Cars to drive, buses to ride and fueling station to tour

Washington, DC - More fuel cell and other hydrogen powered vehicles than ever before - fifteen at current count - will be on display, and for some, put to work at the National Hydrogen Association's Annual Hydrogen Conference in Washington, DC, March 30-April 1, 2005.

"This impressive turnout by auto manufacturers and other vehicle suppliers is like an exclamation point," said NHA President Jeffrey A. Serfass. "It emphasizes the large investments industry is making in hydrogen technologies and products for clean transportation. Available for driving, riding and exhibiting is a wide variety of vehicles, from small passenger cars, to heavy duty buses."

A total of thirteen passenger cars powered by fuel cells or hydrogen internal combustion engines will be on hand, as well as two fuel cell buses. Conference attendees will be able to choose from among eleven of the passenger cars for test rides. The cars will be supplied by auto companies BMW, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Honda, and Toyota and also by ECD and Quantum.

The fuel cell buses, supplied by ISE Corporation and Georgetown University/UTC, will be put into service delivering conference attendees for tours of Shell's new retail fuel station that supplies hydrogen as well as conventional gasoline, located in Northeast Washington. The Shell hydrogen station will be used for fueling the ride-and-drive vehicles and buses during the three-day conference.

About the National Hydrogen Association: The National Hydrogen Association (NHA) is the Nation's premier hydrogen trade organization dedicated to supporting the transition to hydrogen. Efforts are focused on education and outreach, policy, safety and codes and standards. Since 1989, the NHA has served as a catalyst for information exchange and cooperative projects and continues to provide the setting for mutual support among industry, research and government organizations.