Toyota Technical Center Leases Laboratory Facility in Center for Hydrogen Research

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Toyota Technical Center Leases Laboratory Facility in Center for Hydrogen Research

02/13/2006 Aiken, South Carolina
February 13, 2006 - Aiken, South Carolina - Toyota Technical Center, USA and Aiken County, South Carolina announced today they have entered into an agreement in which Toyota Technical Center will lease 1,640 square feet of laboratory and support space in Aiken County's recently completed Center for Hydrogen Research. Toyota will use the space to perform research and development on hydrogen fuel components necessary for the next generation of fuel cell powered vehicles. Fuel cell vehicles are widely regarded as the most promising future technology for environmentally friendly transportation systems which do not use increasingly expensive and scarce petroleum for fuel.

Toyota Technical Center, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan is Toyota Motor Company's North American research, development and engineering organization, performing a wide variety of technical and regulatory activities in support of the North American market. Toyota Technical Center has a cooperative research agreement with the Savannah River National Laboratory, and will perform complementary development activities in its new facilities in the Center for Hydrogen Research.

The Center for Hydrogen Research is a 60,000 square foot laboratory and support facility especially designed and constructed by Aiken County for hydrogen production, storage and infrastructure research. The Center is designed to co-locate, in the same laboratory complex, hydrogen research programs being conducted by the Savannah River National Laboratory with programs sponsored by industry and academia. The Center's purpose is to facilitate the transfer of technology from the Savannah River National Laboratory to industry and the consumer.

The Center for Hydrogen Research opened February 13, 2006. In addition to Toyota Technical Center, the Savannah River National Laboratory has leased space in the Center for Hydrogen Research. The Center for Hydrogen Research is in Aiken County's Savannah River Research Campus. The Research Campus is located adjacent to the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site and near New Ellenton, South Carolina.

The Center for Hydrogen Research is a member of the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance and the National Hydrogen Association.