Dear Editor,
Re. “Local source for hydrogen fuel ‘very close,’” Question, Jan. 28.
For me, the true story of the Whistler Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses is not about how much the buses cost, the alternatives, how far the hydrogen is travelling, or the level of carbon emission. It is a story of teamwork, passion, drive, inspiration, leadership, dedication, hope, risk, hustle and desire for a better future that delivered this first gold medal for Canada.
I have been lucky enough to be involved in and witness many parts of the story. One of the many small victories on the path to gold in Whistler came after a somewhat precarious trip I led to a rifle range hidden in the foothills of the Rockies. Video camera and armour-piercing bullets in hand, we headed out to test the merits of our tanks. We luckily took the advice of a retired fire and ordinance chief and survived to show our competitor’s cylinder exploding to the Chicago Transit Authority, who had buses hit by bullets on a daily basis. Dynetek got the order the next day to provide the hydrogen storage for the first generation of fuel-cell buses headed to Chicago.
At Ballard, I witnessed the incredible amount of resources being invested in fuel-cell technology. The gold at Whistler would not have been possible without the leadership, risk, pioneering spirit and simple belief that there is a better way captured within the walls of Ballard’s offices.
About four years ago, B.C. Transit treated us to an inspiring speech by the leader of the Crazy Canucks. Steve Podborski took us back to the days they took on the world and won by working together with a clear dream in mind.
Shortly afterwards, the work and long hours for the predominantly Canadian partners began around the globe. I could only imagine the stories that paralleled mine as I raced back from Winnipeg to make my four-year-old’s first Christmas concert. My mind was certainly not on the merits of hydrogen as I hurtled toward North Van dealing with delayed flights, missed connections, rainy amber lights, Bo Duke sliding over my hood and hoping my daughter didn’t notice I missed the first two minutes.
The fueling station finally came together in the madhouse of Whistler construction, rain, wind and snow and all 20 buses drove themselves from Victoria up the Sea to Sky Highway. Even this small step required the frantic scrambling and dedication of a retired bus driver who put in 12- to 14-hour days over the Christmas break.
Like true champions, whose desire to do better never stops, over a dozen of the partners have banded together to go the next step and make sure hydrogen fuel is sourced from a by-product stream in North Vancouver.
To understand and be part of this golden tale, please take the bus to Whistler Village and listen to climate-changing rumble of the old diesel buses, smell the familiar cancer-promoting fumes and try not to slip on the black hue as you step off the curb. And then return (once again by bus, please) when the new buses rule to witness the quiet humming of a good future, the sweet smells of spring and perhaps the gleam in the eye of a
bright young engineer, scientist, entrepreneur, politician, or reporter who has just been inspired to do his part to help nudge us away from heading towards an unsustainable future and a climate catastrophe.
Colin Armstrong
North Vancouver
