The History of the International Hydrail Conference

So what we need going forward is a system that combines autonomous operation and clean power. Enter hydrogen. If it is used together with fuel cells and batteries it enables a clean autonomous generation of electric power that is used for train propulsion as well as the creature comfort passengers have come to expect from modern rail transport and keeping the environmental signature low.

For over 15 years researchers, engineers and rail operators have been working hard, delivering and testing various hydrail prototypes for a variety of rail applications. Now we are confident: Whether the objective is to enable regional connectivity, green logistics in railyards, ports or connecting major hubs with clients on non-electrified trunk lines, hydrail solutions can be applied today.

Presenters

David J. Carol

Project Director, Charlotte Transit Area System
BA, Amherst College; MA, Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia; JD, University of Virginia

William P. Chernicoff

Hydrogen Engineer, US DOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA)
BS, MIT (Materials Engineering); MS, Boston University (Manufacturing Engineering)

Robert E. Johnson

Dean, The William States Lee College of Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Ph.D., 1977; MS, 1974, Caltech (Engineering Sci.); B.S., 1973, SUNY at Buffalo (Engineering Sci.)

David D. King

Deputy Secretary for Transit, North Carolina Department of Transportation
AB, Economics – Davidson College; MBA, UNC Chapel Hil

Keiichiro Kondo

Senior Researcher, Drive System Laboratory, Railway Technical Research Institute, Japan
BE, Electrical Engineering Course, Waseda University; PhD. Electrical Engineering, Waseda University

Prashant S. Chintawar

Executive Director of Marketing, Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc.
PhD, Chemical Engineering, The University of Akron

Michael Kuby

Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Arizona State University
PhD, 1988, Boston University (Geography); AB, 1980, University of Chicago (Geography)

Alistair I. Miller

Senior Scientific Associate, Office of the Principal Scientist, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
BSc, Applied Chemistry, University of Glasgow; PhD, Chemical Engineering, University of London-Imperial College

Arnold R. Miller

President, Vehicle Projects LLC, President and Technical Director, Fuel Cell Propulsion Institute
PhD, Chemistry, U. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Theodore (Ted) Motyka

Manager, Hydrogen Separation and Storage, Hydrogen Technology Section, Savannah River Site
BS, MS, PhD Chemical Engineering, Univ. of Colorado

Linda Rimer

US Environmental Protection Agency, Liaison to North and South Carolina
BA, Nursing, UNC at Chapel Hill; MS, Rush University; PhD environmental policy, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago

Larry Shirley

Director of the State Energy Office, NC Department of Administration
BA, Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bill Thunberg

Mayor, Town of Mooresville, N.C.
AB, Philosophy, East Carolina University; YEI, School of Business Administration, UNC Chapel Hill

Ronald J. Tober

Chief Executive Officer, Charlotte Area Transit System; Director of Public Transit, City of Charlotte
BS, Cornell University; MS, Case Western University, Cleveland, Ohio

Max Wyman

Principal Scientist, Terra Genesis, Inc.
BE, Astronautics; MS, Building Design; PhD, Economic Geography

Rebecca Yarbrough

Regional Initiatives Program Administrator, Centralina Council of Governments (NC)
AB, Queens Unversity, Charlotte NC; County Administration School, UNCChapel Hill