BP and Ford Open Second Hydrogen Fueling Station in Florida

9 December 2007

Ford, BP and the state of Florida officially opened a new hydrogen station to fuel Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles being used as part of the Ford-DOE Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project. The new station in Oviedo, about 10 miles northeast of Orlando, generates up to 24 kg of hydrogen per day via electrolysis.

One of the hydrogen-powered Ford Focus vehicles in is in operation with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) park rangers at Wekiwa Springs State Park. Two more vehicles are utilized by DEP’s Central Regulatory District for field inspections. Progress Energy is using the remaining three hydrogen-fueled cars at their Jamestown Operations Center.

Through the 2004 Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project, Ford supplied the Florida DEP and Progress Energy with six hydrogen-powered Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles. (The company originally had planned to place “up to 10” in FLorida.) BP America supplies the cars with hydrogen fuel through a grant from the state of Florida.

Ford, Chevron and Progress Energy Florida opened the state’s first hydrogen station in Orlando in May. This station fuels four Ford Hydrogen-powered shuttle buses used at the Orlando airport and provides a test platform for showcasing the production, storage and dispensing of hydrogen fuel.

Resources

• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle & Infrastructure Demonstration Program Review (Ford, May 2007)