TransForum Vol. 5, No. 1

Argonne Hosts Chinese-American Olympics Planning Group

In November, Argonne's Transportation Technology R&D Center hosted approximately 90 Chinese and American scientists and policy makers working toward the goal of a cleaner Beijing. The December gathering was the first American meeting of the Chinese-American Joint Working Group on Olympic Cooperation to develop sustainable technologies for the City of Beijing and the 2008 Olympic Games. Two previous meetings had been held in China. "We have already cleaned emissions from factories and cars and are planting more trees for a cleaner environment," said Fan Baoyuan, Beijing's Vice Mayor.

The Chinese members of the Joint Working Group on Olympic Cooperation for the City of Beijing and the 2008 Olympic Games delegation gather for a photo during their meeting at Argonne National Laboratory.

Beijing Vice Mayor Fan Boyuan test drives a Ford Escape hybrid vehicle.

The Joint Working Group was created about two years ago by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), China's Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Beijing Municipal Government. As part of its bid to host the 2008 Summer Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing is committed to improving its environmental quality to create green Olympic Games. The Joint Working Group is charged to promote clean, efficient energy technologies in Beijing and in China. "Helping create a cleaner China helps the entire world," explained Argonne's Transportation Technology R&D Center Director Larry Johnson, who is a member of the Joint Working Group.

Argonne hosted the American meeting of the Joint Working Group. DOE leads the American team, with representatives from the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and State; the Environmental Protection Agency; and others. The Chinese delegation included representatives from several agencies of the Beijing Municipal Government, China's Ministry of Science and Technology, Tsinghua University, and the China Automotive Technology and Research Center. Representatives from the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago also attended the meeting. Visitors toured Argonne's world-class transportation research laboratories, including fuel cell facilities and vehicle and engine testing laboratories, as well as the Advanced Photon Source, this hemisphere's brightest source of X-rays for research.

During the meeting, Chinese officials presented a progress report on the Olympics and gave a preliminary plan for energy, environment, and transportation. A representative from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics shared lessons learned. Attendees also rode in advanced vehicles, including a GM Allison hybrid bus, Daimler-Chrysler GEM neighborhood electric cars, and a Ford Escape hybrid.

Working groups developed plans to work together in the following areas:

• Natural Gas Technology and Infrastructure Development;
• Fuel Cells, Hydrogen, and Electric Vehicles;
• Green Building Design and Construction;
• Alternative Transportation Technologies;
• Air Quality Management;
• Water Quality Management;
• Clean Coal; and
• The Beijing-Chicago Friendship Cities Initiative.

During the visit, Argonne officials also formalized plans to work with China to develop liquefied natural gas power systems for sanitation trucks.

Fan Boyuan and others involved in the Olympics planning meeting discuss the advantages of hybridization after riding in GM Allison's hybrid transit bus.

July 20, 2005