Fuel-Cell Car Demonstration Gives Denver Students Glimpse of Future Hydrogen Economy 2/4/2004
From: Tom Welch of the Energy Department, 202-586-5806 DENVER, Feb. 4 -- A top U.S. Department of Energy official gave middle and elementary school students a glimpse into the future Wednesday by demonstrating hydrogen fuel technologies designed to reduce pollution and end America's dependence on foreign oil. "As adults you will be entering the most technically challenging living and work environment the world has ever known," Carl Michael Smith, Assistant Secretary, Office of Fossil Energy, told students at Rishel Middle School in Denver. "Math is the gateway and science is the key to world marketplace technological competitiveness." Smith welcomed the opportunity to teach a Spanish science class in addition to a science class taught in English. The DOE boasts a rich and diverse cross section of employees from many cultures throughout its laboratory and field sites. Assistant Secretary Smith leads the Department's fossil energy program and is responsible for the government's research aimed at developing clean and efficient coal technologies and other energy technologies that can play a role in producing hydrogen for future automobiles and other uses. Demonstrating a hydrogen-powered model car, Smith explained that the hydrogen fuel cell process can produce electricity to operate cars and other vehicles and devices with no pollution. "The only by-product is pure water," he said, explaining that fuel-cell technology could someday replace the gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines that power the cars and trucks of today. "No gasoline means no imported oil and no problems with pollution or greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. "It's important that we prepare and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers who will lead the transition to a hydrogen-based economy and build the machines and infrastructure that will make it a reality. The coming hydrogen economy will offer many different careers and jobs-including the technical, educational, administrative and marketing areas, to name a few. Through team-based, hands-on experiences such as building the model fuel cell cars, students can get a glimpse of what their futures may hold." President Bush has proposed $1.7 billion over five years in research funding for the FreedomCAR and the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, to enable America to lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles that would free the U.S. from dependence on foreign petroleum. This education effort -- which includes similar visits by Energy Department officials to schools around the nation -- supports President Bush's initiative. For more information on the FreedomCAR partnership and the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative please visit: http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenfuel/ |