The California Fuel Cell Partnership (www.cafcp.org) today voiced its support for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plans to establish a California network of hydrogen fueling stations.

(West Sacramento) -- The California Fuel Cell Partnership (www.cafcp.org) today voiced its support for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plans to establish a California network of hydrogen fueling stations.

"California is seen globally as a leader in the advancement of environmentally friendly technologies, and today's announcement by Governor Schwarzenegger reinforces that leadership,"
said Firoz Rasul, 2004 Chairman of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) and Chairman of Ballard Power Systems. "The California Hydrogen Highway Network will capture the imagination of Californians, and together with the California Fuel Cell Partnership's strong membership of automakers, energy companies, fuel cell companies and government representatives, we are confident this concept will become a reality."

The CaFCP provided more than a dozen zero-emission fuel cell vehicles at the ceremony, including compact cars and SUVs from DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, and a fuel cell bus undergoing demonstration at the Bay Area's AC Transit.

Since CaFCP's inception in 1999, more than 55 fuel cell vehicles have participated in the project. Together, these vehicles have logged more than 145,000 miles. Currently, there are eleven hydrogen stations providing fuel to vehicles in California. Through 2007, the CaFCP and its 30 members will work together to facilitate placement of up to 300 fuel cell vehicles in fleet demonstration projects, along with supporting hydrogen fueling. Beginning later this year, fuel cell buses will operate in regular, daily route operations in at least three transit districts.

About the CaFCP
The Partnership -- which started in April 1999 -- includes auto manufacturers (DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen); energy providers (Air Products, BP, ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, Methanex, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Praxair, Proton Energy Systems, Shell Hydrogen, Stuart Energy, and Ztek); fuel cell technology companies (Ballard Power Systems and UTC Fuel Cells); government agencies (California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, South Coast AQMD, US Department of Energy, US Department of Transportation and US Environmental Protection Agency); and bus transit agencies (AC Transit, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, and SunLine Transit Agency).