Hydrogen Car Infrastructure - Jackie Birdsall, Toyota

Apr 16, 2021

"Fuel cells create electricity by stripping electrons from hydrogen atoms; the hydrogen then bonds to oxygen to create water, while the electrons power the electric motor. The result is an electric vehicle that is fueled with hydrogen from a pump rather than electrons drawn from the nation's electrical power grid."

Car & Driver magazine

A key part of President Biden’s ambitious infrastructure bill is incentives to increase the adoption and use of alternative fuel vehicles. Some of those car and truck options run on hydrogen fuel cells, and they need infrastructure too.  These are what I call “the other electric vehicles,” because they run on electricity but not on batteries like your neighbor’s Tesla.

So, what are they and how do they work? Listen to Jackie Birdsall, Senior Engineer of these vehicles at Toyota, explain how they work and give great career advice, with Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson.

You'll hear:

• How hydrogen fuel cell vehicles work
• Where the infrastructure is for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and when refueling will be more available.
• What these EVs cost and how to get government tax incentives for buying them.
• Why hydrogen fuel cells vehicles travel more miles than battery-powered EVs, and charge faster.
• And, important career advice, including how Toyota is empowering women specifically.

“Open yourself to all kinds of opportunities and say ‘yes’ to them and it will help you find your passion and …step out of your comfort zone.”

Jackie Birdsall on Green Connections Radio podcast

 

You’ll also want to listen to:

• Bonnie Datta, Siemens, expert on electric vehicle regulatory issues.
• Shirley Meng, PhD., UC San Diego, electric vehicle battery research & development.
• Rachel Gutter, President of the International Well Building Institute, on questions to ask before you go back into your workplace.
• Michelle Wyman, Executive Director of National Council of Science and the Environment on how to talk to policymakers about science to keep science in policy decisions.

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