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ORLANDO – The Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) today showcased a new hydrogen-powered
vehicle at Celebration High School in Osceola County. As
part of a national hydrogen demonstration project, the
DEP’s Central District is touring local area schools and
conferences with their three zero-emission vehicles.
“DEP is proud to participate in this demonstration
project, and excited to introduce this technology to
Central Florida’s students,” said Vivian Garfein,
Director of DEP’s Central District. “Florida’s
investment in pollution-free alternative fuel technology
benefits our environment, quality of life and economy.”
The hydrogen demonstration project is part of an
initiative unveiled in 2004 by the U.S. Department of
Energy. Through the federal government’s Controlled
Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and
Validation Project, Ford supplied Florida’s DEP and
Progress Energy with five hydrogen-powered Ford Focus
Fuel Cell Vehicles.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to see
this cutting edge technology,” said Dan White, Principal
of Celebration High School. “Hydrogen is a potential
solution to many of our future energy needs; these
children are our future scientists and it is important
for them to be introduced to new ideas and technology.”
Hydrogen can power cars by replacing gasoline in an
internal combustion engine or as a source of power for a
fuel cell. A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to
produce electricity, which powers the car and emits only
steam. Worldwide, energy companies, automakers and oil
companies are investing more than $2 billion annually on
research and development to advance hydrogen technology
as a new, sustainable source of energy.
Burning petroleum-based fuels like gasoline is the
primary cause of air pollution from the more than 20
million vehicles on Florida’s roads. Hydrogen can power
cars by replacing gasoline in an internal combustion
engine or as a source of power for a fuel cell. A fuel
cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce
electricity, which powers the car and emits only steam.
For more information on Florida’s Hydrogen
Demonstration Projects, visit
www.FloridaEnergy.org | 
