2008 Hydrogen Road Tour

On August 10 and 11, 2008, transportation technology history was made in Portland and Cape Elizabeth, Maine by the Hydrogen Energy Center (HEC), Maine Clean Communities (MC2), the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the U.S. Department of Transportation and ten vehicle manufacturers and hydrogen suppliers. 

On Sunday, August 10, the HEC and MC2 brought a fleet of twelve hydrogen cars to Portand Head Light (Fort Williams Park) in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Visitors saw the cars and talked with representatives from the manufacturers. At the HEC and MC2 tents, they learned the fundamentals about how fuel cells work, how hydrogen is produced, and safety considerations. One park official estimated that about 700-1000 people attended throughout the afternoon.

On Monday, the cars went to Fort Allen Park to kick off the Hydrogen Road Tour '08.  The public and reporters had the opportunity to view the cars and speak with vehicle representatives again, and local and national luminaries spoke about hydrogen's role in our future.  The speakers were Portland Mayor Edward Suslovic, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Representative Tom Allen (D-ME-1), DOT Administrator Paul Brubaker, and California Fuel Cell Partnership Executive Director Catherine Dunwoody.