New hydrogen fuel station comes to New York

Hydrogen fuel station built in Ithaca

A new hydrogen fuel station has been built in Ithaca, New York, that could help the U.S. move one step closer to actualizing a hydrogen economy. The concept of a hydrogen economy is decades old, having been hinted at by General Motors engineers in the 1970’s. The idea behind the concept is that hydrogen fuel will eventually replace oil in the transportation sector, as well as others, leading to a new energy economy that is based on hydrogen-centric technologies.

Federal agency announces funding plan for innovative projects

The new hydrogen fuel station is part of an initiative that has been launched by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The federal agency has announced that it will be providing $13.6 million in funding that is meant to advance fuel cell technology and examine the benefits of this technology in transportation. The funds will be issued through the Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program, which has already funded numerous hydrogen-powered buses that are not operating in some parts of the country.

Agency works to establish working hydrogen fuel infrastructure

Part of the goal of the initiative is to help establish a working hydrogen fuel infrastructure that is capable of supporting both public and private vehicles. Without this infrastructure, hydrogen-powered vehicles are unlikely to find success among consumers if these consumers do not have access to fuel solutions. The federal government is not alone in working to bolster the country’s hydrogen fuel infrastructure, of course, as the global auto industry has also taken charge of ensuring that such an infrastructure is capable of supporting the launch of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Valuable vehicle markets highlighted for hydrogen fuel projects

The Department of Transportation is looking to support innovative projects that expand the hydrogen fuel infrastructure of particular states. California, for instance, is considered a prominent market for vehicles, and has become a target for the auto industry’s interest in hydrogen transportation. New York is also considered a valuable market to the auto industry.