Ford, BP's Hydrogen Fleets and Fueling Stations

Ford Motor Co. intends to place hydrogen-powered vehicles and BP plans to build a network of fueling stations in metropolitan Sacramento, California, Orlando, Florida, and Detroit, Michigan.

The proposal calls for Ford to provide up to 30 hydrogen-powered Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles, 10 vehicles in each city. Assembly will begin in the fourth quarter of this year. The Focus FCV uses an 85kW fuel cell stack supplied by Ballard Power Systems. It is hybridized with the addition of a nickel metal-hydride battery pack and a brake-by-wire electro-hydraulic series regenerative braking system.

BP plans to install stations to support the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Some BP hydrogen refueling stations will evaluate technologies that have near-term commercial feasibility, such as reformation of natural gas, while others will explore more long-term technology options and assess the potential to produce renewable-based hydrogen that achieve U.S. DOE hydrogen fuel cost targets.