A couple of weeks ago I talked about the ITM Power / Ford Focus hydrogen retrofit participating in Great Britain’s Eco Rally 2009. This is a follow up to that story.

The modified 2.0 liter Ford Focus is actually a dual fuel vehicle that can run on either compressed hydrogen gas or gasoline. British Chancellor Alistair Darling actually took the car for a spin as did Zac Goldsmith who drove the first leg of the rally.

According to Goldsmith, “I think it’s a magnificent car. I like it because it’s so simple. I couldn’t tell the difference, driving with gas or hydrogen, it’s the same vehicle, same motion, very easy, very uncomplicated. I like the fact that it’s a fairly straightforward retrofit so we’re not talking hundreds of thousands extra, given that this is a one-off prototype, not conveyor belt made, so if it became mainstream, you’re talking something quite affordable … I fail to see the real obstacles, I don’t think they exist, except in politicians’ minds, and I’d like to see a bit of clarity and maybe a bit of courage” (from them).”

There is also a video taken at the Revolve Eco Rally that ITM Power fans may find of interest outlining the general attributes of the car and how it runs. And there is an even more interesting video (in my opinion) sent in by Lee C. that gives people a glimpse inside the ITM Power facility and laboratory.

Much of this video talks about the home hydrogen fueling station which electrolyzes water cheaply to create hydrogen and compress and store it for vehicle use. The same unit can also be used to power one’s home as well. Solar, wind or grid energy can be used to power this unit. Hydrogen can also replace natural gas in many appliances within the home.

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In August 2007, I talked about Iceland’s desire to become the world’s first hydrogen society. With the country’s vast geothermal and hydro power plus a handful of H2 cars, buses and a Shell Hydrogen fueling station, Iceland was poised to do just this.

But, then in October 2008 Iceland’s economic future fell into chaos as their overextended banks started failing and the government stepped into take control. Now, Iceland’s hydrogen dreams have to be pushed back at least 10 years for its anticipated economic recovery.

And, this time-frame is not solely dependent upon it own dire economic situation, but is also connected to the failing of the large U. S. automakers such as GM and Chrysler. Japanese and German automakers such as Toyota, Nissan, Daimler and BMW are still a source of hope, however.

Hertz Rental Cars of Iceland is still offering converted Toyota Priuses to travelers and Iceland even has a ship called Elding powered by hydrogen. But, with the unemployed in Iceland revolting and the government on shaky ground, hydrogen cars will have to wait until the country becomes more stabilized.

At that point air quality and energy independence may once again become to priorities.

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The global economic recession has not slowed down hydrogen bus development from South America to Europe. In fact both Brazil (congratulations on winning the recent soccer battle) and the Czech Republic have decided to unveil their separate hydrogen fuel cell buses to the world.

In Sao Paulo, Brazil up to 5 hydrogen fuel cell hybrid buses will be purchased, tested and refueled at a central location. The buses also use regenerative braking to help recharge the battery system.

Sao Paulo has the world’s largest bus fleet with 50,000 units manufactured each year and 90-percent of the pollution in that city is due to cars, buses and other engine-powered vehicles. So, the introduction of zero emission vehicles such as hydrogen buses makes sense on the air quality issue alone.

In the Czech Republic, hydrogen fuel cell hybrid buses are also being introduced. The testing of this type of vehicle (pictured) is being called the TriHyBus project. The bus uses a 48 kw Proton fuel cell along with a bank of ultracapacitors.

Regenerative braking is also being used to recharge the ultracapacitors and the Linde Group will be building the hydrogen refueling station in the town of Neratovice and delivering the compressed hydrogen gas from off site.

So, two very different countries thousands of miles apart see the value in developing hydrogen vehicle technology in order to combat tailpipe emissions and gain energy independence. Now, if only the current U. S. administration was so wise we’d all have much more hope for a cleaner and greener future.

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Back in January 2008, I had talked about BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation), Vehicle Projects and the U. S. Army working on a hydrogen fuel cell powered train that would be rolling out soon. Well that day has come at the Topeka, Kansas System Maintenance Terminal.

The world’s first fully operational fuel cell switcher train was introduced by Senator Sam Brownback, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins and other players interested in alternative fuels and air quality. This hydrogen train can also be used as a power generator in disaster areas if needed.

According to Mark Stehly, assistant vice president, Technical Research, Development and Environmental, “BNSF operates through several locations that are in non-attainment areas for air quality as designated by the Environmental Protection Agency. We are investigating and experimenting with this hydrogen-fuel-cell technology for its potential niche application in areas with air quality concerns.”

From Kansas, the hydrogen locomotive will travel to Pueblo, Colorado and then on to Los Angeles, California for additional testing. If all goes well, this particular hydrogen train will be put into service in the smoggy Los Angeles basin where it will be real world tested in actual service along side other traditional diesel locomotives.

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While the Obama Administration and Department of Energy (DOE) have decided to slash the hydrogen research budget by 60-percent and zero out funding for hydrogen vehicles, the U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) has other plans.

The DoD has recently awarded Plug Power Incorporated a $1.5 million contract to produce hydrogen-powered forklifts for the defense department. While this doesn’t seem like a lot of money in comparison it does show that at least one part of the current administration sees value in producing zero emission vehicles powered by hydrogen.

Plug Power, along with Air Products, Proterra and the Gas Technology Institute will not only provide 19 fuel cells and lift trucks for this project but they will also test out a unique method for generating the hydrogen as well.

While most hydrogen produced today is done so by steam reforming natural gas, the hydrogen from this project will come from a wastewater treatment plant digester. I’ve talked about wastewater treatment plants in the past as being a valuable source for hydrogen and the DoD wants to test both production and vehicles under this grant.

Previously Plug Power received $41.9 million from the DOE in federal stimulus money for stationary fuel cell production.

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Professor Robert Pieri, NDSU Mechanical Engineering and his students have been working on a hydrogen powered tractor concept since 2007 and are now putting this H2 / diesel hybrid vehicle to use.

Besides tilling the soil and harvesting the green plants, this tractor is very green itself. The hydrogen is created by a wind turbine on highway 83 that electrolyzes water and produces the H2 gas.

According to Pieri, the conversion of the hydrogen tractor cost around $3,500 without overhauling the engine. With a flip of a couple of switches the tractor can run on either diesel fuel or compressed hydrogen gas.

I’ve talked about a couple of hydrogen fuel cell tractors in the past including the New Holland NH2 and the first fuel cell vehicle on record an Allis Chalmers fuel cell tractor. But, the hydrogen tractor near Fargo uses an internal combustion engine and is a dual fuel vehicle as well.

This opens up many green possibilities for farmers who may wish to run their green tractors on biodiesel, hydrogen or both. With the NDSU hydrogen tractor being such a relatively cheap conversion, this may open up many such future conversions within farming communities.

And what could be more poetic that green tractors farming green fields and selling the produce to green-minded consumers?

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Though ITM Power has had some recent management shakeups, it’s still alive and kicking. At least this is what the British Chancellor Alistair Darling is saying as he took a hydrogen converted Ford Focus for a spin.

The converted Ford Focus was fueled with hydrogen created by ITM Power using solar energy. I’ve talked about ITM Power several times in the past as a company that wants to make hydrogen cars accessible to everyone.

Their plan is to retrofit cars such as the Ford Focus to run on hydrogen. At the same time they are developing low cost home hydrogen refueling stations that run on solar power (or wind power), electrolyze water and create hydrogen cleanly.

ITM Power has also been asked to participate in this year’s Eco Rally from Brighton to London with the modified Ford Focus. While many naysayers talk loudly about how the electrolysis process for creating hydrogen will never be efficient, ITM Power is taking definitive and incremental steps to prove those critics wrong.

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Kirkwood Homes has decided to build a hydrogen fueling station inside a 1,000 house residential community in the northern part of Scotland. Right now, the only other hydrogen fueling station within driving distance is in London.

The Kirkwood Homes residential community will also feature a primary school and potentially a new Ellon academy. The Kirkwood homes plan would be part of the Energetica project, “… which aims to create a 30-mile corridor of energy companies between Aberdeen and Peterhead.”

Now, I’ve talked about unique approaches before regarding rolling out hydrogen fueling stations alongside hydrogen cars. Some people call this method “clustering” as is currently being done in the Los Angeles area with a cluster of hydrogen stations plus the rollout of Honda FCX Clarity’s and Chevy Equinox FCV’s.

I’ve also talked about putting hydrogen fueling stations at rest stops along the highways, at new car dealerships, at 7-11’s and other convenience stores, at wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club plus a handful of other places accessible to the public.

But, the clustering model for large residential communities is an idea I hadn’t thought about before. It makes sense especially along a technology corridor to promote hydrogen cars within a community and provide a hydrogen fueling station as incentive.

It is this kind of outside the box thinking that will keep the hydrogen ball rolling, so to speak, into eventual widespread acceptance in many nations.

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A couple of weeks ago I talked about how Jesse James from the TV show, “Jesse James Is A Dead Man”, Donald Trumps “Celebrity Apprentice” and other fame would be attempting to set a land-speed record for a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine vehicle (ICE).

Yesterday, James did just this by rocketing his Streamliner to a record 199.7 mph, beating out the previous land-speed hydrogen ICE holder the BMW HR2, which was clocked in Germany at 185.5 mph. The company that clocked Jesse James’ record ride on the El Mirage dry lake bed in California’s Mojave Desert, was Southern California Timing Association.

Now, in August 2007 the Ford 999 set a land-speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at 207.297 mph. But, these are two very different cars using extremely different technology. Both technologies however, fueled by hydrogen are zero emissions (or near zero emissions), meaning these race cars are non-polluting which is unheard of in the race car world.

Jesse James’ world record setting ride will be aired on his TV show on SpikeTV Sunday, August 9, 2009. Breaking the 200 mph barrier would have been sweet, but breaking the previous record by over 14 mph with only a water vapor trail for emissions, will let the world know that hydrogen cars are not gutless, little tofu-eating vehicles.

Hydrogen cars can be about speed and zero emissions if you want them to be.

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The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Google have decided to launch an interactive TransAtlas map where a person can find fueling stations for hydrogen, propane, electric, LNG, CNG, E85 and Biodiesel. It’s a good start.

I’ve listed this particular map along with several others on a page called Hydrogen Fueling Station Locator Maps. One drawback I see already on the NREL, DOE and Google map is that it doesn’t list all of the public hydrogen fueling stations in California.

A quick search of the TransAtlas map will show about 20 hydrogen fueling stations listed. If one were to do the same search on the National Hydrogen Association map for public operational hydrogen fueling stations in California, one will see 27 stations listed.

But, nonetheless, the TransAtlas map is a worthy start and attempt to inform the public about alternative fueling stations open to them especially if a long road trip is desired. Use this map along with the other listed on the page I’ve linked to and you’ll get a better picture of where the hydrogen stations are (and aren’t) in this country right now.

One last noteworthy feature that the TransAtlas map has and the others don’t is the listing of current hydrogen production facilities in the U. S. For those who say there is currently no hydrogen infrastructure already in place this feature may just surprise you.

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