MAE Seminar: Hydrogen Fuel, Saving the Tip of the Iceberg

Abstract: Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles provide an opportunity to curb urban smog-forming exhaust emissions, dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide transportation energy security, all while providing no-compromise transportation. The only problem is that the technology is complex, there are few places to refuel, the CEO of Tesla calls it “b.s.” and the Hindenburg disaster was caught on tape.

Bio: Dr. Stephens is Chief Development Officer and a Principal at FirstElement Fuel, Inc. where he is in charge of investments, business development, government/policy issues, and overall growth of the company. Prior to that he conducted groundbreaking hydrogen infrastructure research at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and led government relations and program development efforts for the National Fuel Cell Research Center. Dr. Stephens also interned at the Obama White House where he helped design and coordinate policy related to energy and disaster readiness for local communities. As a scientist and thought leader in the clean energy space Dr. Stephens has authored more than a half-dozen peer-reviewed scientific articles and won awards for his work on fuel cells and how they integrate into the broader energy ecosystem including a fellowship from the Newkirk Center for Science and Society and a Public Impact Fellowship from UC Irvine.