About thirty of the 12-passenger E-450 Hydrogen shuttle buses are being used at airports, convention centers, and other such public facilities.

The Ford hydrogen buses cost about $250,000, which is about 3.5 times the price of equivalent gasoline powered buses. They get about 150 to 200 miles (240 to 320 kilometers) between hydrogen fill-ups.

The 6.8-liter internal combustion hydrogen engine is considered a connecting technology between the old gasoline combustion hydrogen engine and the future hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Internal combustion hydrogen engines and hydrogen fuel cells are a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions around the world, along with helping the United States and other countries to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, much of it in countries with unstable governments and in areas of military conflicts.

Ford hopes to begin mass production of these vehicles for the U.S. driving public. Other automobile companies are also performing research and development in the renewable hydrogen technology for transportation needs.

More information about Ford hydrogen technology appears at: http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=18794.

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