Originally published May 24 2005
Hydrogen fuel-powered shuttles could herald beginning of alternative fuel era
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Ford, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Clean Cities Coachella Valley Region announced their cooperation in the implementation of five hydrogen fuel cell powered shuttles for use in the California region by 2006. Ford will collect data on the vehicles over the next three years, for use in future clean-air alternative endeavors. The supreme court in India has mandated the use of natural-gas powered vehicles in Dehli, making the city state the home of the largest natural-gas powered fleet in the world. The current gas price gouge across the U.S. has many turning to alternative fuel sources, like hybrid cars, but industry experts doubt the vehicles will be popular enough to make an impact.
A Palm Springs Indian tribe, Ford Motor Co. and a clean air group will form "the big three" of a partnership that will launch several hydrogen-powered shuttles around the Coachella Valley.
Representatives of the auto maker were in Palm Springs on Monday to announce their alliance with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Clean Cities Coachella Valley Region.
It's part of a broader program by Ford to test 100 of the buses nationwide under real-world conditions.
And the announcement Monday led off a three-day convention focused on expanding the use of alternative-fueled vehicles in the United States and around the globe.
The idea is to promote the use of alternative, clean-burning fuels for transportation at a time when gas prices are soaring.
Ford will collect data during the three-year test program and use the information for future alternative-fuel vehicle research, company officials said.
The tribal shuttle announcement was among the highlights of the 11th Clean Cities Conference and Exposition.
Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., attended the opening of the conference and criticized a proposed energy bill she says subsidizes fossil fuel and nuclear energy producers to the tune of $6 billion.
Bradley Berman, owner of the Web site www.hybridcars.com said despite the curb appeal of vehicles like the Toyota Prius, hybrids may still represent only 5million of the 250 million cars on the road by 2010.
Conference attendee Gilbert Sena said he has doubts about whether the hybrid trend will reach beyond environmentalists and others who represent the traditional market for alternative-fuel or high-mileage cars.
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