Progress in Emergency Responder Education on

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles

J. Hamilton

California Fuel Cell Partnership

Real-world drivers operate more than 100 FCVs in California every day, including passenger cars used for work and personal travel, and fuel cell buses that carry thousands of passengers in regular transit service. These vehicle numbers will grow in the coming years as automakers grow their early customer trials and transit agencies expand their bus fleets. Key to the success of fuel cell vehicles in this early deployment phase is understanding and acceptance of the technology by fire professionals and other emergency responders.

The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) has directly educated over 1000 fire professionals and the demonstrated effectiveness of its program has resulted in recognition by state and national entities.  CaFCP is working with the California Office of the State Fire Marshal to incorporate CaFCP's emergency responder education program into standard fire community curriculum. CaFCP is also collaborating with the National Associate of State Fire Marshals to expand the reach of this program to other parts of the United States.  Through these collaborations, the CaFCP promotes consistency in information and messaging about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with the goal of promoting a high level of understanding and confidence among the fire community. CaFCP and its members continue to serve as technical experts to provide the fire community with the latest information and developments regarding hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles in California communities.

Keywords: “Hydrogen Safety”, “Emergency Responders”, “Fuel Cell Vehicles”, “Commercialization”, “Early Deployment”

Biography:

Jennifer Hamilton's function as the Safety Officer of the California Fuel Cell Partnership has led her in the position of becoming one of the experts in the industry to educate and train fire professionals and emergency responders about fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen as a fuel. Jennifer works with the members of the CaFCP to work out challenges related to hydrogen, leading to several manuals that are used by first responders throughout California. She also leads efforts to educate State entities responsible for fire responder training curricula. Jennifer received her Masters of Science in Biological Sciences from the California State University Chico and applied her degree at UC Davis as a scientific researcher and safety officer.