EVENT:
What does a hydrogen fueling station look like and how does it work? Find out at the grand opening of the hydrogen fueling station at UC Irvine. This station -- the first of its kind in Orange County -- provides a look at how drivers may fuel their vehicles in the future. The event will include fueling demonstrations, the display of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, and an explanation of dual-pressure dispensing technology, which allows drivers to select the pressure at which to refuel their hydrogen vehicles. The grand opening is organized by Air Products and UCI's National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC), who are collaborating on this U.S. Department of Energy and California South Coast Air Quality Management District Demonstration project.

WHEN:
10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27

WHERE:
The hydrogen fueling station at UCI is located adjacent to Parking Lot 90 at the corner of Jamboree Road and Campus Drive. Map: www.uci.edu/campusmap

INFORMATION:
By invitation only, but open to the media. If planning to attend, please contact Jennifer Fitzenberger at 949-824-3969 or jfitzen@uci.edu prior to the event, as parking at the station site will be limited.

BACKGROUND:
The Air Products hydrogen fueling station at UCI is the first in California capable of dispensing hydrogen at 700 bar, or 10,000 pounds per square inch. It can also dispense hydrogen at 350 bar, or 5,000 pounds per square inch. One way for fuel cell vehicles to achieve a greater range between refuelings is by the use of hydrogen at higher pressures.

Operated by the NFCRC, this station is open to authorized users trained on its operation. It was designed, engineered and installed by the NFCRC and Air Products, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and California's South Coast Air Quality Management District. The station is the first deployed by Air Products as part of the California Hydrogen Infrastructure Project with the Department of Energy. Through funding and fuel cell development, automakers including Toyota, Honda, Nissan and BMW also support the project.

Hydrogen, when used as a source of energy, produces zero or very low emissions. The emissions from a hydrogen fuel cell engine contain only water vapor. Hydrogen today is produced efficiently from natural gas and can also be produced from non-petroleum sources, thereby potentially reducing the country's dependence on petroleum. The ultimate goal is for hydrogen to be produced through a variety of clean and renewable energy sources.