To fund this project, the CHR received a $175,000 grant from the Washington Division of URS Corporation.

"As the Center for Hydrogen Research is pioneering a new wave in hydrogen research and education, we are excited to provide the eTec HICE Silverado to enhance their hydrogen research capabilities and to further demonstrate the viability of hydrogen," said Garrett Beauregard, vice president of engineering, eTec.

"The eTec HICE Silverado is one of the first hydrogen powered vehicles to be currently available for purchase. While there are still many issues surrounding the production, storage, and delivery of hydrogen, the work of the CHR and their purchase of the eTec HICE Silverado demonstrates that hydrogen has the potential to play a role in solving our country's energy problems."

With technical assistance from project partners Roush Industries and Powertech Labs, eTec led the conversion of the eTec HICE Silverado to be fueled by a compressed hydrogen fuel system that produces nearly zero carbon emissions. Based on the full-size 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD pickup truck, the vehicle underwent extensive internal modifications to meet the technical demands and requirements needed to run on a compressed hydrogen fuel system.

eTec's experienced engineering staff will provide hands-on training and technical support for the eTec HICE Silverado that will allow researchers and technicians at CHR to easily understand the underlying mechanics of the system for future hydrogen research and testing activities.

While eTec currently has several HICE vehicles in operation in Canada, and has orders for other HICE vehicles for U.S. customers, the eTec HICE Silverado delivered to the Center for Hydrogen Research is the first eTec HICE vehicle to be registered and operated in the United States.

"The acquisition of the eTec HICE Silverado is a major milestone for the Center for Hydrogen Research in uniting South Carolina's national laboratory, research institutes, universities, and private sector towards the vision of accelerating the development of hydrogen as a viable alternative energy source," said Fred Humes, director of the Center for Hydrogen Research.

"As South Carolina is quickly emerging as a national leader in advancing clean technologies, Aiken County and the Center for Hydrogen Research is quickly becoming a concentrated center for innovative research, development and commercial advancement of hydrogen. The eTec HICE Silverado will act as the 'point-of-the-spear' for the introduction and development of hydrogen infrastructure in the state."

"For 18 years we have worked with the DOE and community leaders in this region to leverage the unique and special technologies at Savannah River Site for the benefit of the local economy," said E. Preston Rahe, Jr., president of the Energy and Environment Business Unit, the Washington Division of URS Corporation. "The eTec HICE Silverado literally puts us on the road to demonstrating the practical aspects of hydrogen as a transportation fuel source not only for Aiken County, South Carolina and Georgia, but for the rest of the country as well."

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