Caltrans H2 Vehicle and Infrastructure Project

Project description

In 2005, DaimlerChrysler launched a project with California Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH) to explore the use of DaimlerChrysler’s hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the “F-Cell,” as both a passenger vehicle and a potential commercial fleet vehicle. The F-Cell uses a 72-kilowatt proton-exchange membrane fuel cell system and a 15-kilowatt battery to power its electric motor. The vehicle has an approximate 100-mile driving range on two kilograms of hydrogen gas stored at 5,000 psi (350 bar). 

California PATH employees have had the opportunity to drive and refuel the F-Cell as a way for researchers to evaluate user experiences with the vehicle. The F-Cell is refueled at the Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District station in Richmond, Calif. During the day, project participants drive the F-Cell vehicle and at night, the vehicle wirelessly relays its trip information back to DaimlerChrysler in Germany. Researchers at IMR and Caltrans conducted several user surveys, “ride-and-drive” clinics, and focus groups in the summer of 2007 to gauge how people felt about driving and refueling the F-Cell. IMR and Caltrans have also partnered to explore the possibility of using intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to maximize the vehicle’s potential, which will be instrumental to introducing the F-Cell vehicle to the public while the hydrogen infrastructure is developed.

Learn More

U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center

http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/

U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Program

http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/index.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute

http://www.afvi.org/

California Hydrogen Highway

http://hydrogenhighway.ca.gov/

Fuel Cells 2000

www.fuelcells.org

DaimlerChrysler F-Cell Project