Fuel-Cell Car Demonstration Gives Westerville Students Glimpse of Future Hydrogen Economy

3/11/2004

From: Tom Welch of the U.S. Department of Energy, 202-586-5806

WESTERVILLE, Ohio, March 11 -- A top U.S. Department of Energy official gave middle 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," Guy F. Caruso, administrator, Energy Information Administration (EIA) told students at Blendon Middle School in Westerville. "Math is the gateway and science is the key to world marketplace technological competitiveness."

Administrator Caruso leads EIA, an independent statistical agency of the DOE providing data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.

Caruso welcomed the opportunity to teach a science class in America's heartland where the DOE has worked throughout the state on issues such as, energy efficiency, weatherization, school building retrofits, new construction and building code training.

Demonstrating a hydrogen-powered model car, Caruso 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.

"The ability of Ohioans to embrace the transition to this new, cleaner form of energy that depends on new technologies -- which will be developed in the coming years by students like the ones in my class," said teacher Robert Stranges, "stems from a rich history and pioneer stock that includes Annie Oakley, Johnny Appleseed, the Underground Railroad and the world's largest Amish population."

Caruso said, "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/.