FAQ

THE CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION FUEL CELL ALLIANCE


Q. What is the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance (CTFCA)?

A. The CTFCA is a seven-year program aimed at developing a hydrogen fuelling infrastructure for fuel cell vehicles. The CTFCA is partnering with industry and other governments to demonstrate different fuelling options. It is one program under Canada’s Climate Change Action Plan 2000.

Q. Where will the demonstrations be?

A. This is a national program and therefore demonstrations will be dispersed across Canada. The first two CTFCA demonstration projects were launched in June 2003 at Hydrogenics Corporation in Mississauga, Ontario. The first is a vehicle fuelling apparatus and gas purification system for hydrogen produced from a natural gas reforming system. The second project will incorporate Hydrogenics’ proprietary water electrolysis system into a mobile hydrogen fuelling system. Several additional proposals for fuelling demonstrations are in development.

Q. Who is responsible for the CTFCA?

A. The CTFCA is a federal government initiative. Natural Resources Canada is the department responsible for the administration of the fund.

Q. How is the CTFCA organized?

A. The organization is led by a Core Committee that provides strategic and operational advice to Natural Resources Canada and an Advisory Committee that evaluates and recommends projects for NRCan’s approval. Five working groups, each comprised of private sector and government representatives, carries out their specific objectives, which include the deployment of demonstration projects and activities that support the development and installation of fuelling systems. These working groups are: Studies & Assessments, Light-Duty Vehicle Fuelling Demonstrations, Heavy & Medium Duty Vehicle Fuelling Demonstrations, Codes & Standards and Communications.

Q. Who are the key members involved with the program?

A. Key stakeholders include: the provincial governments of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec; core industry members i.e. vehicle manufacturers, and fuelling technology suppliers such as Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Ballard Power Systems Inc., Methanex, Stuart Energy Systems, Hydrogenics Corporation; utilities such as BC Hydro, and Hydro Quebec; energy companies including ATCO Gas, and Imperial Oil; equipment manufacturers such as Dynetek Industries Ltd., and Fueling Technologies Inc.; and other federal departments and agencies including Transport Canada, and the National Research Council.

Q. What is the CTFCA’s budget?

A. The CTFCA has a $33 million dollar budget, over 7 years: $1 million in the first year, $3 million in the second year, $5 million in the third year, $8 million in the fourth year, $6 million in the fifth year, $5 million in the sixth year and $5 million in the seventh year. This budget is expected to be leveraged by contributions from the private sector and other governments to total $70-80 million over the 7 years.

Q. What will happen after the seven-year time frame?

A. The CTFCA was originally approved for a five-year term and a budget of $23 million. In August 2003, the CTFCA was extended for another two years and allotted an additional $10 million. The program will continue to be evaluated during its term. Any renewal decision will be based on those evaluations and the need at that time.

Q. How is this initiative important to the environment?

A. Continuing development of this technology for automotive use will allow real progress in addressing air quality concerns and climate change. Fuel-cell vehicles produce 28 to 90 percent fewer GHG emissions than conventional vehicles, depending on the type of fuel used to produce hydrogen.


FUEL CELLS

Q. What is a fuel cell?

A. A fuel cell is an “electrochemical engine” that produces electricity without combustion. Hydrogen fuel (which can be obtained from methanol, natural gas, water or petroleum products) is combined with oxygen (from air) to produce electrical energy. The conversion process is environmentally benign: only heat and water are emitted as byproducts.

Q. What is a fuel cell engine?

A. A fuel cell engine is the complete set of components that integrate with the fuel cell so that the fuel cell’s electricity can power the vehicle’s wheels. Think of the fuel cell as the engine block in your car - in this case, its like a little electric power plant. As in the internal combustion engine, the fuel cell requires other systems to make it a complete energy source, including air, fuel and control systems. In a fuel cell vehicle, an electric drive system, which consists of a traction inverter, electric motor and transaxle, converts the electricity generated by the fuel cell system to tractive or motive power to move a vehicle. Also, when using a fuel other than direct hydrogen (such as methanol, gasoline or ethanol), an on-board fuel processor is required to extract hydrogen from the fuel.

Q. The only fuel cell cars currently available are very expensive prototypes. When will these vehicles be available at a more reasonable price for the average consumer?

A. The automotive companies are working on their own production timelines – customers may be able to purchase vehicles within five years.


HYDROGEN

Q. Is hydrogen a safe fuel for vehicles?

A. Like all fuels, hydrogen has energy and needs to be treated with respect. Every precaution is being taken to ensure that hydrogen vehicles are as safe as their gasoline and diesel counterpart. Hydrogen is used on a daily basis around the world in the chemical and fuels processing industry, with an excellent safety record.

Q. What is being done in the area of safety?

A. International safety standards for hydrogen as a fuel are being developed by the International Standards Organization(ISO), in fact, Canada chairs the ISO committee responsible for hydrogen standards. The CTFCA’s Codes and Standards Working Group will address safety issues.