Hydrogen
[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
GM Calls For More Hydrogen Stations; Plans 1,000 Fuel Cell Vehicles in California by 2014
April 07, 2008
General Motors called on the energy industry and governments to build more hydrogen fueling stations to help automakers move to volume production of fuel cell-electric vehicles.
That message was delivered last week by Larry Burns, General Motors vice president, research & development and strategic planning, in a keynote address at the National Hydrogen Association’s annual conference in Sacramento, CA.
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Boeing Flies Hydrogen Fuel Cell Airplane
April 04, 2008
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| Fuel cell airplane in flight. |
Boeing has flown a manned airplane powered by a 20 kW hydrogen fuel cell stack—an aviation first. The recent milestone is the work of an engineering team at Boeing Research & Technology Europe (BR&TE) in Madrid, with assistance from industry partners in Austria, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. (Earlier post.)
A two-seat Dimona motor-glider with a 16.3 meter (53.5 foot) wingspan was used as the airframe. Built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, it was modified by BR&TE to include a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller.
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Study: Fuel Cell Vehicles Necessary for Long-Term Significant Reduction in GHG, Criteria Pollutants and Oil Consumption
April 01, 2008
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| Projected greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty vehicles under five of the vehicle scenarios: reference case gasoline ICE, gasoline HEV, gasoline PHEV, biofuel PHEV, and fuel cell vehicle (FCV). Click to enlarge. |
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be essential to cutting greenhouse gases by 60% below 1990 levels in the transportation sector; virtually eliminating urban air pollution; and reducing oil consumption to a point that US domestic oil production can supply all non-transportation petroleum needs, according to a paper presented at the National Hydrogen Association’s Annual Meeting by Dr. Sandy Thomas, the president of H2Gen Innovations, Inc. H2Gen Innovations is a manufacturer of hydrogen generation and gas purification systems.
The paper, Comparison of Transportation Options in a Carbon-Constrained World: Hydrogen, Plug-in Hybrids and Biofuels, modeled emissions and fuel consumption in eight types of vehicle—including combustion engine vehicles (ICEV), hybrids (HEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV), fuel cell (FCV) and battery electric (BEV)—and five different fuels: gasoline, diesel, cellulosic ethanol, hydrogen and grid electricity.
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Hitachi Maxell Develops New Gold-Platinum Catalyst Enabling Higher Performance Fuel Cells
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| An electron microscope photograph of a gold-platinum (AuPt) catalyst deposited on a conductive carbon support. The dark grey or black areas are the gold-platinum catalysts, and the light grey areas are the carbon support. Click to enlarge |
Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. has developed a new gold-platinum (AuPt) nanoparticle catalyst 2 to 3 nanometers in size for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Used in the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode, the new AuPt catalyst generates approximately 4.8 times more oxygen reduction current per unit area than current commercial platinum catalysts.
Fuel cell developers are seeking to reduce the material cost of the devices by minimizing the utilization of platinum—generally used as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction—while further improving catalytic activity. Increasing surface area by reducing the size of the catalyst particles is one approach.
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BMW Shows Demonstration Mono-Fuel Version of the Hydrogen 7; Next Engine Version Will Use Charging for 2-3X Increase in Power Density
March 31, 2008
BMW introduced a new mono-fuel version of its Hydrogen 7 vehicle at the 2008 National Hydrogen Association Conference in Sacramento, CA today. The BMW Hydrogen 7 mono-fuel is a demonstration production vehicle, not a prototype, and was created to showcase the zero CO2 and low emissions potential and feasibility of a dedicated hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE).
Based on the BMW Hydrogen 7 bi-fuel version (gasoline and hydrogen) (earlier post), the BMW Hydrogen 7 mono-fuel is equipped with a 6.0-liter V12 internal combustion engine (ICE) which has been engineered to run exclusively on hydrogen. The hydrogen storage system in the mono-fuel version is the same as in the bi-fuel version: a cryogenic tank that holds approximately 8 kg (17.6 lbs) of liquid hydrogen.
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New Catalyst More Efficiently Removes CO from Hydrogen; Benefit for Fuel Cells
March 20, 2008
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| The new catalyst is a core of ruthenium surrounded by one to two layers of platinum atoms. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Maryland (UM) have designed from first principles a new type of chemical catalyst that efficiently oxidizes carbon monoxide (CO). CO is a contaminant in hydrogen produced via the reformation of hydrocarbons that poison the expensive platinum catalyst that runs the fuel cell reaction, thereby reducing the efficiency of fuel cells.
Writing in this week’s Advance Online Publication of Nature Materials, UW-Madison chemical and biological engineering Professor Manos Mavrikakis and UM chemistry and biochemistry Professor Bryan Eichhorn describe a new type of catalyst created by surrounding a nanoparticle of ruthenium (Ru) with one to two layers of platinum (Pt) atoms. The result is a robust room-temperature catalyst that improves the preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO in the presence of hydrogen.
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HEC and Startech Enter Strategic Alliance for Hydrogen-Fueled Power Generation
March 19, 2008
Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. (HEC) and Startech Environmental Corp. have entered a strategic alliance to develop commercial projects that combine HEC’s hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) generators with Startech’s proprietary Plasma Converter technology for waste destruction, processing and remediation. HEC’s engines will generate power using the hydrogen produced by Startech’s Plasma Converter.
HEC plans to deliver a hydrogen-powered generator system to Startech in May 2008. The combined HEC and Startech waste remediation and power generation package will be made available globally for a wide variety of applications.
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Winter Testing Moves Mercedes Closer to Limited Series Production of Fuel Cell B-Class in 2010
March 17, 2008
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| The B-Class undergoing comprehensive low-temperature testing in Sweden on its road to production in 2010. |
Mercedes continues to move closer to its planned launch of limited series production of the B-Class F-Cell fuel cell drive vehicle in early 2010. The B-Class with fuel cell drive just passed its winter testing in northern Sweden, under double-digit, below-zero temperatures.
Cold start behavior was subjected to thorough scrutiny. Although Daimler Research had already found a technical solution to the fuel cell’s start capability at -25 degrees Celsius, the engineers’ focus here was on the interaction between the different components under real-life winter conditions.
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ACAL Energy Announces Successful Operation of Novel Fuel Cell With Recirculating Liquid Cathode Technology
March 13, 2008
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| ACAL replaces the cathode in a conventional PEM fuel cell (left) with a liquid, non-precious metal catalyst system (right). Click to enlarge. |
UK-based ACAL Energy Ltd. has announced the successful operation of a new type of fuel cell system based on its proprietary recirculating liquid cathode technology, known as FlowCath. A 50W fully integrated multi-cell system incorporating the Flowcath technology was operated for the first time last week and produced higher power levels than expected, according to the company.
The FlowCath system replaces the standard—and expensive—platinum cathode found in conventional fuel cells with a liquid, non-precious metal catalyst system. This not only reduces the cost of the cell, but also humidifies the membrane naturally, eliminating the need for additional hydration systems, and better manages the heat which is generated.
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Pininfarina Unveils Sintesi Concept Featuring On-Board Hydrogen Generation and Distributed Fuel Cell Power Modules
March 07, 2008
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| The Quadrivium drive features an on-board fuel reformer to produce hydrogen and four distributed fuel-cell battery power modules. Click to enlarge. Source: Nuvera |
Pininfarina unveiled its hydrogen fuel cell concept car, the Sintesi, featuring Nuvera’s Quadrivium drive, at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Quadrivium drive is based on Nuvera’s Andromeda fuel cell and STAR (Substrate Transportation Autothermal Reformer) on-board hydrogen generator technologies. The drive system uses the centralized hydrogen generator to feed four distributed fuel cell / Lithium-ion battery wheel power modules.
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Hrein Energy Successfully Test Drives 1.2L Vehicle With Retrofitted Organic Hydride System
February 29, 2008
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| The organic hydride dehydrogenation reactor is mounted inline in the exhaust system. Click to enlarge. |
Hrein Energy, in cooperation with Futaba Industrial Co., Ltd, ITO Racing Service Co. Ltd.. and Dr. Ichikawa Masaru, a professor emeritus of Hokkaido University, has successfully test-driven a 1.2-liter Nissan March retrofitted with an on-board organic hydride system (earlier post) that delivers supplemental hydrogen to the gasoline engine.
Adding several percent of hydrogen dehydrogenated from the organic hydride to the intake air supported very lean-burn combustion. Fuel efficiency was improved by 30%; CO2 emissions were cut by 30%; and concentrations of CO and NOx were “considerably reduced”, according to the company.
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Morgan to Introduce Hydrogen Fuel Cell LIFECar at Geneva
February 28, 2008
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| Sketch of the LIFECar. |
Morgan Motor will stage the world debut of its hydrogen fuel cell powered LIFECar at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show (6-16 March).
The LIFECar is powered by a 22 kW fuel cell sized to meet the constant load requirement of cruising (about 20% of peakpower) and as a result significant weight and cost reductions have been made over other designs. The fuel cell, from QinetiQ, operates at 45% efficiency.
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Transit Agency Finds Total Operating Cost of Its Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses 32X That of Diesel
February 26, 2008
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| The significant increase in operating cost for hydrogen buses is largely, but not entirely, due to parts cost. Click to enlarge. |
A memo prepared by the Santa Clara Valley (California) Transportation Authority (VTA) for the Transportation and Planning Committee of its Board of Directors reports that the average total operating cost per mile of the agency’s three hydrogen fuel cell buses is $51.66—32 times the average total cost per mile for the conventional diesel fleet.
In addition, the memo states, the fuel cell buses—part of the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) demonstration program required by the California Air Resources Board (ARB)—exhibit a limited service life compared to diesel buses, while the reliability and availability remain significantly lower.
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European HyWays Project Concludes that Hydrogen Use Could Reduce Total Oil Consumption by Transport Sector by 40% Between Now and 2050
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| Projected impact on NOx emissions in 10 European countries as a result of the introduction of hydrogen in road transport. Click to enlarge. |
An assessment of the potential of hydrogen energy performed by the European FP6-funded project HyWays has concluded that introducing hydrogen into the energy system would reduce the total oil consumption by the European road transport sector by 40% between now and 2050.
However, the report (European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap) notes that hydrogen adoption faces two primary barriers: cost reduction and policy support, and that actions must be taken as soon as possible. The report was published as European Ministers responsible for research reached an agreement on a €940m public/private research partnership for the development of hydrogen and fuel cells—the Joint Technological Initiative for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen technology.
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ECOtality’s eTec Provides Hydrogen ICE Pickup to South Carolina Research Center
February 22, 2008
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| The eTec Silverado HICE. |
Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), a wholly owned subsidiary of ECOtality, Inc. is delivering an eTec Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE) Silverado truck to the Center for Hydrogen Research (CHR) in Aiken, South Carolina.
Based on a modified 2007 Silverado 1500HD full-size pickup truck with a Vortec 6.0L V-8 engine, the HICE Silverado delivers 146 kW (195 hp) of power with 352 Nm (260 lb-ft) or torque. It has a 147 mile (237 km) city range and 210 mile (339 km) highway range, with a top speed of 100 mph. Fuel consumption is 14 miles (22.5 km)/kg city, 20 mpg (32.3 km)/kg highway.
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Researchers Propose On-Board Fuel Processing with Carbon Capture for Zero-GHG, Hydrogen-Fueled Combustion Engine Vehicles
February 11, 2008
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| The vision of a sustainable carbon economy for transportation relies on the on-board conversion of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel with CO2 capture and recycling. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are exploring a conceptual strategy to capture, store and eventually recycle carbon dioxide emissions from mobile and small distributed stationary sources—such as automobiles, transportation vehicles and distributed industrial power generation applications (e.g., diesel power generators). Nearly two-thirds of global carbon emissions are created by such mobile and stationary sources.
Georgia Tech’s strategy involves using an on-board fuel processor to reform a liquid hydrocarbon fuel (fossil or synthetic) to produce hydrogen to power the vehicle or stationary source. The carbon in the original fuel is captured and stored on board in a liquid form, until it is disposed of at a refueling station.
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Hyundai Introduces i-Blue Fuel Cell Concept at Chicago Auto Show; New, Purpose-Built Fuel Cell Architecture
February 06, 2008
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| The i-Blue concept chassis. Click to enlarge. |
Hyundai’s new hydrogen fuel cell concept, the i-Blue Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), made its North American debut at the Chicago Auto Show (6-17 February). Developed at Hyundai’s Design and Technical Center in Chiba, Japan, the i-Blue concept illustrates the design direction for a future FCEV production model.
The i-Blue is powered by a 100 kW electric motor and fuel cell stack—Hyundai’s third-generation fuel cell technology, currently being developed at its Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, Korea. .
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Proposed Department of Energy Budget for 2009 Boosts Coal, Nuclear, Science and Biomass Programs; Reduces H2, Solar and Vehicle Technology Funding
February 04, 2008
The proposed budget for the US Department of Energy (DOE) in the President’s 2009 Budget outlines discretionary program spending of about $26 billion, up 3.2% from the estimated spending for FY 2008.
The proposed budget significantly boosts spending on coal and nuclear technologies and the DOE Science program, with a smaller increase for biomass and biorefinery R&D. However, funding within the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) program is cut by 28%, down to $1.256 billion, with the reductions coming mainly from funding for hydrogen technology, solar energy, vehicle technologies, facilities and infrastructure, and the weatherization program.
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Five New Major CALSTART Fuel Cell Bus Projects in California Now Underway
January 30, 2008
CALSTART, the California operating division of WestStart, a North American advanced transportation technologies consortium, has secured and launched contracts for five major fuel cell bus technology development projects in California with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The projects represent an important component of CALSTART’s overall hydrogen pathways strategy.
The newest $24-million effort involves multiple fuel cell and drive system leaders, three transit districts and three major bus makers and is focused on speeding key improvements in fuel cell reliability, system design and component design. The FTA is providing $12-million in funding; the private companies involved are providing the balance.
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NIST Building Facility for Evaluating Hydrogen Pipeline Tests, Materials, Properties and Standards
January 24, 2008
A new laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will evaluate tests, materials, mechanical properties and standards for hydrogen pipelines.
Long-term exposure to hydrogen can embrittle existing pipelines, increasing the potential for dangerous failures. NIST researchers will use the hydrogen laboratory to develop long-term service tests and apply them to study pipeline materials and mechanical effects. NIST is coordinating its research and safety plans with other national laboratories and industry groups that are working with hydrogen.
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Shanghai GM Launches “Drive to Green” Strategy; Introduces LaCrosse Hybrid, Two-Mode and E-Flex Systems to Come
January 22, 2008
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| Shanghai GM’s newly announced Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid. |
Shanghai General Motors officially inaugurated its “Drive to Green” strategy today, with China Environmental Protection Foundation President Qu Geping and representatives from across the company’s value chain present.
The strategy covers three key areas: developing products with improved performance, lower fuel consumption and lower emissions; cultivating greener manufacturing systems; and undertaking a “green responsibility.”
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Norway Advances Date for Going Carbon-Neutral By 20 Years to 2030
January 20, 2008
Norway will accelerate its reductions of carbon dioxide emissions to be completely carbon neutral by 2030—20 years ahead of the original target. The climate policy underlying this is the result of an agreement between the government of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and the three large opposition parties.
The government will use a combination of domestic funding to develop renewable energy sources and carbon capture and storage technology; strengthen public transport; and implement measures to reduce emissions from the transport sector. At the same time, taxes on diesel fuel and gasoline will be increased. The plan also relies on large annual purchases (approaching US$550 million) of carbon offsets through international emission trading systems.
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BNSF Railway and Vehicle Projects Develop Experimental Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Switch Locomotive; Locomotive-to-Grid Application Explored
January 10, 2008
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| Drawing of the fuel-cell hybrid locomotive. Click to enlarge. |
BNSF Railway Company and Vehicle Projects LLC, a developer of large fuel-cell vehicles such as mine loaders and mine locomotives, are leading a project consortium to develop an experimental hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid switch locomotive.
The vehicle platform is based on the Green Goat diesel-battery hybrid switcher, and the powerplant and hydrogen storage are based on the Citaro hydrogen fuel-cell transit bus (earlier post). The goal of the project is to demonstrate reduced air and noise pollution in urban rail applications, including yard switching; and to demonstrate the fuel-cell switchers for use as a mobile backup power source (“locomotive-to-grid”, or “power-to-grid”) for military bases and civilian disaster relief efforts.
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Fuel Cell Hybrid Passenger Vessel to Begin Service in Germany in Summer 2008
January 04, 2008
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| The Zemships infrastructure and ship. Click to enlarge. |
The EU-funded Zemships (Zero Emission Ships) full cell-powered passenger vessel will begin operation in summer 2008 in Hamburg on the Alster River (a tributary of the Elbe) and in the harbor area.
The demonstration ship, with a capacity of 100 passengers, uses a fuel-cell hybrid drive from Proton Motor (PM), powered by two PM Basic A 50 50kW fuel cell systems. An integrated battery package stores surplus energy from the fuel cells—for example when the ship is stopped at an interim port and requires less power.
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Fuel Cell Powertrain in the Honda FCX Clarity Is Significant Advancement over Predecessors
December 19, 2007
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| The advances in fuel-cell powertrain technology reflected in the FCX Clarity reduce the size of the system and provide designers with more flexibility. Click to enlarge. |
Honda’s production fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity, introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show and due to begin limited leasing in the spring (earlier post), represents significant advancements in all areas of the powertrain from Honda’s earlier fuel cell vehicles.
The FCX Clarity utilizes Honda’s V Flow Stack in combination with a new compact and efficient lithium-ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle’s electric drive motor. The fuel cell stack operates as the vehicle’s main power source.
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FutureGen Plant to Be Sited in Mattoon, Illinois
December 18, 2007
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| Overview of technologies and process for the FutureGen coal plant. Click to enlarge. |
The FutureGen Alliance has selected Mattoon, Illinois as the site to host the FutureGen power plant. FutureGen is a prototype coal-based plant intended to establish the technical feasibility and economic viability of co-producing electricity and hydrogen from coal with essentially zero emissions, including carbon dioxide (via capture and sequestration). (Earlier post.)
The $1.2-billion (2006 dollars) FutureGen plant will be nominally rated at 275 MWe—roughly equivalent to a medium-size coal-fired power plant and sufficient to supply electricity to approximately 275,000 average US households. Carbon dioxide sequestration will be in the range of 1 to 2 million metric tons annually.
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BC Finalizes Hydrogen Supply Agreement for Buses; OKs Low-Speed Electric Vehicles
December 11, 2007
BC Transit has finalized a six-year, C$20-million (US$19.9 million) contract with Air Liquide Canada Inc. of Montreal to supply hydrogen for the Province’s 20 new fuel cell buses to arrive beginning next summer. When the buses are operational, BC Transit will have the largest hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet worldwide, according to BC Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon.
Air Liquide, together with Canadian companies Sacre-Davey Group, Hydrogen Technology and Energy Corporation and Hydrogenics Corporation, will design, supply, operate and maintain two hydrogen fuelling stations. The first fuelling station will be located in Victoria at BC Transit’s Langford Transit Centre, to be completed by mid-2008. The other station will be located in Whistler at a new BC Transit facility that is currently being planned. The fuelling station is scheduled for completion by mid-2009.
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Direct Injection of HCNG Extends Lean Limit, Increases Thermal Efficiency, and Can Reduce NOx
December 06, 2007
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| Emissions profiles for HCNG and CNG under part load condition. Click to enlarge. |
The use of a 30% hydrogen blend with natural gas in a direct injection natural gas engine results in a significant extension of the lean limit; an increase in engine thermal efficiency; a reduction in CO2 and HC emissions; and a reduction in NOx under certain conditions, although with a slight increase in others according to a paper presented by engineers from Orbital at the ANGVA Natural Gas Vehicle conference in Bangkok.
A variety of other studies have shown that the use of a blend of hydrogen and compressed natural gas (HCNG) in a conventional spark injected gaseous engine extends the lean limit, improves thermal efficiency and reduces emissions. Direct injection of gaseous fuels already has been shown to extend the load range of engines. The Orbital study builds on both by examining the effect of HCNG in a direct injection engine.
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Hydrogenics Receives US$1.7 Million Order for Three Fuel Cell Hybrid MidiBuses
November 27, 2007
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| Hydrogenics Fuel Cell Hybrid MidiBus. |
Hydrogenics Corporation has received a US $1.7M order for the delivery of three Fuel Cell Hybrid MidiBuses (earlier post) to the upcoming 2008 International Exposition, EXPOAGUA Zaragoza 2008 to be held next summer in the City of Zaragoza, Spain. The buses will be used to shuttle EXPO visitors attending this international event focused on the theme of Water and Sustainable Development.
This order for three MidiBuses, achieved through a public tender, follows the successful delivery of three earlier MidiBuses on the same OEM platform to Düsseldorf and Rome.
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Hydrogen Engine Center Restructures to Focus on Commercialization
Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc., a developer of systems and processes used in the design, manufacture and distribution of alternative fuel internal combustion engines, engine controls and generator systems, including those fueled by hydrogen and ammonia (earlier post), is taking a series of steps to expand its advanced technology development while simultaneously accelerating the delivery of alternative energy solutions to the global market.
The company has adopted a four-point strategic plan:
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European Commission Proposes Strategic Plan to Accelerate Low-Carbon Energy Technologies; Transport Sector Focus on Biofuels and Hydrogen
November 24, 2007
The European Commission has proposed its Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan), a comprehensive plan to establish a new energy research agenda for Europe. The Commission believes that Europe should lower the costs of clean energy and put EU industry at the forefront of the rapidly growing low carbon-technology sector.
This Plan is to be accompanied by better use of and increases in resources, both financial and human, to accelerate the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies of the future, according to the EC.
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ExxonMobil and Partners to Commercialize On-Vehicle Hydrogen Fuel System for Lift Truck Application
November 16, 2007
Exxon Mobil Corporation is partnering with QuestAir Technologies, Plug Power Inc. and Ben Gurion University on plans to commercialize an on-vehicle hydrogen production system for use in a fuel cell-powered lift truck application.
Under the arrangements, Plug Power will seek to commercialize technologies developed by ExxonMobil, QuestAir Technologies and Ben Gurion University that take liquid fuels—gasoline, diesel, ethanol or biodiesel—and convert them into hydrogen onboard the vehicle where it will be used in a fuel cell power train.
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Toyota Fuel-Cell Hybrid Vehicle Logs 2,300 Miles In Seven Days
November 15, 2007
Toyota used the Los Angeles Auto Show to announce results from a recent seven-day, 2,300-mile drive in a Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV) from Fairbanks, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia along the Alaska-Canadian highway (ALCAN).
The trek confirmed substantial progress in reliability and durability, cold-weather operation and extended range capability of Toyota’s hybrid fuel cell system, according to the company.
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Ford CEO Outlines Blueprint for More Fuel-Efficient Vehicles and Reduced Emissions
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally outlined the company’s plan for a range of near-, medium- and long-term global environmental technologies to provide customers more fuel-efficient vehicles that emit fewer greenhouse gases “without compromising their expectations of Ford vehicles’ safety, quality, interior room or performance.”
Key to the Ford plan in the near-term is a new generation of smaller displacement turbocharged gasoline direct injection engines that will be offered in high volumes on Ford vehicles. The new family of engines will provide customers with a fuel savings of between 10-20% without compromising performance.
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Honda Unveils Production Fuel Cell Vehicle: FCX Clarity
November 14, 2007
by Jack Rosebro
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| The Honda FCX Clarity. |
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Honda today unveiled the FCX Clarity, a production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle based on the FCX Concept. (Earlier post.)
Honda will lease the vehicle to customers in selected areas of Southern California beginning in summer 2008. The lease will be three years long, with a monthly cost of $600 per month, including service, maintenance, and collision insurance. Customers will be able to drop off their vehicles at a Honda dealership for service, and Honda will then transport the vehicles to a dedicated service facility. Honda declined to disclose the amount of FCX Clarity vehicles that will be leased, and said that they would be announcing that figure next year.
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TfL Orders 10 Hydrogen Buses from ISE
November 13, 2007
Transport for London (TfL) has signed a £9.65 million (US$20 million) contract with ISE for five hydrogen fuel cell buses and five hydrogen internal combustion engine buses. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, announced that the ten new hydrogen-powered buses will join London’s bus fleet by 2010.
In February 2006, the Mayor announced the London Hydrogen Transport program, which aims to introduce 70 new hydrogen vehicles into London, 10 of which are to be buses. (Earlier post.) The contract with ISE is one of the world’s first commercial contracts for hydrogen buses. The vehicles will be operated by First on behalf of TfL.
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Daimler Launches Global Initiative to Reduce Fuel Consumption and Emissions in Commercial Vehicles; Increasing Focus on Hybrids, Use of HVO Fuels in Shorter-Term
November 12, 2007
Daimler is launching a global initiative to promote measures for drastically reducing the emissions and fuel consumption of commercial vehicles. To mark the launch of the Shaping Future Transportation initiative, Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses presented 16 trucks and buses featuring alternative drive systems and fuels.
The vehicles from Freightliner, Mitsubishi Fuso, Mercedes-Benz, Orion and Thomas Built Buses were exhibited at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, and included models making their world debut as well as vehicles that are already being used by customers. Hybrid technology plays a key role in these vehicles, as it can reduce diesel consumption by up to 30 percent, depending on the application.
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California ARB Staff Posts New Concept Paper for ZEV Amendments; Encouraging BEVs and PHEVs
November 10, 2007
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| Among the amendments currently proposed by ARB staff is a method for calculating Equivalent All Electric Range to account for a variety of operating strategies for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The plot is an example of the application of the new formula. Click to enlarge. |
The California Air Resources Board has posted a new concept paper outlining proposed amendments to the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) regulation. (Earlier post.) In developing the new proposals, staff started with the range of proposed amendments heard at the 24 July 2007 workshop, and considered comments received at the workshop and in dozens of subsequent meetings with affected stakeholders.
The new concept paper presents six, more refined amendment proposals—particularly in the area of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)—as a starting point for further discussions with interested stakeholders and in preparation of the Initial Statement of Reasons and proposed amendments for the ZEV regulation.
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Westport and OMVL Form JV for Sub-5-Liter Class Alternative Fuel Engines
October 26, 2007
Westport Innovations Inc. and OMVL SpA have formed an equity joint venture to design, produce and sell alternative fuel engines in the sub-5-liter class for global applications. The new, jointly controlled company will be headquartered in Vancouver, Canada and will exploit the global engineering, production and distribution strengths of OMVL and its parent company, SIT Group, to deliver engines worldwide.
Westport, with expertise in engines and fuel systems which use gaseous fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, and hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (HCNG), will support the new venture through supply of technology, design, testing and market development services.
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Suzuki Shows Air-Cooled Fuel Cell Motorcycle and “People-Centered” Transport Device
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| The crosscage. |
Among the concept vehicles Suzuki is introducing at the Tokyo Motor Show are the “crosscage”, an air-cooled fuel cell motorcycle, and a new people-centered vehicle concept based on the combination of a one-person low-speed transport device (PIXY) and a minicar-based mobility unit (Suzuki Sharing Coach, SSC).
The crosscage takes its name from a cross-shaped frame cage protecting the hydrogen storage tank, above which is the fuel cell from Intelligent Energy in the UK, and below which is a lithium-ion battery. Suzuki announced a development partnership with Intelligent Energy earlier this year. (Earlier post.)
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Boeing Tests HALE Hydrogen Propulsion System Based On 2.3-Liter Ford Hydrogen Engine
October 25, 2007
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| Artist’s rendering of the High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft. Click to enlarge. Source: Boeing |
The Boeing Company successfully tested the hydrogen propulsion system, based on a Ford 2.3-liter, four-cylinder hydrogen combustion engine, for its High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft.
During the test, the engine ran for nearly four days in a controlled chamber at Aurora Flight Sciences in Manassas, Va., including a total of three days that simulated conditions at 65,000 feet. The propulsion system included a multi-stage turbocharged internal combustion engine and its associated subsystems.
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Researchers Develop More Efficient Platinum-Based Catalyst for PEM Fuel Cells
October 24, 2007
Researchers at the University of Houston have developed a platinum-based catalyst for the cathode side of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) that is at least four-times and up to six-times more efficient than existing catalysts.
The catalyst material consists of nanoparticles with a platinum-rich shell and a core made of an alloy of copper, cobalt, and platinum. This catalyst demonstrates the highest activity yet observed for the reduction of oxygen.
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Mazda to Provide 30 RX-8 Hydrogen RE Vehicles to HyNor; Hydrogen RE Hybrid Tracking for 2008
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| The hybrid drive for the Hydrogen RE Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Mazda will provide 30 RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles to Norway’s HyNor project (earlier post) starting in 2008. Mazda Chairman Hisakazu Imaki made the announcement at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The HyNor project is a unique Norwegian joint industry initiative, covering a route of 580 kilometers from Oslo to Stavanger, which aims to demonstrate the real life implementation of a hydrogen energy transport infrastructure. The signing ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 7, 2007 at the Norwegian embassy in Tokyo.
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GM Launches Project Driveway, Largest Market Test of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Yet
October 16, 2007
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| The 2007 Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle. |
GM has launched Project Driveway—the first large-scale consumer market test of fuel cell electric vehicles anywhere. (Earlier post.) Under Project Driveway, GM will temporarily deploy more than 100 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicles among selected customers in suburban Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C.
A variety of drivers—from regular families to celebrities—will have free use of an Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle and the hydrogen fuel it needs to make electricity onboard. The average family will get one of the vehicles for three months and be required to report their experience to Chevrolet.
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European Commission Adopts €940M Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative
October 10, 2007
The European Commission (EC) has adopted a proposal for a Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative (JTI)—a public-private R&D partnership with industry in the lead. The EC will fund €470 million (US$664 million) from the FP7 program and private industry will fund at least an equivalent amount.
The EC’s intention with the JTI is to develop robust hydrogen supply and fuel cell technologies to the point of commercial take-off. For the automotive sector, the aim is to achieve breakthroughs in bottleneck technologies and to enable industry to make the large-scale commercialization decisions that are necessary to achieve mass market growth in the time-frame 2015-2020. For stationary fuel cells (domestic and commercial) and portable applications, the JTI will provide the technology base to initiate market growth from 2010-2015.
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King Review of Low-Carbon Cars Issues Interim Analytical Report; 50% Cut in UK Transport CO2 Emissions Per Km Possible by 2030
October 09, 2007
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| A pathway towards decarbonizing road transport. Click to enlarge. |
Per-kilometer emissions from road transport in the UK could be reduced by 50% by 2030 at low cost, according to the interim analytical report issued by Professor Julia King as part of the independent King Review of low-carbon cars in the UK. This 50% reduction would be partly offset by the projected increase in distance travelled, implying an overall reduction in UK emissions from car use of approximately 30% by 2030.
The review states that there is no single solution, but that these reductions could be obtained through more efficient vehicles; cleaner fuels; and smart driver choices—i.e., buying low-carbon cars.
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Study on Transportation Technology to 2050 Calls for Integrated Policy Approach to Achieve Sustainability
October 05, 2007
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| Ratings on the environmental acceptability of future powertrain options. The report evaluates sustainability based on the “3As”: Accessibility, Availability and Acceptability. Click to enlarge. |
Successfully tackling the problem of sustainable transportation globally will require the interplay of emerging vehicle technologies with a rational, market-based policy approach, according to a new study by the World Energy Council.
The first pillar for policy making is the energy objective, according to the study, Transport Technologies and Policy Scenarios to 2050. That objective needs to be described in terms of the type of energy to be saved (total energy, fossil energy, petroleum energy, GHG emissions), the numerical target, or the target range and the timeframe.
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