Originally published February 9 2005
Orlando unveils a new fleet of shuttle busses that run on hydrogen power
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
One of the most heavily driven areas of the state of Florida is Orlando, but the city is hoping that they can use that fact to interest people in their new fleet of hydrogen-powered busses. By trading in cars' exhaust for a power system that only produces pure water vapor, Orlando is hoping to cut down on the pollution in this popular tourist destination.
Earlier this month, a spit-polished hydrogen-powered shuttle bus was introduced in Orlando.
What was a twinkle in the eye of automakers just a few years ago is now a reality, albeit a small-fleeted reality.
Hydrogen is the holy grail of pollutant-free transportation.
Ford Motor Co. is bringing these 12-passenger vans to Orlando for use in shuttling tourists around.
Additionally, five hydrogen-charged electric cars will be used by rangers at Wekiwa Springs State Park, where 185,000 visitors come through each year.
The state is partnering with industry and university researchers to get hydrogen vehicles off the test tracks and into real-world demonstration projects.
And they're piggybacking on President Bush's investment of $1.5 billion into hydrogen power.
Jeb Bush is proposing $15 million for the state's portion of the partnership, promising that it will create jobs and get Florida in on the ground floor of a high-tech category that's in its infancy.
Florida is home to 20 million gas-powered automobiles, each of which spits out 650 pounds of carbon monoxide, 105 pounds of hydrocarbons and 50 pounds of nitrogen oxides, according to the state.
In Orlando, drivers spend an average of 66 hours per year held up in traffic, their cars spewing pollutants while they idle in long backed-up lines of cars and buses.
Hydrogen vehicles purr along and leave no trace.
It makes a lot more sense than, say, (a recent) misguided proposed venture into light rail.
So far, we're just hearing the glowing side of hydrogen power from its promoters.
It's far too early to give them an unequivocal endorsement.
We'll be interested to watch these buses for a few months to see where the technology is heading and if it merits the effort.
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