I am going to encourage the building of a hydrogen highway to take us to the environmental future. ... I intend to show the world that economic growth and the environment can coexist. And if you want to see it, then come to California. Schwarzenegger introduced his "Vision 2010" plan. The main objective was for every citizen in California to have access to hydrogen fuel along the state highways by 2010. The plan included the construction of 150 to 200 hydrogen stations to be spaced out a maximum of every 20 miles.

In 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a Senate Bill (SB) 76 to fund the first year of the California Hydrogen Highway project. The bill provided $6.5 million to build the Hydrogen Highway Networkup, known as CaH2Net, with up to three hydrogen fueling stations, as well as allowing leasing or purchase of hydrogen vehicles by the state and requiring development of standards for hydrogen fuel by 2008. Senate Bill (SB) 1505, signed by Schwarzenegger in 2007, put the environmental requirements described in the California Hydrogen Highway Blueprint Plan into statute. As of July 2007, California had 25 stations in operation.

As of March 2009, according to Greenwire, 24 hydrogen fueling stations were operating in California. As of January 2011, there were between 25 and 30, mostly in and around Los Angeles.

Florida

On February 18, 2005, Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, announced proposed legislation (called the Florida Energy Technologies Act) to promote hydrogen technologies in the state. He made this announcement at the ground-breaking of the first fueling station of a proposed hydrogen highway from Orlando to Tampa.

East Coast

The East Coast Hydrogen SuperHighway (or NY Hydrogen H₂IWay) was planned, as of 2006, to extend from New York City to Albany, and further to upstate NY in order to reach Montreal, as well as especially to the west to Buffalo, along the major New York Thruway with further linking to the Interprovincial Hydrogen Corridor planned between Detroit, Toronto and Montreal. No fueling stations have yet been opened.

South Carolina also has a hydrogen freeway in the works. There are currently two hydrogen fueling stations, one each in Aiken and Columbia, SC. According to the South Carolina Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Alliance, the Columbia station has a current capacity of 120 kg a day, with future plans to develop on-site hydrogen production from electrolysis and reformation. The Aiken station has a current capacity of 80 kg. The University of South Carolina, a founding member of the South Carolina Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Alliance, received funding of 12.5 million dollars from the Department of Energy for its Future Fuels Program.

See also

• Alternative Fuels Plan
• Hydrogen economy
• Hydrogen station
• Compressed hydrogen tube trailer
• Liquid hydrogen tank truck

Notes

• ^ Motavalli, Jim (2001). Breaking Gridlock: Moving Towards Transportation That Works. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. pp. 155–156. ISBN 1-57805-039-1. 
• ^ Romm, Joseph. The Hype About Hydrogen, 2nd Edition, 2005, Island Press, ISBN 1-55963-704-8

External links

• California Hydrogen Highway
• Florida's Hydrogen Program
• Hydrogen Highway, Norway to Germany
• an interactive map of hydrogen stations in Europe