Paul Frederick
Howard - West Vancouver
By
leading the first team in the world to use fuel cells to power a
zero-emission vehicle, Paul Howard has brought distinction to himself
and to his province.
The people at
Ballard Power Systems knew they had the technology to revolutionize
the energy world. They had made significant advances in fuel cell
power density, efficiency and cost but no one was listening to this
small, unknown company. To catch the attention of the public and
of investors, they decided to leapfrog from a small demonstration
model to a 125 horsepower fuel cell to power a nine-meter long transit
bus.
Hundreds of
people worked on the project, but Paul Howard was the key figure
whose determination, detailed engineering excellence and perseverance
made the operating nine-meter bus a reality. The project was completed
on time and on budget in spite of skepticism from many experts.
The design has been tested by B.C. Transit and the Chicago Transit
Authority on city transit routes.
In 1996 Paul
Howard received the meritorious achievement award from the Association
of Professional Engineers of B.C. for his leadership and significant
contributions to the development of an environmentally clean power
generation alternative for the transportation industry. This remarkable
engineering feat with the potential to clean up inner-city air pollution
has allowed Ballard Power Systems to become the dominant company
it is today.
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