Hydrogen Fuel Cell Fleet Automobiles in Orlando

In September 2005, Lt. Governor Toni Jennings joined representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, Ford Motor Company, BP America and Progress Energy Florida at Wekiwa Springs State Park to laud the arrival of Florida’s first hydrogen fuel cell fleet. Through the federal government’s Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project, Ford is supplying Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection and Progress Energy with five hydrogen-powered Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicles. One of the hydrogen-powered Ford Focus will give DEP park rangers a pollution-free ride during everyday operations at Wekiwa Springs State Park, two more vehicles will be utilized by DEP’s Central Regulatory District for field inspections. Progress Energy’s energy-efficiency specialists and customer account managers will use the remaining two hydrogen-fueled cars at their Jamestown Operations Center.

Partners: Ford Motor Company , BP America   and Progress Energy

Hydrogen-Fueled Buses in Orlando

In 2005, Florida’s “hydrogen highway” surged as Governor Jeb Bush joined Ford Motor Company CEO Bill Ford and executives from Chevron Texaco Corporation and Progress Energy Florida to break ground on the state’s first hydrogen energy station. Once completed, the energy station in bustling metro-Orlando will fuel Ford E-450 hydrogen-powered shuttle buses transporting visitors at the Orlando International Airport.

The visionary plan to couple hydrogen buses with a nearby refueling station is a collaboration between the State of Florida, Ford, ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures and Progress Energy. Using technology designed and integrated by ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures, the new energy station will provide the foundation for a “hydrogen hub” in Central Florida where hydrogen fleets will be concentrated with a series of fueling stations to demonstrate and accelerate commercialization of the clean technology.

Located on property owned by Progress Energy, the state’s first hydrogen energy station will provide a test platform for showcasing the safe and cost-effective production, storage and dispensing of hydrogen as a transportation fuel. Worldwide, energy companies, automakers and petroleum companies are investing more than $2 billion annually to grow the hydrogen industry and diversify with new, sustainable sources of energy.

Partners: Ford Motor Company , ChevronTexaco Corporation and Progress Energy Florida

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High School Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Educational Curriculum

North Port is the first school in the nation to teach students about emerging hydrogen technology using an on-site hydrogen fuel cell together with a hydrogen science curriculum. The U.S. Department of Energy designated North Port as one of only 10 Hydrogen Education sites nationwide, supplying the school with a hydrogen curriculum complete with laboratory experiments.

To further hands-on learning, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection partnered with Florida Power and Light and Sarasota County to install a hydrogen fuel cell at the school The pollution-free fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, forming just water and heat as byproducts. The cell will supply the power grid at North Port High School with five kilowatts of energy -- enough to completely power one classroom with the water produced by the cell being used to care for landscaping and the heat to warm water in the school’s kitchen.

Partners: North Port High School , Florida Power & Light and Plug Power

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Homosassa Springs State Park Powered Hydrogen Fuel Cell

In June 2005, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell system, which is now powering the park’s Wildlife Encounter Pavilion. The partnership between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Progress Energy Florida provides clean energy to the park and shares the benefits of emerging “next-generation” technology with hundreds of thousands of visitors. The fuel cell system uses five-kilowatt solar panels to split water molecules into hydrogen and pure oxygen. The fuel cell then converts the hydrogen gas into electricity, which is used to power the park’s Wildlife Encounter Pavilion.

Partners: Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Progress Energy
Florida

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