Glenn Eisman, director of Rensselaer's Center for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research, has been selected by the National Academy of Engineering to join a group of industry and academic experts to evaluate the U.S. FreedomCAR Initiative.

The FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) and Fuel Partnership is a U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) program focused on collaborative research to develop technologies necessary to provide a full range of affordable cars and light trucks, and the fuel infrastructure to support them.

"The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership focuses on research to develop the necessary technologies, such as fuel cell power systems and hydrogen storage systems, to create a new transportation model that will eliminate the reliance on offshore fossil fuel sources, eventually leading to an environmentally friendly, carbon-free option," said Eisman. "The committee's role is to review and assess the program's progress toward meeting technical goals, review and comment on research efforts, and review the role for federal involvement."

The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership program operates in collaboration with the U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR). According to USCAR, the goal of the partnership is to free the nation's personal transportation system from petroleum dependence and from harmful vehicle emissions, without sacrificing freedom of mobility and freedom of vehicle choice.

In addition to serving on the 15-member independent review committee, Eisman is also chair of the fuel cell group. The full committee is scheduled to complete its review by December.

Published January 24, 2005