Quantum Leap for the O.C.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., today announced the delivery of five hydrogen-fuelled Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles to the City of Santa Monica, California.
This is part of the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) program to develop and demonstrate 30 hydrogen hybrid vehicles in Southern California fleets.
The formal delivery will take place during a ceremony to be held today at Santa Monica’s City Yards, the location of the newest hydrogen station in the AQMD’s hydrogen infrastructure demonstration program.
Under contract to the AQMD, Quantum engineered a state-of-the-art OEM-caliber hydrogen fuel system, optimized the performance of the vehicle system, completed accelerated long-term durability testing, and performed crash testing, to verify the design of the vehicles.
Quantum designed and produced the advanced hydrogen storage system, fuel injection system, and electronic controls.
Quantum subjected the final design to extensive system optimization and vehicle verification testing to ensure super ultra low emission vehicle (SULEV) emissions performance, drivability, durability, and crash survivability of the hydrogen Priuses.
This event continues the formal rollout of the AQMD’s hydrogen hybrid vehicle fleet and infrastructure demonstration program.
The AQMD initiated this effort to establish a network of hydrogen fuelling stations and deploy a fleet of hydrogen hybrid vehicles.
A key benefit of this program will be the opportunity to educate the public on the use and safety of hydrogen as a fuel through its demonstration in vehicles with which the public is already familiar.
Santa Monica is one of five cities partnering with the AQMD to demonstrate five hydrogen-fuelling stations and a total of 30 hybrid Priuses, with internal combustion engines that have been modified by Quantum to burn gaseous hydrogen.
In addition to Santa Monica, the host sites for the vehicles include the cities of Burbank, Ontario, Riverside, and Santa Ana, as well as the AQMD headquarters in Diamond Bar.
“Quantum is proud to be the supplier of the hydrogen hybrid Priuses that will be used by the City of Santa Monica. We look forward to supporting the City and the AQMD in this innovative program,” said Alan P. Niedzwiecki, President and CEO of Quantum. “With oil prices continuing to stay above $70 per barrel, Quantum’s hydrogen, hybrid, and alternative fuel vehicle technologies are attracting increased interest from around the world as options to petroleum fuels, as demonstrated by our recently announced sale of 15 hydrogen hybrid Priuses to Norway.”
Quantum and its subsidiary, Tecstar Automotive Group, are leaders in powertrain engineering, system integration, and manufacturing of packaged fuel systems and accessories for specialty vehicles and applications including fuel cells, hybrids, alternative fuels, hydrogen refueling, new body styles, mid-cycle vehicle product enhancements and high performance engines and drive trains for OEMs and consumers of aftermarket parts and accessories.
Quantum also designs and manufactures hybrid and fuel cell vehicles.
The AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and the major portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
This area of 11,000 square miles is home to more than 16 million people — about half the population of the State of California.
It is the second most populous urban area in the United States.
AQMD is responsible for controlling emissions from stationary sources of air pollution and has transportation-related programs aimed primarily at reducing mobile source emissions and promoting the use of cleaner fuels and vehicles.