Sydkraft’s H2, CNG and H2–CNG blends refueling dispenser for fuel cell and internal combustion engine buses in Malmo, Sweden

For about a year, we Columbians have heard all the hullaballou and the hype over hydrogen. Elected officials and USC engineers have told us hydrogen is the wave of the future. Columbia was cited as a potential capital for hydrogen research. Local economists and scientists are joining forces with the town burghers to let hydrogen do for Columbia what oil did for Houston.

So where is the meat? The hydrogen cars and their service stations are nowhere near this proposed epicenter of hydrogen research.

Before the first hydrogen fuel–cell powered car can take test runs around town, there must be a hydrogen service station, a fueling stop. The GM hydrogen fuel–cell test car, the Sequel, is good for 300 miles before refueling. Columbia needs a visit by such a vehicle to generate interest in hydrogen fuel–cell research. But the Sequel cannot leave Washington, the nearest hydrogen service station, for a demonstration run to Columbia because there’s no station here or anywhere between. But North Carolina is getting in gear.

North Carolina is planning its Proposed Advanced Vehicle Research Center on 630 acres, including 2.5–mile test track and laboratories, all at a cost of $45 million. Farther south, Florida is proposing $2 million in tax breaks for fuel–cell makers and tax incentives for consumers. Also, Florida is offering $13 million in matching grants for hydrogen research.

The state with the most ambitious plans for hydrogen service stations is California. With 16 stations running now, California’s Hydrogen Highway is expecting 100 hydrogen fueling stations by 2010, the same year General Motors claims it plans to release a reliable and profitable hydrogen fuel–cell powered automobile in full production.

Nationally there should soon be the need for 12,000 hydrogen fueling stops in the 100 largest cities, which puts 70% of the nation’s population within two miles of a service station. At $1 million each, the stations stand to cost a total of $12 billion.

In 2003, President Bush promised to invest $1.7 billion over the next five years for hydrogen fuel–cell vehicle research. Last year, Senator Harry Reid (D–NV) scored $11 million of that for his home state’s demonstration projects, to include a hydrogen fueling station. SC’s Senators Graham and DeMint need to take note.

US energy companies and car manufacturers predicted recently 134 hydrogen fuel cell demonstration vehicles and 28 hydrogen service stations to be in full operation this year.

Somewhere among all the layers of federal and private investments Columbia can peel off a hydrogen service station. And then the logic behind securing demonstration vehicles becomes clear and even necessary.

Other states’

pursuit of

hydrogen power

Michigan – A $2 billion bond has been proposed to support advanced vehicle research and other technologies.

Ohio – In 2002, a $100 million incentive program was enacted which includes low–cost loans and other rewards for job creation, research grants, and worker training.

Connecticut – There is a 75–cent surcharge on electric rate payers for new clean energy technologies as a part of a Clean Energy Fund. Total investment in fuel cells has been $29 million so far.