Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 2
Figure 2.2 Gasoline and Hydrogen Vehicle Fuel Economy
Gasoline-Equivalent
Fuel Economy (mpg)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Ref.
ICE
Source: U.S. DOE, 2008d.
Conv.
HICE
Split Hybrid
HICE
Series
Hybrid
HICE
Fuel Cell
HEV
Hydrogen fuel cells may be adopted in both light- and heavy-duty applications. Most
auto manufacturers are actively researching HFCV transportation technologies and testing
prototype passenger vehicles, and several North American cities also are testing fuel cellpowered
transit buses. The AEO Reference case estimates approximately 300 HFCVs are
on the road in the United States as of 2009 (Table 58). In addition, there were
approximately 60 hydrogen fueling stations in the United States in June 2009 (U.S. DOE,
2009b).
Locomotives equipped with fuel cells also are being developed. In 2002, a 3.6 tonne, 17
kW hydrogen fuel cell-powered mining locomotive was demonstrated in Val-d’Or,
Quebec, (Sandia National Laboratories, 2002) while in 2007 a demonstration “hydrail”
went into service in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (East Japan Railway Company, 2006). Currently,
BNSF is working with Vehicle Projects LLC to develop a fuel cell-powered yard
locomotive (BNSF, 2008).
Fuel cell applications for the marine sector have been studied for many years, initially by
the military and researchers involved in submarine activities. Most of these applications
focus on auxiliary power units that generate electricity to meet vessel electrical needs; for
example, in the 1980s the U.S. Navy installed a 30 kW fuel cell powered system on the
Deep Quest submarine vehicle.
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