At the 2006 National Hydrogen Association conference, the author's paper “Hydrogen Transportation Systems” dealt with the opportunity that hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine vehicles represented relative to moving the hydrogen transportation economy forward. Developments in Europe were referred to and prospects for a major hydrogen initiative in New York State were identified. New York State Energy Research & Development Authority had funded a project by American Wind Power & Hydrogen at the SUNY Buffalo campus consisting of two Quantum modified Prius vehicles and a Quantum fueling station and the Governor had appropriated $5 million to accelerate the HICE vehicle effort.

The SUNY Buffalo project is now in operation. The two modified Prius vehicles haver been in regular vehicle pool service since August 2006. The $5 million appropriation has been provided to NYSERDA for funding a HICE vehicle program. The contract awards will be made in late 2006 or early 2007 and will be identified in the paper presented. In addition, the New York Power Authority has announced a $21 million hydrogen transportation initiative that will result in two large scale electrolysis facilities to be built in Niagara Falls and Buffalo. The initiative includes ICE and fuel cell transit vehicles to be operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.

American Wind Power & Hydrogen has surveyed Western New York State and determined that six State entities in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Rochester have 1077 transit buses, shuttle buses and pickup trucks that are the potential market for hydrogen fueled vehicles in Western New York. The availability of extensive renewable resources in the northern tier of the State, and particularly in Niagara Falls, provides New York State with a unique opportunity to become a leader in the evolution of the hydrogen transportation economy.