Air Resources Board provides $250,000 for new hydrogen-powered

San Mateo County merges onto Hydrogen Highway

Air Resources Board provides $250,000 for new hydrogen-powered
shuttle


EAST PALO ALTO, Calif.: Saturday's "Ride into the Future"
transportation fair in East Palo Alto featured the area's first
hydrogen powered shuttle, funded in part by the California Air
Resources Board.

A $250,000 grant for the state's Hydrogen Highway program
sponsored the shuttle that will take residents to stops between
the Palo Alto Caltrain Station and East Palo Alto. The new
shuttle, a Ford E-450, is powered by a supercharged 6.8-liter
V-10 engine modified to run exclusively on hydrogen.

"As we continue to wean ourselves off petroleum fuels, we will
see more and more hydrogen powered shuttles like this on our
roadways," said Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air
Resources Board. "This shuttle illustrates the great potential
hydrogen has to power California's vehicles and subsequently its
economy. Kudos to San Mateo County for taking the initiative on
this important cutting-edge project."

Governor Schwarzenegger created the Hydrogen Highway initiative
in 2004 to demonstrate hydrogen as a viable transportation fuel,
promote hydrogen transportation technologies and public
education, and facilitate California's transition to a hydrogen
economy. The program is designed to assure an infrastructure is
in place to refuel hydrogen based technologies as they become
commercially available. Presently 23 hydrogen stations are
available throughout California with more planned.

"Ford is the world's first automaker to deliver commercial
vehicles powered by internal combustion engines that are fueled
exclusively with hydrogen," said Sue Cischke, senior vice
president, Ford Motor Company, Sustainability, Environment and
Safety Engineering. "This bus represents part of our strategy
and commitment to delivering transportation solutions that emit
less CO2 and reduce our dependence on oil. We are honored to
have the opportunity to partner with the California Air
Resources Board and bring this unique bus to San Mateo County
residents." As part of its test fleet, Ford will deliver by
year's end 30 buses to customers across North America.

According to City/County Association of Governments Chair,
Deborah C. Gordon, "This program provides service to the Palo
Alto Caltrain station for the transit dependent community of
East Palo Alto in a manner that also advances the technology for
clean air vehicles."

For more information on shuttle routes go here,
http://www.samtrans.com/ .

For more information on hydrogen and the Hydrogen Highway go
here http://www.hydrogenhighway.ca.gov/ .

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.