Title: Integrated Hydrogen and Intelligent Transportation Systems Evaluation for the California Department of Transportation
Publication Information: California PATH Research Report, MOU 5112, 2005, 63 pp. UC Berkeley
Report Number: UCB-ITS-PRR-2005-34
Author(s): Timothy Lipman and Susan Shaheen
Document Date: 11/1/05
Number of Pages: 63
Price: $10
Abstract:
This project was conceived to investigate hydrogen activities in
the State and around the U.S. that might impact the California
Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) operations. It is intended to
review these activities and to suggest potential interesting
applications of combined hydrogen and intelligent transportation system
(ITS) technologies. The main theme underlying this study is the
potential for synergies between two rapidly evolving areas of advanced
transportation and energy technology: hydrogen energy systems and ITS.
The authors hypothesize that concepts and schemes that combine these
two types of technologies can help to enable the potential use of
hydrogen infrastructure by, first and foremost, allowing communication
and mapping/navigation technologies to optimize the access to and
operation of initially sparse hydrogen refueling networks. Additional
benefits include helping to contend with the potentially limited
driving range of initial hydrogen-powered vehicles and exposing
consumers to new technolgies in ways that do not require purchasing
them, such as through fleet/motor pools, transit, and carsharing (i.e.,
short-term vehicle rentals) organization operations. Based on this
initial investigation, the authors conclude that: 1) Several states are
competing with California to develop hydrogen plans and to attract the
emerging hydrogen and fuel cell industry to their states, including
most notably New York and Florida; 2) DOTs in these states have for the
most part been interested observers to this point but are beginning to
be drawn into hydrogen activities in these states, and in some cases
have been clearly identified as expected project partners; 3) The U.S.
DOT is conducting activities at a relatively modest but significant
level, particularly with respect to codes and standards development and
hydrogen transit buses; 4) Hydrogen activities will be continuted for
FY 2005/2006 at the U.S. DOT under the newly-created Research and
Innovation Technology Administration (RITA), taking over from the
former Research and Special Projects Administration (RSPA) in most
respects; 5) The California Hydrogen Blueprint Plancontains several
references to Caltrans as a potential key partner in hydrogen projects,
particularly related to partnering on hydrogen station siting and
incorporating hydrogen-powered vehicles in its fleets; 6) Many
different ITS technologies are applicable to the potential introduction
of new alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) types, particularly with regard
to the challenges of developing new vehicle refueling networks for the
hydrogen-powered vehicles and to help enable potential vehicle to grid
(V2G) power schemes; and 7) Emerging technologies and concepts for the
distributed generation of electrical power have potential technological
and economic interactions with hydrogen vehicle and refueling systems
and ITS.
Keywords:
Hydrogen, ITS, policy