Center for Hydrogen Research gets first Hydrogen Truck

The Center for Hydrogen Research (CHR) and URS Washington Division rolled out South Carolina’s first hydrogen fueled vehicle, the eTec Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE) vehicle, a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.  A $175,000.00 grant provided by URS Washington Division was used to fund the project.  The vehicle was converted to be fueled by pure hydrogen from gasoline by Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), a subsidiary of ECOtality (OTCBB: ETLY), of Arizona, with technical assistance from project partners Roush Industries and Powertech Labs.  The eTec HICE Silverado is the first eTec converted hydrogen vehicle to be registered and operated in the United States.

The HICE Silverado is an OEM-quality conversion of the Chevrolet 1500 pickup using the Vortec 6.0 liter engine.  With the expertise of eTec, Roush and Powertech, the HICE Silverado is built to the highest quality and meets the latest hydrogen standards.

Except for the unique exterior design, the modified Silverado is indistinguishable from a gasoline powered vehicle and very little appears different under the hood.  The engine is equipped with special injectors; a modified fuel system includes an intercooler and turbocharger coupled to a completely redesigned and modified computer control system.  Three hydrogen cylinders are located in the bed of the truck to provide hydrogen for a range of approximately 200 miles.  The truck is powered solely by hydrogen.

The vehicle will provide a real-world test bed for the development and evaluation of hydrogen storage systems, the critical link in advancing automotive hydrogen technology.  The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL)  will be able to test hydrogen storage technology without having extensive modifications to a test vehicle.  Additionally, eTec and Roush will train instructors from Aiken Technical College in the service and maintenance of the truck.   When coupled with ATC’s introduction this year of fuel cell and hydrogen curricula, this vehicle will provide a practical source for instruction in this advanced technology.

CHR will manage the system, coordinate use of the vehicle and schedule demonstrations.  CHR is working closely with Aiken County and surrounding school districts to advance hydrogen technology.  In cooperation with SRNL, the CHR has supported educational programs for both teachers and students through demonstration projects and equipment.  This vehicle will also serve to demonstrate the applicability and safety of hydrogen technology.

 “For 18 years we have worked with the DOE and community leaders in this region to leverage the unique and special technology at SRS for the benefit of the local economy,” said E. Preston Rahe, Jr., President of the Energy & Environment Business Unit of the Washington Division.  “This hydrogen truck literally puts us on the road to demonstrating the practical aspects hydrogen as a transportation fuel source not only for Aiken County, South Carolina and Georgia, but for the rest of the country as well.”

The CHR also announced the establishment of a hydrogen refueling station to provide a permanent source of hydrogen for its vehicle and other hydrogen powered vehicles.

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