Hydrogen, Eh?

As part of the Hydrogen on the Hill project launched last year, the Minister of Environment in Canada (John Baird) was on hand for the opening of the first permanent Hydrogen fueling station in Ottawa, Canada. The new station is the fifth permanent Hydrogen fueling station in Ontario and the tenth currently operating in Canada. The new station's first customers will be three Hydrogen powered buses operated by the Senate of Canada.

Hydrogen on the Hill is led by Industry Canada and Ford of Canada and managed by Advanced Technologies and Fuels Canada with the goal of assessing the environmental benefits and commercial feasibility of using Hydrogen as a transportation fuel.

The buses currently using the technology have already racked up more than 3,700 trouble free miles (6,000 km) over the past year. This project is proof that not only is Hydrogen a clean alternative but also a realistic alternative.

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=780489

Riding On Hydrogen In New Zealand

As part of the Panasonic World Solar Challenge in Australian Steve Ryan is getting ready to drive more than 1,800 miles (3000km) from Darwin to Adelaide on a blend of waste oil and water. Mr. Ryan, the founder of New Zealand based Bios Fuel, will use an old 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser with nearly 250,000 miles (400,000km) on the odometer for the challenge.

Bios Fuel began in 1996 when Mr. Ryan started tinkering with an old motorcycle engine in his Auckland garage. Mr. Ryan's concept became a reality two years ago when he rode a 350cc motorcycle powered solely on water for the CBS television show 60 Minutes.

Mr Ryan says the water based fuel system he is using allows Hydrogen to be housed safely in water and released. Although it is blended with waste oil for lubrication and a bonding agent, ultimately the power comes from water. He says the fuel runs via a normal combustion system and that the delivery system is the key, which he says must remain under wraps.

It is great to see people like Mr. Ryan hard at work proving to skeptics that the possibility of creating a Hydrogen Future is here and now.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4235846a13.html