"Please go home and e-mail 10 people about what you saw here today," said
Paul Brubaker, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).
As RITA Administrator, Brubaker leads the agency responsible for coordinating and reviewing DOT's roughly $1 billion investment in research, development and technology, and is charged with advancing technologies that will improve the nation's transportation system.
Brubaker was in Rolla Tuesday with the coast-to-coast tour of hydrogen vehicles sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the National Hydrogen Association.
The tour stopped in Rolla (one of 33 stops in 19 states) to allow guests on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Missouri University of Science & Technology's E3 (E-Cubed) Commons development, to either ride in, or test drive, one of the hydrogen vehicles on the tour.
"We are taking the research out of the labs, and bringing it to the streets for the American people," said Brubaker.
The tour is aimed at raising awareness of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel and the need to develop a U.S. hydrogen energy infrastructure.
The fleet of hydrogen cars departed from Maine on Aug. 10, and will make multiple stops before ending on Aug. 23 in Los Angeles.
Kevin B. Martin, doctoral candidate, hydrogen and fuel cells, of Missouri S&T said, "There is a real need to educate the public about the safety and performance of hydrogen."
According to Martin, the public's fear of hydrogen needs to be addressed.
The Hindenberg disaster of 1937 still comes to mind when the subject of hydrogen is brought up.The Hindenberg was a large German commercial passenger-carrying rigid airship, destroyed by fire at the end of the first transatlantic journey of its second season of service.
The accident occurred while the airship was landing at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Manchester Township, New Jersey. The event was widely reported by film, photography and radio media.
Scientists now argue hydrogen was not the cause for the disaster. It is now commonly believed the fire was caused by an aluminum compound found in rocket fuel that was used in the paint on the exterior of the airship.
A hydrogen fuel cell car emits nothing but water vapor and heat out of the tail pipe. There is no noticeable odor and because fuel cell vehicles operate with electric motors which have very few moving parts (only those pumps and blowers needed to provide fuel and coolant), vehicle vibrations and noise are largely reduced and routine maintenance (oil changes, spark plug replacement) is eliminated.
One of hydrogen's greatest strengths is its ability to be produced from many different sources.
Missouri S&T's hydrogen fueling station currently has the hydrogen shipped in but plans to be producing it's own within the next two months.
"The 'drive and ride' exceeded our expectations today, we're really pleased with how good the turnout was. The public seems ready to embrace the technology," said Martin.
Chancellor John F. Carney III, of Missouri University of Science & Technology, said it was a great day for the university, and a great day for the city of Rolla.
Speaking about the name of the E-Cubed Commons, Carney said, "E3 stands for energy, environment and education. We say E3=C, meaning energy, environment and education, equal civilization, and we are on the cutting edge of research in all three areas. We're in a position to be a part of the solution for the technological problems our country and the world face today, and we're really excited."