[H.sub.2] hits the highway. (News & Notes).

In December, Toyota delivered two hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to the University of California, the first of six that the campuses at Irvine and Davis will lease for 30 months.

Meanwhile, six hydrogen refueling stations are expected to go online within six months. Already, Stuart Energy

Toyota built its fuel-cell power plant into a lightened Highlander midsize sport utility vehicle. A 90-kW polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack coupled to a nickel--metal hydride battery propels the vehicle at a top speed of 96 mph, Toyota said. Toyota applied technology it developed for the hybrid Prius to regulate the power flow from the fuel cell and the battery.

Four 5,000-psi tanks store enough fuel to travel approximately 180 miles. Toyota calls the design FCHV, a successor to its FCHV-4 vehicle.

Also in December, Honda delivered the first of five hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to the City of Los Angeles. The city will use the vehicles in its motor pool and give the manufacturer a realistic, yet controlled, test venue.

Air Products and Chemicals of Allentown, Pa., will be supplying the hydrogen for the Honda vehicles.