NAFTC eNews | November/December 2007

Industry Headlines
2007: A Year in Review
Hybrids Highly Ranked in 2008 Fuel Economy Guide
GM and Disney Team up for Fuel Cell Vehicle Testing
Automakers Offer Hybrids To Compete
Daimler and Ford Partner for New Fuel Cell Company
Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act of 2007 Introduced
Alabama Motorists To Benefit From Alternative Fuel Pumps
Safety Requirements for E85 Fuel Dispensers Established
Green Motor Oil Now Available
Barefoot Motors Developing an All-Electric ATV

Consortium Updates
From the Office of the Executive Director
NAFTC Hosts First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Demonstration in West Virginia
Fall Business Meeting Held at NAFTC Headquarters
NAFTC Gains International Exposure at EVS23

Let's Clear the Air!"

Around the World

Upcoming Events and Training

Fall Business Meeting Held at NAFTC Headquarters

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) held its fall business meeting at its headquarters located in Morgantown, West Virginia, on October 25–27. Consortium members attended safety training presented by Mark Olance of Ford Motor Company on a Ford Fuel Cell Focus, which was the first time a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle was demonstrated in West Virginia. Members also took part in First Responder Safety Training: Hybrid Electric Vehicles, one of the newest trainings offered by the NAFTC.

Murrey Loflin and Lanny Adkins of the West Virginia University Fire Extension were on hand with their mobile fire training unit. The new two-story, 53-foot-long unit was designed to challenge firefighters with smoke, flames, sights, sounds, and obstacles of commercial and residential structural fires. The safe system is controlled from an observation room by a lead instructor who can shut down the operations and ventilate the unit's interior within 45 to 60 seconds. Environmentally sound, the mobile fire training unit is fueled by clean-burning propane and generates benign smoke that does not disturb the community.

In addition, the Monongalia Emergency Medical Services participated by allowing the members to experience a simulated extrication using the jaws-of-life extraction equipment. The NAFTC's new Addressing the Media training topped off the three-day meeting.


WVU Fire Extension provided NAFTC members an opportunity to experience a fire as a first responder would see it. NAFTC photo


Extrication procedures were also demonstrated at the meeting. NAFTC photo


NAFTC members gather around the Ford FCV as they listen to Mark Olance talk about the hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle. NAFTC photo


As the NAFTC begins to train more first responders on hybrid safety, media inquiries about the training and the vehicles will occur. The business meeting provided training for members on how to address the media, including practice with an on camera interview. NAFTC photo


University Motors provided a Toyota Prius for use as a training aid during the business meeting. NAFTC photo