Government of Canada
2004/13
April 1, 2004

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA GEARS UP TO PUT FUEL-CELL TECHNOLOGIES ON THE ROAD

VANCOUVER - Marking another milestone on the road to a new energy era powered by hydrogen, the Government of Canada today announced funding for the world's first Hydrogen Highway™ to be built between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia. The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, made the announcement at Globe 2004, a trade fair and conference on environmental technology and management.

"The Hydrogen Highway will take us from the fossil-fuel economy we live in now to the new hydrogen economy," said Prime Minister Martin. "Canada's going to show the world that hydrogen fuel-cell transportation is more than a great idea - it's practical, efficient and within reach. Hydrogen technology is part of our commitment to responding to climate change and creating new economic opportunities."

"It's time to put hydrogen on the road and the Hydrogen Highway is the first step," said the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). "Today's announcement underscores the Government of Canada's commitment to a prosperous and competitive hydrogen and fuel-cell industry, and is a clear sign that we have reached a new milestone."

"We're on the cusp of a new energy era," said the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment. "Innovative clean-energy technologies, such as hydrogen and fuel cells, will be an increasingly important part of the growing global energy mix in the coming decades."

Also announced were three new projects - the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Project, the Hydrogen High-Pressure Valve Development Project and the Hydrogen-Powered Delivery Van Project - designed to advance the development of fuel-cell vehicles. These projects will receive $5 million from the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance (CTFCA), NRCan's $33-million initiative formed to advance the use of fuel-cell vehicles in Canada.

The Hydrogen Highway draws on the talents and resources of a number of founding partners, including Ballard Power Systems, BC Hydro, Fuel Cells Canada, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the National Research Council Canada and QuestAir.

The Hydrogen Highway is part of a long-range plan to assist Canada in moving toward greater use of hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles and other power-generation applications. The project will demonstrate a wide variety of fuel-cell products for transportation, stationary, portable and micro-power applications that can utilize the hydrogen fuelling infrastructure.

The estimated global market in 2011 for hydrogen technologies is $46 billion. Canadian companies will play a major role in this growing marketplace.

"The Hydrogen Highway brings the leading Canadian and international stakeholders together to accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen and fuel-cell technology," said Ron Britton, President of Fuel Cells Canada. "Demonstrations of fuel cells for portable and stationary power generation through to fuel-cell-powered vehicles will further substantiate the value and future reality of the technology to British Columbians and the world."

The Hydrogen Highway is expected to be up and running by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which will take place in Vancouver and Whistler. A showcase for sustainable development, the Hydrogen Highway will allow visitors to travel in fuel-cell-powered vehicles between the Vancouver Airport and Whistler during the games.

Bringing vast experience to the project is Firoz Rasul, who is the Chair of the Steering Committee managing the Hydrogen Highway project and chairs the Board of Ballard Power Systems.

"Today, there is a global race toward commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen in the automotive and power-generation industries," said Mr. Rasul. "Long-term leadership will be in the hands of those who move the quickest. The prize is immense economically, socially in terms of quality of life, politically in terms of energy independence, and environmentally with an improved world in which we live. The Hydrogen Highway will confirm Canada's leadership by accelerating the introduction of hydrogen and fuel-cell products."

Canada's Hydrogen Highway is being financially supported by industry and government. The Government of Canada is funding t hree new projects that will support the Hydrogen Highway initiative and share $485,000 in Government of Canada funding through CTFCA. Sacré-Davey Engineering Ltd. will develop a fuelling station, Powertech Labs will supply a new hydrogen generator, and Fueling Technologies Inc., an Ontario firm, has contributed a 10,000-psi (700-bar) hydrogen dispenser that will increase the energy available to fuel cells, allowing fuel-cell vehicles to operate over a greater range. The CTFCA will also provide $632,000 for management activities, for a total of $1.1 million.

Fuel Cells Canada, a non-profit and member-driven national industry association, will manage the Hydrogen Highway initiative to solicit and encourage further widespread industry participation.

The Government of Canada's approach to climate change is focused on making the right choices for Canada. This will ensure that the actions taken contribute to the long-term goals of building a sustainable economy for the 21^st century, a healthier environment and strong communities, while affirming Canada's place in the world.

For more information, media may contact:

The following two media backgrounders are also available:

1. Hydrogen Highway
2. Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance (CTFCA) Projects Announced April 1, 2004