Released on March 21, 2006
Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) will feature the world's first pickup truck modified to operate on a combination of hydrogen/gasoline, and one on hydrated ethanol/diesel fuel, at GLOBE 2006. The Biennial Conference on Business and the Environment will be held March 29th-31st in Vancouver, British Columbia.The unique vehicles will be participating in a Ride-and-Drive with the B.C. Fleet Challenge on March 29th. The vehicles will be driven to Whistler on March 30th, and then arrive at the GLOBE 2006 conference on March 30th.
The goal of the demonstration is to show how alternative fuels are an effective means of automotive power and can help to establish hydrogen and ethanol fuelling station infrastructure.
"SRC's developments in hydrogen and ethanol have grown out of the applied research we have been doing with alternative fuels since the 1980s," SRC President and CEO Dr. Laurier Schramm said. "Saskatchewan is in an ideal position to create and support successful ethanol and hydrogen industries."
As on-road transportation accounts for approximately 27 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, the federal government is targeting large fleets in the transportation sector by providing support for a new initiative - the National Fleet Challenge. This pilot concept is being delivered currently in five regions of Canada, including British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The initiative aims to undertake a multitude of activities, focused and developed to meet the needs of each region, which will reduce the life-cycle energy costs and reduce emissions from large fleets.
"These unique modifications to existing vehicles for hydrogen and ethanol use with conventional fuel provide fleet vehicle owners and operators the opportunity to utilize these environmentally friendly fuels," Saskatchewan Office of Energy Conservation Director Grant McVicar said. "This use will reduce greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing the operational effectiveness those vehicles which operate on pure hydrogen or ethanol face, due to limited refueling facilities."
Media interested in publishing photos of the trucks can make arrangements by contacting Carol Reynolds at (306) 933-7089 or reynolds@src.sk.ca.
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For More Information, Contact:
| Carol Reynolds Saskatchewan Research Council Saskatoon Phone: (306) 933-7089 |