The California fuel cell partnership: an avenue to clean air

The California Fuel Cell Partnership presently consists of eight private co mpanies, two state agencies and a federal government representative that wi ll attempt to demonstrate the feasibility of fuel cell cars and buses. Cali fornia has attempted to advance the commercialization of zero-emission vehi cles for much of the past decade to help the state reduce its high levels o f air pollution. A special advisory panel convened by the California Air Re sources Board concluded last year that fuel cell technology could meet the key requirements for automobiles. The successful commercialization of fuel cell vehicles would help to reduce the levels of ozone, fine particles and toxic air contaminants that pose health risks to California's population. T his technology can also help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. California regulations now encourage the development of zero and near-zero emission v ehicle technologies, including fuel cells. The Fuel Cell Partnership will o perate approximately 50 fuel cell cars and buses until the year 2003 in ord er to produce important information on the vehicles and fueling infrastruct ure needed to support them. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.