Hydrogen buses welcomed at Detroit Metro, county exec lauds green on St. Patty’s Day
Romulus – On St. Patrick’s Day, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano today celebrated green technology, paying tribute to a pair of hydrogen-fueled buses that will operate at Detroit Metro Airport. The vehicles have been built by the Ford Motor Co. and will be used at the airport to transport passengers between terminals.
The environmentally friendly buses are the result of a partnership between Ford, the Wayne County Airport Authority and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, and are largely funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant supported by U.S. Rep. John Dingell, dean of the House and a long-serving state lawmaker.
At the bus introduction, the county executive and the congressman were joined by Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson and Ziad Ojakli, a Ford Motor Co. vice president for government and community relations.
Climbing aboard the quickly accelerating hydrogen-vehicle bandwagon, which delivers about 1 percent of emissions of a standard car or truck, reminds everyone that we live in a “constant but constantly changing world,” the county executive said. “Wayne County and southeast Michigan have been putting the world on wheels for about a century. And with this kind of technology and other innovations recognized around the globe, we will continue for at least another century – and beyond.”
Ford is credited with being the first large automaker to offer hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in several U.S. cities, including a number of spots in the Orlando region. Canada has also received hydrogen buses from Ford for commercial travel.
Hydrogen is still in the early stages of use, but experts predict the efficient and green fuel source will be more commonplace as technology evolves. Hydrogen is one of the two ingredients of water and can be captured from methane gas and other common sources. The beauty of hydrogen is that it emits water from the tailpipe, meaning that it is eco-friendly.
The cost of brewing hydrogen and getting it to the network of pumping stations that are used for fossil fuels, however, are the challenges ahead. Buses at Detroit Metro will refuel at a hydrogen pumping station in Taylor.
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July 19, 2008
Off and flying: Fans flock to Pinnacle opening
as owner
sees dream come true
For horse owner Henry Mast, the only thing more surprising than being the first winner at Pinnacle Race Course on Friday afternoon was that he couldn't find a parking spot at the track before the race.
County's China trade missions spur Discovery channel profile
Detroit - Wayne County's far-reaching travels to recruit investment and attract attention to our region are part of an important documentary on China scheduled for broadcast on the highly popular Discovery channel.
Romulus – On St. Patrick’s Day, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano today celebrated green technology, paying tribute to a pair of hydrogen-fueled buses that will operate at Detroit Metro Airport. The vehicles have been built by the Ford Motor Co. and will be used at the airport to transport passengers between terminals.
For horse owner Henry Mast, the only thing more surprising than being the first winner at Pinnacle Race Course on Friday afternoon was that he couldn't find a parking spot at the track before the race.
They had breezed through "vicissitude"; now, Team 11 had only to spell "xenobiotic" to clinch first place in Tuesday's Spell-Off for Seniors.
Detroit - Wayne County's far-reaching travels to recruit investment and attract attention to our region are part of an important documentary on China scheduled for broadcast on the highly popular Discovery channel.
