June '04 Newsletter

Over the past two decades American's consumption of oil has grown steadily, resulting in more imports and more stress on international oil markets. In response to growing concerns about oil supply an array of alternative fuels have been championed as possible alternatives to oil. In the late 1970s it was synthetic fuels; methanol gained favor in the 1980s; and battery-powered vehicles were backed by many major car companies in the 1990s. Today, however, some CITRIS researchers at the University of California at Davis and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger agree that the most plausible answer may be hydrogen.

On April 20, 2004, amid a roar of applause and flashing media cameras, Governor Schwarzenegger launched the Hydrogen Highway Network at UC Davis and unveiled the university's new hydrogen fueling station, the first publicly accessible station in the network.

"The goal of the California Hydrogen Highway Network initiative is to support and catalyze a rapid transition to a clean, hydrogen transportation economy in California, thereby reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and protecting our citizens from health harms related to vehicle emissions," said Governor Schwarzenegger in his California Hydrogen Highway Network Action Plan.

Leading the charge to help fulfill this vision is CITRIS researcher and Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science and Policy at UC Davis Dan Sperling. "The case for hydrogen is threefold," notes Sperling. "First, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles appear to be a superior consumer product desired by the automotive industry. Second ... the potential exists for dramatic reductions in the cost of hydrogen production, distribution, and use. And third, hydrogen provides the potential for zero tailpipe pollution, near-zero well-to-wheels emissions of greenhouse gases, and the elimination of oil imports..."

In addition to his professorial duties at UC Davis, Sperling is also Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Davis). The institute, which is playing a pivotal role in helping to advance hydrogen fuel cell research and development, was recently awarded $10 million in research and outreach grants over a five year period by the U.S. Department of Energy. The award is part of an overarching $350 million Hydrogen Research Initiative program being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

"UC Davis already partners with the Department of Energy on many clean energy projects. The new hydrogen programs will provide one more outstanding opportunity for us to apply our research and education capabilities in support of federal initiatives," said Sperling.

One of the projects that will be facilitated by the grant is the development of a state-of-the-art hydrogen fueling station based at UC-Davis that will be constructed by ChevronTexaco. This station will be a test platform for both "well-to-wheels" hydrogen systems and individual elements of the systems, including hydrogen generation, power stations, fueling procedures, fuel cells, and design codes. ITS-Davis and CITRIS researchers will also work with industry partners on using fuel cells for off-road vehicles, such as maintenance and utility vehicles. CITRIS is excited to add these projects to its expanding research portfolio.

For more information:

ITS-Davis

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, more than half of the automobile trips we take in our cities are five miles or less. Not surprisingly, we're driving solo most of the time. This isn't just bad for the environment though. Parking in urban centers can wreak havoc on our nerves. In the Bay Area, buses, light rail, and heavy rail extend to most major destinations, but the short hop between, say, your office and the nearest transit station can be a challenge. To that end, the California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT) has undertaken a CITRIS-supported effort to improve Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) connectivity and access with low-speed mobility devices.

What is the goal of this research project?
Novick: Our group is looking at ways to help people connect public transit to their home or work. The idea grew out of our Carsharing Research Project. We realized that not only could carsharing concepts improve transit station access, but other lower-speed modes that have even less impact on the environment could be an option as well.

What kinds of low-speed mobility devices are you studying?
We're initially looking at devices like the Segway Human Transporter, electric bicycles, and regular bicycles. The electric bikes are nice because you go a little faster and don't get as sweaty, but it's still a bit of exercise.

How would the system work?
You would ride the BART train to the station nearest your work. There, you'd show your ID at a kiosk in the station where your name would be checked against a list of program participants who have completed training on the devices. You'd then hop on one of them and ride the one to four miles to work. During the day, other employees could sign up to share the device to get to lunch appointments or meetings that are nearby but too far a walk. You'd have a standing reservation to take the mobility device back to the BART station at the end of the day. After you dropped it off, you'd get on the next train to go home.

Who would pay for all of this?
We expect participating businesses to pay a nominal monthly fee, mainly to offset the cost of the vendor at the transit station. Perhaps they'd provide it as an employee benefit to encourage alternative forms of commuting.

What stage is the project at right now?
We've identified the Pleasant Hill BART station as the location of our pilot demonstration. We completed safety studies and conducted interviews with various government officials, businesses that may sign up to participate, and members of the community. Hopefully, the actual pilot program will begin this summer.

For more information:

Linda Novick's home page
http://www.innovativemobility.org/people/linda_novick.htm

Innovative Mobility Research Group
http://www.innovativemobility.org