Jennifer Hamilton's presentation about CaFCP's work to develop a national training template for first responders. Given at Fuel Cell Seminar 2013.

1. A National Template for ER H2
FCV Education
Jennifer Hamilton
#259
September 23, 2013

2. Background
• Lack of education for first responders on hydrogen and
fuel cell vehicles
• Members of CaFCP recognized need & developed
program for California
• Other programs in other regions followed
• Intention has always been to pass along
material/information
• Timing was never appropriate
• Until now….

3. CaFCP ER program
Developed in 2002
Overhauled in 2006
Updated regularly
Added permitting education in 2008
Deployed to over 5,600 first responders
and permitting officials
• Contributed to the DOE’s program
curriculum
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•
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•
•
» Assist with the deployment and delivery
» Reached over 25,500 (online and
operations programs)

4. Recognized need for a
national program
Annual Merit Review, May 2012
Realized various & similar first responder programs
Increase in training requests
Developed the concept for a nationally available
‘template’/program
• Planted the idea with DOE staff then
» Cultured the idea
• Stakeholder in-person meeting at 2013 AMR
» Follow up meeting with PNNL (developed the existing DOE ER
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•
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prop program)
» Got the National Program into their Operating Plan (pending
approval)
• Here we are!

5. Review of existing programs
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Attended/reviewed
Spoke with individuals
Online information
Examples of positive elements in existing programs to
include in the ‘template’:
» Online, self-paced access to information
» Ability to broadly disseminate information
» Smart phone apps allowing for quick access to essential
information
» Quality illustrations/graphics

6. Program content
• Based largely on existing programs
• Consistent, vetted content and messaging on:
»
»
»
»
»
Hydrogen
Vehicles
Infrastructure
Safety
Deployment
• Provide resources
» Slides
» Links
» Videos

7. Basic content outline
A. Introduction to hydrogen
» Properties, uses, safety
B. Fuel Cells
» How a fuel cell works
» FC applications (brief overview)
 Stationary, industrial truck, back up power
C. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
» How they work, compare to other vehicles, fuel storage,
emergency response (scenarios), extrication suggestions
D. Fueling stations
» Various elements, safety features, how it works, emergency
response

8. Example scenarios
• Vehicle submersion
• Single vehicle fire
• Multi-vehicle collision (various kinds of light and heavy
duty vehicles)
• Above-ground parking garage incident
• Station fire incident

9. Overarching message
• Over all goal of the program:
» Balance the amount of information
given
» Participants conclude:
 Not ‘bombs’ 
 No more dangerous than current
vehicles; many similarities
 Can incorporate a FCV into and
follow their SOP/SOG’s

10. In addition to class room…
Sacramento Metro FD
Beverly Hills FD
Corona Auto-X
DOE Prop Course, HAMMER

11. Status
• Working to put together content
• Present a ‘straw man’ to the stakeholders
• Speaking to potential users/implementers
»
»
»
»
NFPA (June, 2014)
National Fire Academy
CA Office of Emergency Services
CA Office of the State Fire Marshal

12. CaFCP Members
Air Liquide
Air Products
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation
Ballard Power Systems
California Air Resources Board
California Department of Food and
Agriculture
California Energy Commission
California State University-Los Angeles
Center for Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Technologies
Chrysler
Daimler
Energy Independence Now
General Motors
Honda
Hydrogenics
Hyundai
Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis
Linde North America, Inc.
National Fuel Cell Research Center, UC Irvine
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Nissan
Powertech Labs
Proton OnSite
Sandia National Laboratories
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Southern California Gas Company
SunLine Transit Agency
Toyota
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Transportation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
US Hybrid
Volkswagen
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13. Visit www.cafcp.org
Jennifer Hamilton
Safety & Education Specialist
jjhamilton@cafcp.org
916-375-4914 direct
916-267-4083 cell