Ford hybrid vehicles focus of fuel cells demo project

The Ford Motor Co is providing five hybrid fuel cell-electric vehicles that will be tested over a five-year period as part of the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program. The cars will be outfitted with fuel cell engines and drive motors developed by Ballard Power Systems, Vancouver, and compressed hydrogen storage tanks from Dynetek Industries Ltd, Calgary. The $9-million project will test the Ford Focus FCVs in a variety of settings (rush hour, daytime meetings, city-to-highway driving) for a period of three years. Each car will be driven 12,000-15,000 km annually for three years, followed by technical evaluation by Ford. The project will received $4.5 million from the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance, a $33-million program managed by Natural Resources Canada. Ford is contributing approximately $4 million, with smaller amounts being contributed by Fuel Cells Canada and the BC Government.....