November 2004

E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Version Gov. Schwarzenegger, left, and GM vice chairman Bob Lutz fill up the Hydrogen Hummer at the new hydrogen fueling station at Los Angeles International Airport last month..

LOS ANGELES - Hydrogen moved another small step closer to everyday reality with the opening of a commercial-style hydrogen fueling station at Los Angeles International Airport last month.

Bringing some Hollywood glamour as well as statesmanship to the occasion was California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger who drove up to the compressed hydrogen pump in a brand-new dark-blue Hummer dubbed H2H, converted to hydrogen by General Motors.

The conversion of what is GM’s first and probably only foray into hydrogen i.c. technology was accomplished in cooperation with its fuel cell alliance partner and specialist in packaged hydrogen fuel systems, Irvine, CA-based Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.

“The unveiling today of the H2H and the state’s first hydrogen fueling station proves the viability of hydrogen fuel technology,” intoned the governor. “The hydrogen Hummer and all the other fuel cell vehicles represented here today show that our vision for California’s Hydrogen Highway is real and attainable. It won’t happen overnight, but we must plant the seeds of success today.”

DaimlerChrysler said it plans to station a fuel cell-powered F-Cell car at LAX airport, and there were some media reports that the company may put more into service there.

The new $2 million, 10,500 sq. ft. retail-style facility bearing a BP logo was jointly financed by industrial gas provider Praxair which was in charge of planning and building the station; BP; Los Angeles World Airport, the owner and operator of the airport; the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the California Energy Commission, and the U.S. Department of Energy. BP markets its traditional gasoline and diesel fuels in California under the ARCO brand.

Canada’s Stuart Energy provided the electrolytic hydrogen generation equipment which produces 24 kg of hydrogen/day.

It is apparently only the second airport anywhere to boast a hydrogen fueling station for road vehicles. The first one was built at Munich airport in Germany (H&FCL Oct. 97).

The Hydrogen Hummer, a so-called SUT (Sport Utility Truck) is a one-off project. Contrary to earlier speculation in the hydrogen community that Gov. Schwarzenegger would have one of his own Hummers - he is said to own several - converted to the fuel, this one came straight from GM via a team of engineers from the United States, Canada and Germany together with Quantum’s experts, a GM spokesman told H&FCL.

“The H2H was created for two purposes,” said Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president for Environment & Energy. “It brings focus and attention to the journey to a hydrogen economy, and it will provide GM with key learnings on hydrogen storage, hydrogen delivery systems, and hydrogen infrastructure development.”

The vehicle is powered by a supercharged version of the original Vortec 6000, 6-liter, V-8 engine that normally puts out 365 HP. With hydrogen, power is reduced by about 30%, according to the GM spokesman. It is not a dual-fuel vehicle, but dedicated to hydrogen only.

A total of 5.5 kg of hydrogen is stored at 5,000 psi in three tanks, one in the covered bed and two underneath the vehicle. The range is about 50 miles between refueling, 60 miles at best, according to GM. Contacts: Tiffany Moffat, 916/448-5802; GM, Dave Barthmuss, 805/373-9572, e-mail dave.barthmuss@gm.com.