What: With escalating gas prices as a backdrop, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Davis researchers, national and California policy-makers, and researchers and strategic planners from the automotive and fuel industries will meet to discuss technical developments in research on automotive fuel-cell systems and evaluate business and social issues that will drive automotive and fuel technology in the 21st century. The conference is sponsored by the Institute of Transportation Studies at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Davis. Fuel-cell cars and buses will be the focus of the first day of the conference, including programs such as the California Fuel Cell Partnership, which is based in West Sacramento and organized by the California Air Resources Board. The second day will focus on technical discussions of research under way at the Fuel Cell Vehicle Modeling Program at ITS-Davis. When: Tuesday, March 28, 9 a.m. Breaks for interviews will take place at about 10:15 a.m. and 3 p.m. Where: Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, University of California, Davis. Visuals: A scale-model fuel cell powered by hydrogen will be set up and running. It will power a television and VCR that will be playing a loop videotape describing how a fuel cell works in an automobile. Background: Concerns about climate change, air quality and energy supply are motivating the development of clean electric-drive vehicles. The most promising electric-drive option to address all of these concerns is the fuel-cell vehicle. (Automotive fuel-cell systems convert hydrogen, methanol or some other hydrogen-containing fuel to electricity. The electricity is used to power the vehicle's electric motor. This system produces excellent acceleration and overall performance, and a clean, quiet ride.) In addition to addressing air quality and greenhouse-gas emission concerns, fuel-cell vehicles also allow for a diversified fuel-supply system for cars and buses, reduce vehicle noise and improve vehicle efficiency. Because of their potential for reduced maintenance costs and low fuel costs, researchers say, fuel-cell vehicles are likely to be cheaper to operate than conventional vehicles, especially considering the relatively high current price of gasoline. High initial vehicle manufacturing costs are a significant obstacle to fuel-cell-vehicle commercialization, but auto makers and independent analysts say high-volume mass production should lead to dramatic cost reductions. Four major auto makers have said they intend to commercialize fuel-cell vehicles by the year 2005. The Institute of Transportation Studies at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Davis has the country's most prominent and comprehensive university research program on advanced environmental vehicles. The institute has been designated a U.S. Department of Energy/Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) Center for fuel-cell-vehicle research. Directions and Parking: The Buehler center is located at the southeast corner of Old Davis Road and Mrak Hall Circle Drive. Exit Interstate 80 at Old Davis Road and keep right until you reach Mrak Hall Circle Drive. Parking is adjacent to the center. Media can always park free on the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Davis campus in any nonreserved parking space. If your vehicle is not marked, place a media business card on the dashboard.