Prince Edward Islanders can now take a “clean ride” around Charlottetown on a hydrogen-powered bus. Guy Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, representing the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, today joined the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, to announce funding support for a hydrogen demonstration project using two hydrogen-powered shuttle buses and a hydrogen fueling station. The purpose of the project is to test the hydrogen technology in a maritime climate.
“Our government is taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution as set out in our Turning the Corner Plan,” said Parliamentary Secretary Lauzon. “We believe that we must work together with the provinces and industry to support technologies that will play a crucial role in the fight against climate change – and hydrogen technology holds great potential.”
The Government of Canada is investing $275,000 in the project, and the Province of Prince Edward Island and Air Liquide Canada are contributing $100,000 and $175,000 respectively.
“We are proud to partner with the federal government and the private sector on an initiative that encourages Islanders to use environmentally friendly means of transportation whenever possible,” said Premier Ghiz. “This project is yet another example of our government’s commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Our Island is leading by example.”
The two buses, provided by Ford of Canada and Industry Canada, are part of a fleet of ten being tested in hydrogen demonstration projects across Canada. The success of Ford’s hydrogen internal combustion engines, or H2ICEs, will help advance the commercialization of hydrogen-powered vehicles and raise public awareness of the benefits of hydrogen as a transportation fuel.
“Hydrogen is commonly identified as a promising energy source that can provide lasting, clean renewable energy for generations to come. The question has always been how to capture this potential,” said Caroline Hughes, Director of Government Relations for Ford of Canada. “We are proud to be here today to demonstrate that Ford is doing its part by moving ahead with a range of technological solutions simultaneously, including leading the way with practical, durable, hydrogen-fueled vehicles that can be operated on Canadian roads today.”
In addition to the two buses, the project involves the installation and operation of an Air Liquide Canada temporary hydrogen fueling station. The cost of the hydrogen fueling station is being shared by Air Liquide Canada, P.E.I. Energy Corporation and Natural Resources Canada.
“As a company committed to accelerating innovation in Canada’s hydrogen energy infrastructure, Air Liquide Canada is applying decades of experience and R&D expertise to assist customers and partners in improving their process efficiencies,” said Luc Doyon, President and COO of Air Liquide Canada. “We are pleased to collaborate with the public sector in this unique P.E.I. project to demonstrate sustainable storage and delivery solutions that advance the case for navigating our future using hydrogen-powered vehicles.”
The P.E.I. project is the latest in a series of major demonstration projects supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance (CTFCA). The Charlottetown installation is the eleventh CTFCA-supported hydrogen fueling station in Canada.