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Four Companies Join California Fuel Cell Partnership

29 November 2000

Four Companies Join California Fuel Cell Partnership To Help Build Hydrogen Fueling Stations

    WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Nov. 28, 2000--The California Fuel Cell Partnership, a public-private venture to demonstrate fuel cell vehicles in California and explore the path to commercialization, today announced the addition of four companies with expertise in developing hydrogen fueling stations.
    The companies -- Hydrogen Burner Technology (www.hydrogenburner.com), Pacific Gas and Electric (www.pgecorp.com), Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (www.protonenergy.com), and Stuart Energy Systems (www.stuartenergy.com) -- have been invited by the Partnership's executive committee to join as Associate Partners. They will assist in exploring the development of a hydrogen fueling infrastructure in California, and will each provide at least one hydrogen fueling station for the Partnership's demonstration program.
    The Partnership -- which formally began in April 1999 -- includes auto manufacturers (DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen), energy providers (BP, Shell, Texaco), fuel cell companies (Ballard Power Systems, International Fuel Cells, and XCELLSiS), and government agencies (the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District). The team also includes Associate Partners who assist by providing expertise to help meet the Partnership's goals: hydrogen gas suppliers (Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and Praxair); a methanol fuel supplier (Methanex); hydrogen fueling station developers (Hydrogen Burner Technology, Pacific Gas and Electric, Proton Energy Systems, Inc., and Stuart Energy Systems); and bus transit companies (AC Transit and SunLine Transit Agency).
    The Partnership's state-of-the-art headquarters facility in West Sacramento, California opened November 1, 2000 and is home to the largest concentration of fuel cell vehicles in the world. A hydrogen fueling station is located at the site which serves the fueling needs of the vehicles.