Summary

The Department’s Hydrogen Roadmap outlines the critical roles and activities for the next 15 years.  By implementing this Roadmap, DOT’s three primary responsibilities – safety, RDD&D for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and infrastructure deployment – are fully integrated in a coordinated effort with industry and other Federal agencies.

Implementation of the Roadmap is coordinated through DOT’s Hydrogen Working Group, chaired by RITA.  This body is working cross-modally with the individual operating administrations to exchange information on progress, share expertise, and to realize DOT’s top priority – safety – as the hydrogen economy develops.  This working group also fosters interaction, technically and programmatically, with DOT’s Federal partners: Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other partners who have reviewed and provided input to this coordinated Roadmap.

The pathways to hydrogen commercialization begin in FY05 with the initial regulatory work and RDD&D and support for existing vehicle and infrastructure demonstrations.  However, the road is just beginning and the final outcome is not yet clear.  The ultimate commercialization and technology decisions will be made by the private sector for economic and technical feasibility reasons.  The DOT needs to provide the regulatory and safety framework within which these choices can be made.  The Roadmap clearly demonstrates the need for DOT’s near-term and ongoing planned activities to support a safe and technically viable transition to the Hydrogen Economy.  The Roadmap presents clear rationales for conducting the mapped activities in accordance with the timeframes outlined.  The timely execution of the DOT Roadmap will be a critical component for the successful execution of the hydrogen initiative within DOE and industry-defined timeframes.

The main goals for DOT in supporting these initiatives, as outlined in the Roadmap, include:

• ensuring the safety of hydrogen in transportation;
• defining a regulatory framework for hydrogen through voluntary consensus codes and standards;
• leading the RDD&D of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, components, and supporting infrastructure across all modes of transportation;
• guiding the safe integration of hydrogen infrastructure into DOT-regulated systems;
• accomplishing system integration of hydrogen infrastructure without compromising the safety, security and operability of the current and transition-state fuels infrastructure; and
• providing training and outreach activities to support these goals.

Roads by Each Applicable Operating Administration

Figure 6: NHTSA Flow Chart

Figure 7: PHMSA OPS Flow Chart

Figure 8: PHMSA OHMS Flow Chart

Figure 9: FMCSA Flow Chart

Figure 10: MARAD Flow Chart

Figure 11: FTA Flow Chart

Figure 12: FAA Flow Chart

Figure 13: Research and Innovative Technology Administration -- Activities by Road