Taylor, MI is a city just east of Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Most people who don't live their have probably never heard of it. However, Taylor has been a leader in alternative fuel use for several years. They acquired their first vehicles powered by compressed natural gas back in 1999. According to Bob Mach, Taylor's Superintendent of vehicle maintenance, Taylor is currently running 16 CNG vehicles and is also running all of their diesel vehicles on B20 bio-diesel. Today Taylor joined Sacramento and Orlando as the site of a hydrogen filling station, in a partnership between Ford, BP, and BOC.
A ribbon cutting ceremony followed remarks by several representatives of the partnership. Taylor Mayor Cameron G. Priebe, Wayne County executive Robert Ficano, and Rep. John Dingell all made some remarks about bringing advanced alternative energy development to Michigan. Dingell represents the area in congress and is a ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In addition Maria Curry-Nkanah of BP and John Sakioka of Ford also talked about the program. The reason that Taylor is getting the hydrogen station is because Ford is providing the city four fuel cell powered Focuses. More after the jump.
The cars are part of a fleet of 30 such cars in seven cities that so far has accumulated over 300,000 real world miles. Taylor will be using them as transportation vehicles by city employees with three of them going to the fire department. The hydrogen pump delivers gaseous hydrogen that is then stored in a tank in the car at 5,000 psi.
In addition to pump opening Ford had a hybrid Escape, six fuel cell Focuses and a pair of Hydrogen powered E450 shuttle buses. The buses are the standard type that you find at airports except that the 6.8L V-10 runs on hydrogen. They backed one up to the tent where the speeches were being done and left it running, putting out nothing but steam from the exhaust.
Taylor mayor Cameron G. Priebe.
Fuel cell Focus fleet.
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