Air Products' Fueling Station Technology To Provide Hydrogen In California For VTA Zero-Emission Buses

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Fueling Advances Feature Faster Hydrogen Fills for Fleet Buses

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (February 24, 2005) – Air Products' (NYSE:APD) new fueling station technology, featuring faster-fill hydrogen fueling advancements for fleet buses, will provide hydrogen for three Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses in San Jose, California. The three-year program to test the viability of zero-emissions bus (ZEB) technology was officially commissioned today at a kick-off event, as the first VTA zero-emission fuel cell buses were welcomed into operation.

The Air Products' fueling station, at VTA's Cerone Operating Division located at Zanker Road and State Route 237 in San Jose, marks a milestone in technological development regarding vehicle fueling. The fueling station and dispensing unit incorporate the latest equipment design. The station features a dual cryogenic hydrogen compressor, which provides the fastest vehicle fill technology available today. 

VTA is also working in collaboration with the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) on this program, which is being conducted to comply with the California Air Resources Board regulations adopted in February 2000 to reduce nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emitted by public transit buses. The Federal Transit Administration and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) will participate in evaluating the demonstration program.

"We've made advances in hydrogen fueling that will be showcased by this bus fleet effort, and VTA should be given credit for taking the lead in transit in California," said Dave  McCarthy, commercial manager, Future Energy Solutions at Air Products. "These buses will be on the road daily, demonstrating that hydrogen does provide a practical, reliable, safe and clean energy source for everyday use. We are proud to be part of this exciting program with VTA, which continues to explore the use of hydrogen as a source of energy."

"This landmark program has the potential to reduce our industry's and our nation's reliance on fossil fuels," shared VTA Board Member Forest Williams. "If successful, our efforts will help move this new technology closer to becoming commercialized and available to public transit systems across the country." 

The hydrogen for this program is supplied by Air Products' production facility in Sacramento, which also supplies an industrial customer base in California and the western United States. The hydrogen from Sacramento is liquefied before being transported for delivery to the station at VTA. The liquid hydrogen is stored at low pressure, and a state-of-the-art pumping system increases the pressure to make it suitable for fueling use for the bus. The hydrogen is then brought to ambient temperature and is readied for gaseous dispensing at 350 bar (5,000 psig) to the VTA buses. 

This hydrogen fueling related announcement comes after several other of Air Products' California hydrogen news events. In April 2004, it was announced that an Air Products led team including automakers, an energy company, two California universities and a public agency will work together to further demonstrate and validate advancements in hydrogen-based transportation infrastructure. The ambitious program includes up to 24 hydrogen fueling stations and 80 automobiles, and will be funded in part by DOE. Also in April 2004, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger designated the Air Products hydrogen fueling station at the University of California-Davis as station number one on the Hydrogen Highway Network initiative. Air Products also has fueling stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, the University of California-Irvine and at the California Fuel Cell Partnership in Sacramento.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in technology, energy, healthcare and industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates.  Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives.  The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment and is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indices.  The company has annual revenues of $7.4 billion, operations in over 30 countries, and nearly 20,000 employees around the globe.  For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About VTA

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities.