Tennessee to Receive $3 Million to Commercialize Cost-Effective Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies

Dec 17, 2013 at 10:30 pm by bryan


Note - The below information is from the U.S. Department of Energy and was not prepared by WGNS:

As part of the Obama Administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, the Energy Department announced more than $7 million for projects that will help bring cost-effective, advanced hydrogen and fuel cell technologies online faster. This investment in four projects, including in one project led by FedEx Express, based in Memphis, Tenn., will increase U.S. leadership in fuel cell-powered vehicles and backup power systems, and give businesses more affordable, cleaner transportation and power options.

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“By partnering with private industry and universities, the Energy Department is helping to build a strong 21st century transportation sector that cuts harmful pollution, reduces costs for U.S. businesses and leads to a more sustainable energy future,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “Reduced oil dependence is an important part of President Obama’s energy security and climate plans, and hydrogen and fuel cell technologies will help ensure America’s continued leadership in clean energy innovation.”  

With support from the Energy Department, private industry and the Department’s national laboratories have already achieved significant advances in fuel cell and hydrogen technologies – reducing costs and improving performance. These research and development efforts have helped reduce automotive fuel cell costs by more than 50 percent since 2006 and by more than 30 percent since 2008. At the same time, fuel cell durability has doubled and the amount of expensive platinum needed in fuel cells has fallen by 80 percent since 2005.

Building on this progress, the projects awarded today will help further reduce the cost of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, expand fueling infrastructure and build a strong domestic supply chain in the United States. FedEx Express, along with Plug Power and Smith Electric Vehicles, will develop a hydrogen fuel cell delivery truck with a range of up to 150 miles per fueling and test 20 of these trucks at FedEx facilities in Tennessee and California. This investment also supports the Energy Department’s broader efforts to continue U.S. leadership in clean energy innovation.

Find additional information on the Energy Department’s broader efforts to develop affordable, efficient fuel cell and hydrogen technologies.

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