TransForum Vol. 4, No. 2

NEW FUELS AND TECHNOLOGIES ARE THE FOCUS OF ASSISTANT DOE SECRETARY GARMAN'S RECENT VISIT

As Argonne's Laboratory Director Hermann Grunder (left) and Associate Laboratory Director Harvey Drucker (right) observe, Assistant U.S. Secretary of Energy David Garman (center) drives an emulated fuel cell vehicle over the Federal Urban Drive Cycle in the Advanced Powertrain Research Facility. His successful completion of this "hardware-in-the-loop" test earned him Argonne's first "virtual drivers license."

David Garman, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Office, visited Argonne on March 21 to learn more about research, development, and deployment activities taking place at Argonne in support of key EERE strategic initiatives.

Garman's visit included a discussion of biomass energy opportunities; a tour of Argonne's Industrial Process and Recycling Facilities; demonstrations and discussion of fuel cell vehicle modeling, simulation, and hydrogen use at the Transportation Technology Research and Development Center (TTRDC) and Advanced Powertrain Research Facility (APRF); a walkthrough of the Locomotive Engine Test Facility; and presentations showcasing innovative approaches to fuel cell design, auxiliary power, and hydrogen production at Argonne's Fuel Cell/Hydrogen Production facilities.

Hydrogen production and use were recurring themes as Laboratory officials showed Garman how current Argonne research supports DOE's work to promote fuel cell development, reduce dependence on oil imports, and increase use of such alternative domestic energy sources as biomass and hydrogen.