FRANCAIS

September 26, 2006

Visitors to the Legislative Building will have an opportunity Thursday to board one of the most technologically-advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles in the world, Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau said today.

“Manitoba is emerging as a centre of excellence for leading-edge hydrogen technology and I’m inviting Manitobans and visitors to our province to see this exciting technology in action,” Rondeau said.

The zero-combustion bus, in Winnipeg until the end of the week for testing, is more advanced than previous generations of hydrogen-powered buses and emits absolutely no pollution. The only tailpipe emission is clean water vapour.

Testing of the bus demonstrates hydrogen production and refuelling in an urban environment. Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines co-ordinated the demonstration as a priority action identified by the Manitoba Hydrogen Steering Committee. Hydrogenics Corporation, a major Canadian developer and manufacturer of fuel cells and hydrogen production systems, is the lead partner in the project. Hydrogenics developed the bus with financial support from Natural Resources Canada in collaboration with Winnipeg’s New Flyer Industries, Dynetek Industries of Calgary, and ISE Research and Maxwell Technologies of California.

The bus is a 40-foot, Manitoba-made New Flyer Industries bus with three HyPM 65 fuel-cell power modules providing 180 kilowatts of power. With a full hydrogen fuel load, the bus can travel 400 km, or about a typical day’s operation. Red River College operated the bus and refuelling station, Kraus Global Inc. supplied the fuel dispenser and Manitoba’s Sustainable Development Innovations Fund provided funding support.

Last week, hydrogen specialists from both Iceland and Manitoba met in Winnipeg to build on the province’s historic partnership with Iceland on advanced hydrogen development. Manitoba and Iceland signed a memorandum of understanding in 2003 to share knowledge and experience on leading-edge hydrogen technology.

Rondeau noted that testing over the past several weeks has given Manitoba’s hydrogen experts significant insight into the operation of the bus, the refuelling and production of hydrogen, and increased understanding of fuel-cell efficiency. Having the bus in Winnipeg has also given Manitoba students at a number of schools an opportunity to take a first-hand look at the advanced technology expected to play a key role in the vehicles of the future.

Manitoba has a strong commitment to pursuing alternative-fuel technologies, the minister said. A mandated 10 per cent blend of ethanol in the gasoline sold in Manitoba will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 135,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to taking 10,000 vehicles off the road. Manitoba’s aggressive biodiesel strategy includes doubling the tax incentive to boost biodiesel production and eliminating all provincial taxes on Manitoba-produced pure biodiesel. Manitoba’s goal is to achieve 10 per cent biodiesel by 2010. Ten per cent of provincial fleet vehicles now run on high-ethanol gasoline or gas-electric hybrid engines.

The public is invited to view and ride the bus Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the north side of the Legislative Building.

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