Visitors to the 2006 OC Fair will be enveloped in the magic of the fuel cell and get a sneak peek into the future of energy with the U.S. premiere of The Fuel Cell Exhibit. Presented by the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC) at UC Irvine, The Fuel Cell Exhibit comes to the OC Fair after debuting at the 2005 World’s Fair (EXPO 2005) in Aichi, Japan, where it was viewed by more than two million international visitors.

In addition to a one-minute animated video that explains how fuel cell technology works, the exhibit will feature a pictorial display of current and future technology. Fairgoers can also view a stationary fuel cell that has been modified for educational purposes-one side has been replaced with see-through panels allowing for viewing of the internal components.

Exhibit visitors can also experience the power of the fuel cell in a semi-interactive display that demonstrates how heat generated by the fuel cell when creating energy can be used for other purposes, such as heating water.

Another exciting portion of the exhibit, which is 30 feet wide, 15 feet deep and 12 feet high, is a model home that shows fairgoers how a home of the future could be powered using solar power and fuel cell technology.

Since 1997, the NFCRC has focused on the research, development and testing of the fuel cell and its potential applications in everyday living. The NFCRC was established in a cooperative agreement with Southern California Edison and commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission.

The Fuel Cell Exhibit will be on display all 21 days of the 2006 OC Fair (July 7-30) in the Orange County Building. The exhibit was made possible by a gift from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

For more information about the Fuel Cell Exhibit and the other exciting attractions at the 2006 OC Fair, visit www.ocfair.com. For more information about fuel cell research and NFCRC, visit www.nfcrc.uci.edu.