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[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.]
New Citaro Fuel Cell Bus Debuts in Hamburg; 50% Lower Fuel Consumption
November 16, 2009
| New Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid at Hamburg Harbour. Click to enlarge. |
The new Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid made its first appearance in its future operating location of Hamburg. Starting next year, 10 of the 30 new fuel cell buses that Daimler Buses is producing for European transport operators are destined for the Hamburg transport authority. Hamburger Hochbahn will also take delivery of 20 Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL cars starting 2010, which are also equipped with a fuel cell drive system. (Earlier post.)
To further cost-reduction through the use of common parts, the new Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid bus is powered by two fuel cell systems of the same type used in the B-Class F-CELL. Thanks to improved fuel cell components and hybridization with lithium-ion batteries, the Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid consumes almost 50% less hydrogen compared to the preceding generation. The operating range of the fuel cell bus is around 250 kilometers (155 miles).
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Bio-Platinum Hybrid Catalyst for Solar Hydrogen Production Can Deliver Up to 25x Greater Energy Yield Than Current Biomass-to-Fuel Strategies
November 11, 2009
| Schematic of the electron flow in the photosystem I catalytic nanoparticle. Source: Iwuchukwu et al., Nature Nanotechnology. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville have shown that a combination of photosystem I from a thermophilic bacterium and cytochrome-c6 can, in combination with a platinum catalyst, generate a stable supply of hydrogen in vitro upon illumination. A paper on their work was published online 8 November in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
The system produces hydrogen at temperatures up to 55 °C (131 °F) and is temporally stable for >85 days with no decrease in hydrogen yield when tested intermittently. The maximum yield is ~5.5 mmol H2 h-1 mg-1 chlorophyll and is estimated to be ~25-fold greater than current biomass-to-fuel strategies. If scaled linearly, a solar collector 1 acre in size with a solution depth of 10 cm operating at 55 °C would be capable of producing hydrogen with an energy yield equivalent to that of 300 litres of gasoline per hectare per day (gross yield, ignoring production separation and distribution energy costs).
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New Tool for Determining Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Hydrogen Infrastructure and Fuel Cell Vehicles
November 06, 2009
| GHG analysis for hydrogen from renewable sources (HR) and fossil sources (HF), compared to advanced gasoline ICE vehicles (Scenario G). The portion of GHG emissions associated with gasoline ICE vehicles is distinguished from those associated with HFCV. Credit: ACS, Stephens-Romero et al. Click to enlarge. |
Although studies widely agree that widespread deployment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and the associated infrastructure would reduce air pollutant emissions from the transportation sector, the extent to which air quality in an urban airshed will be affected by these reductions is a more complex matter than simply quantifying emissions.
To address that, researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a new tool—spatially and temporally resolved energy and environment tool” (STREET)—to characterize the pollutant and GHG emissions associated with a comprehensive hydrogen supply infrastructure and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at a high level of geographic and temporal resolution.
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UK Carbon Trust Launches PEM Fuel Cells Challenge, Striving for a Critical Reduction in Costs
October 11, 2009
The UK Carbon Trust launched the “Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge”, which aims to accelerate the commercialization of UK technology that could see the mainstream cost-effective mass production of fuel cell powered cars and buses, as well as providing electricity and heat in homes and business.
The £8 million (US$12.8 million, €8.7 million) Polymer Fuel Cell Challenge will be split into two phases. A newly opened call for proposals will result in the selection of up to three novel ideas, offering up to £1 million (US$1.6 million, €1.1 million) per project to further develop and prove them. If one of these demonstrates its potential for lower-cost fuel cell systems, the Carbon Trust will then co-invest up to £5 million (US$8 million, €5.4 million) in the technology to develop it commercially.
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Toyota Aims to Reduce Fuel Cell Vehicle Cost to 1/10 of Current By Commercialization in 2015; Reduction to Another 1/10 With Scale
October 04, 2009
| Toyota’s targeted cost reductions in fuel cell vehicles. Source: Toyota. Click to enlarge. |
In a news conference at the Japan National Press Club on Friday, Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda said that the company plans to begin mass production of electric vehicles in the US in 2012, followed by US production of fuel cell vehicles in 2015. Toyoda positioned EVs for short-distance travel and fuel cell cars for longer ranges. The 2015 date for fuel cell vehicles reinforced remarks made in June by vice president Masatami Takimoto about commercialization prospects.(Earlier post.)
During his presentation at the recent California Air Resources Board (ARB) ZEV Technology Symposium, Tatsuaki Yokoyama, from Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, said that Toyota aimed to reduce the cost of fuel cell vehicles to 1/10 of the current level by design and materials improvement by commercialization in 2015. Following that milestone, the company is targeting reduction to a subsequent 1/10 through scales of economy resulting from increasing mass production.
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GM Highlights Engineering Advances With Second-Generation Fuel Cell System and Fifth-Generation Stack; Poised for Production Around 2015
September 28, 2009
| GM’s second-generation fuel-cell system (engineer included for scale.) Click to enlarge. |
The second generation hydrogen fuel cell system under development by General Motors—which contains its fifth-generation fuel cell stack—is half the size, 220 pounds (100 kg) lighter and uses less than half the platinum (30 grams plus or minus vs. 80 grams) of the current generation in the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle (earlier post).
The production-intent fuel cell system can be packaged under the hood in about the same space as a four-cylinder engine; by contrast, the first generation system in the Equinox (with the fourth-generation stack) is about the size of a file cabinet, says Charles Freese, executive director of GM Fuel Cell Activities.
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Toyota Concerned About Market Viability of Plug-ins, Sees Clear Path to Commercialization of Fuel Cell Technology in 2015
September 23, 2009
Based on its 15 years of experience with advanced battery technology and the now-mainstream Prius, Toyota has key unanswered questions regarding market acceptance of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles and who the target buyers—in numbers sufficient to meet California ZEV mandates—might be, according to Michael O’Brien, Toyota’s US corporate manager for advanced technology vehicle planning. O’Brien was speaking at the California Air Resources Board’s ZEV Technology Symposium in Sacramento, California.
As Toyota learned with the introduction of the Prius and its efforts on the 2002 RAV4 EV, O’Brien said, it is difficult to force technology adoption by consumers. The current state of market readiness of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles presents serious challenges, particularly in mass production, given issues including range; cost; a charging time still longer than a conventional gasoline refueling; a broad variation in battery pack life, and the lack of infrastructure. “Creating consumer demand for mandated advanced technology vehicles will require substantial government engagement at all levels.”
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US House Passes $2.85B Bill for Advanced Technology Vehicle R&D from 2010-2014
September 17, 2009
The US House yesterday passed by a vote of 312-114 a bill that would authorize additional appropriations totalling $2.85 billion over the 2010-2014 period for the US Department of Energy (DOE) to support a broad range of research activities for advanced technology vehicles.
H.R. 3246, the “Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009” covers research on light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as infrastructure and pilot programs. Ultimately targeting the development of technologies and practices that improve the fuel efficiency and reduce emissions of vehicles produced in the US, the bill also aims to “ensure a proper balance and diversity of Federal investment in vehicle technologies”, while strengthening “partnerships between Federal and State governmental agencies and the private and academic sectors.”
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Germany Launches H2 Mobility Initiative to Expand Infrastructure for Refueling Hydrogen Vehicles
September 10, 2009
Daimler AG and leading energy companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Berlin, with the participation of the German Minister of Transport, Wolfgang Tiefensee, to evaluate and expand the setup of a hydrogen infrastructure in Germany to support the series production of fuel cell electric vehicles. In addition to Daimler, partners in the “H2 Mobility” initiative include EnBW, Linde, OMV, Shell, Total, Vattenfall and the NOW GmbH (National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology). The project is open for other interested partners.
The H2 Mobility launch comes one day after leading automakers signed a Letter of Understanding regarding the commercialization and series production of fuel cell electric vehicles from 2015 onward. Noting the importance of a hydrogen infrastructure with sufficient density, the automakers—Daimler, Ford, GM/Opel, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Renault Nissan Alliance, and Toyota—in that LoU strongly supported building up a hydrogen infrastructure in Europe, with Germany as regional starting point, among other global starting points. (Earlier post.)
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Automakers Issue Joint Statement in Support of Commercial Introduction of Fuel Cell Vehicles from 2015 Onward
September 09, 2009
Leading vehicle manufacturers in fuel cell technology—Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation/Opel, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, the alliance Renault SA and Nissan Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation—issued a joint a Letter of Understanding (LoU) regarding the development and market introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles.
The signing automobile manufacturers strongly anticipate that from 2015 onwards, a “quite significant” number—a “few hundred thousand units” over the initial products’ lifecycles—of fuel cell electric vehicles could be commercialized. These companies have built up extensive expertise in fuel cell technology; the signing marks a major industry step towards the serial production of such locally emission-free vehicles.
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Mercedes-Benz to Launch Limited Series Production of B Class F-CELL Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Late This Year
August 28, 2009
| The Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL at the OMV hydrogen filling station at Stuttgart Airport. (The fuel price is €0.9/100g.) Click to enlarge. |
Mercedes-Benz is launching its first series-produced fuel cell car: the new B-Class F-CELL. (Earlier post.) The electric-drive car has performance similar to a 2.0-liter gasoline car and is suited for everyday driving, Mercedes says. The zero-emission drive system consumes the equivalent of 3.3 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (71.3 mpg US) in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle).
Production of the B-Class F-CELL will commence in late 2009 with a small lot. The first of around 200 vehicles will be delivered to customers in Europe and the USA at the beginning of next year.
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Using Hydrogen Injection to Improve Idle Combustion and Emissions Performance at Lean Conditions of Gasoline Engines
August 19, 2009
| Gasoline and hydrogen rails and injectors installed on the intake manifolds. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Spark-ignited engines suffer high specific fuel consumption, emissions, and cyclic variation at idle and lean conditions. Increasing levels of hydrogen enrichment of a gasoline fuel charge in a spark-ignited (SI) engine can increase engine-indicated thermal efficiency and emissions at idle and extend the lean-burn limit, according to a study by researchers from the Beijing University of Technology. A paper on their work was published online 18 August in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels.
Changwei Ji and Shuofeng Wang modified a 4-cylinder (SI) engine to permit hydrogen and gasoline to be injected into the intake ports simultaneously to realize a hybrid hydrogen-gasoline engine (HHGE). The hydrogen and gasoline flow rates were governed by a hybrid electronic control unit (HECU).
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Toyota Advanced Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Achieves 431 Mile Estimated Range; Toyota Targeting Commercialization Within Six Years
August 07, 2009
The Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle – Advanced (FCHV-adv) (earlier post) achieved an estimated range of 431 miles on a single full tank of compressed hydrogen gas, and an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent) during a day-long trip down the southern California coast.
In mid-2008, the US Department of Energy (DOE), Savannah River National Laboratory (SNRL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), approached Toyota to participate in a collaborative evaluation of the real world driving range of the FCHV-adv. On 30 June 2009, two fuel cell vehicles, two Toyota Technical Center engineers, an SRNL engineer and a NREL engineer completed a 331.5 mile extended round trip drive between Torrance, California and San Diego.
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National Research Council Report on America’s Energy Future Highlights Vehicle Efficiency Technologies, Conversion of Biomass and Coal-to-Liquids Fuels, and Electrifying the Light Duty Fleet with PHEVs, BEVs and FCVs
July 31, 2009
| Estimates of potential for gasoline consumption reduction in the US light duty fleet in 2020 and 2035 relative to 2007. Projected consumption assumes efficiency improvements in powertrain and vehicle are offset by increases in performance, size and weight. Improvements result from an optimistic scenario achieving doubling of new vehicle fuel economy in 2035 from today’s value. Source: America’s Energy Future, Fig. 2.4. Click to enlarge. |
With a sustained national commitment, the United States could obtain substantial energy-efficiency improvements, new sources of energy, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the accelerated deployment of existing and emerging energy technologies, according to the prepublication copy of the capstone report of the America’s Energy Future project of the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering.
However, the report concludes, initiating deployment of these technologies is urgent; actions taken—or not taken—between now and 2020 to develop and demonstrate several key technologies will largely determine the nation’s energy options for many decades to come. For the transportation sector, these key technologies include a focus on improving vehicle efficiency; developing technologies for the conversion of biomass and coal-to-liquid fuels; and electrifying the light-duty vehicle fleet through expanded deployment of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs).
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USCAR Argues for Continued US Funding of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Research
July 30, 2009
| Projected hydrogen fuel cell system costs. Click to enlarge. |
The United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) recently published a whitepaper on the importance of continued research of hydrogen as a low-carbon transportation solution, in the context of the proposed cutting of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle research in the Department of Energy FY2010 budget. (Earlier post.) The whitepaper is available for download on the USCAR website.
A separate interim report by the National Research Council (NRC) assessing the strategy and structure of the Department of Energy’s FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership, also published in July, concluded that although the Obama Administration’s focus on nearer-term vehicle technologies to reduce petroleum fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is on the right track, there remains a need for continued investment in longer-term, higher-risk, higher-payoff vehicle technologies that could be “highly transformational ” with regard to those twin concerns. In addition to advanced batteries, such technologies include systems for hydrogen storage and hydrogen fuel cells, the review panel said. (Earlier post.)
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Interim Report from National Research Council Urges DOE to Continue Support of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Research
July 23, 2009
An interim report by the National Research Council (NRC) assessing the strategy and structure of the Department of Energy’s FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership concluded that although the Obama Administration’s focus on nearer-term vehicle technologies to reduce petroleum fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is on the right track, there remains a need for continued investment in longer-term, higher-risk, higher-payoff vehicle technologies that could be “highly transformational” with regard to those twin concerns.
In addition to advanced batteries, such technologies include systems for hydrogen storage and hydrogen fuel cells, the review panel said. The report comes in the context of the proposed zeroing-out of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle research funding in the DOE’s proposed FY 2010 budget. (Earlier post.)
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Proterra Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus in DoD Hydrogen Energy Cycle Pilot Project
July 11, 2009
Colorado-based Proterra LLC, a manufacturer of electric drive commercial transportation solutions (battery-electric and range-extended EVs) from city transit buses to class 4-8 trucks (earlier post), will provide a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid bus (earlier post) for use a US Department of Defense (DoD) pilot project designed to test an end-to-end clean hydrogen energy cycle.
Led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), the pilot project will include all elements of a clean hydrogen energy cycle, including local hydrogen generation via waste water treatment digester gas cleanup and reformation; bulk hydrogen storage, transport and dispensing; and hydrogen load in the form of 19 fuel-cell powered electric forklifts and Proterra’s fuel cell powered bus.
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European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative Launches €140M Call for Proposals
July 03, 2009
The European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH) Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) has issued a second call for proposals for research. Around €140 million (US$196 million) has been allocated to this second call, with €71.3 million by the Commission matched by in-kind contributions of the industrial partners. The FCH JTI, an EU-wide collaborative private-public partnership, has a total budget amounts around €1 billion (US$1.4 billion) to be invested in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development by 2014. (Earlier post.)
The 29 project topics in the second call aim to put fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies on the market two to five years sooner than what is estimated without the support the JTI offers. Selected teams of researchers will investigate bottlenecks in the whole range of applications for these energy technologies, from cars to large scale power plants, as well as the whole supply chain from hydrogen production to demonstration of the market-readiness of applications.
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BNSF Railway and Vehicle Projects Demonstrate Experimental Hydrogen Fuelcell Hybrid Switch Locomotive
June 30, 2009
| Rear view of the fuelcell hybrid switch locomotive. The dual Ballard fuel cell stacks are to the left (i.e., rear) of the switcher. Source: Vehicle Projects. Click to enlarge. |
BNSF Railway and Vehicle Projects Inc. of Denver/Golden, Colo., a developer of large fuelcell vehicles such as mine loaders and mine locomotives, unveiled an operational hydrogen fuelcell hybrid switch locomotive at BNSF’s Topeka System Maintenance Terminal. (Earlier post.)
Following its introduction, the locomotive is heading to the Transportation Test Center in Pueblo, Colo., for additional testing. Late this summer or early fall, depending on the outcome of the testing, the locomotive will go into service in the Los Angeles Basin, where it will face the test of actual service in the railroad environment.
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California Air Resources Board Pushes for Restoration of DOE Funding for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles; Tackles the “Four Miracles”
June 19, 2009
California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols met with US Energy Secretary Steven Chu in May and followed up that meeting with a letter, urging the continuation of funding to support research, development and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Nichols is also requesting a follow-on meeting between ARB technical staff, DOE technical staff and the several automakers pursuing fuel cell vehicles to continue the “dialog and investigation”.
The Obama Administration’s 2010 Department of Energy (DOE) budget proposes cutting the federal hydrogen fuel cell research and deployment budget by more than two-thirds ($130 million), eliminating funds for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle program and market transformation programs. (Earlier post.)
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UK Company to Introduce Hydrogen Fuel Cell Urban Car; Open Source Approach
June 14, 2009
| Cutaway of the Hyrban. Ultracapacitor bank is beneath the seat. Click to enlarge. |
UK-based Riversimple will unveil on Tuesday (16 June) its first production-intent car: a two seater hydrogen fuel cell urban car with composite bodyshell. Riversimple designed the Hyrban (earier post) to achieve 300 mpg (energy equivalent); the company calculates that the fuel cell car will have well-to-wheel CO2 emissions of 31 g/km when fueled with hydrogen produced via steam methane reforming of natural gas.
The Hyrban has a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h), can accelerate from 0 - 30 mph in 5.5 seconds, and has a range of more than 200 miles (320 km). Riversimple, founded by Hugo Spowers, a former motorsport engineer and racing driver, earlier initiated the hydrogen LIFECar project through its subsidiary OSCar Automotive Ltd. (earlier post).
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California-to-Canada Road Tour is Finale for Daimler’s A-Class F-CELL; B-Class F-CELL Due to Customers by End of 2009
May 26, 2009
| A cutaway model of the future B-Class F-CELL. Click to enlarge. |
Daimler’s A-Class F-CELL hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle will cap five years of road trials in the US with its participation in the California to Canada Hydrogen Road Tour 09 (earlier post). The recently converted A-Class F-CELL “plus” with 700 bar technology will participate in the tour along with hydrogen-powered vehicles from other automakers. The new 700 bar technology extends the range in the current vehicle generation by about 70%.
A fleet of 30 A-Class F-CELL vehicles has been in daily use on public roads in the US since 2004. The program includes fleet and infrastructure trials supported by the states of California and Michigan. After the tour, the A-Class F-CELL will be replaced by Daimler’s next generation of fuel cell vehicles: the B-Class F-CELL (earlier post), Daimler’s first fuel cell vehicle produced in a small volume series, but under full series development processes.
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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid Street Sweeper Debuts in Basel; Up to 40% WTW CO2 Reduction Compared to Diesel
May 25, 2009
| The Bucher CityCat H2 hydrogen street sweeper. Click to enlarge. |
Basel, Switzerland is testing the world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell street sweeper, developed by a Swiss research consortium led by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) and the Paul Scherrer Institute.
EMPA computer simulations showed that the fuel cell system could halve the tank-to-wheels energy consumption of the street sweeper compared to a conventional diesel engine. This enables a full well-to-wheels reduction of CO2 emissions of around 40%—even with conventional hydrogen production from natural gas—compared to the diesel system.
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Argonne Lifecycle Analysis Calculates WTW Petroleum Energy Use and GHG Emissions for PHEVs Fueled With Petroleum, E85 and Hydrogen
May 14, 2009
| Summary of WTW petroleum energy use and GHG emissions for combined CD and CS operations relative to baseline gasoline ICEV. Single markers indicate conventional hybrids. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have published results of a well-to-wheels (WTW) lifecycle analysis of petroleum energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles employing gasoline, diesel, E85 and hydrogen (fuel cell) fuels, with an all-electric range between 10 to 40 miles.
Compared to an internal combustion vehicle fueled with gasoline, PHEVs that employed petroleum fuels (gasoline and diesel) offered a 40-60% reduction in petroleum energy use and a 30-60% reduction in GHG emissions. PHEVs fueled by E85 offered a 70-90% reduction in petroleum energy use and a 40-80% reduction in GHG emissions. PHEVs equipped with hydrogen fuel cells offered a more than 90% reduction in petroleum energy use and a 10-100% reduction in GHG emissions.
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Proton Motor Previews “Triple-Hybrid” Electric Drive Passenger Bus
May 13, 2009
Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, a subsidiary of Proton Power Systems plc, a designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems, has previewed the first passenger bus using the company’s “triple-hybrid” fuel cell system. The presentation took place in Puchheim, near Munich on 8 May, with an official unveiling and handover to take place this summer in Prague.
The new vehicle is the product of a cooperation agreement between Skoda Electric, UJV Nuclear Research Institute Rez plc and Proton Motor. As a manufacturer of trolley buses and electric-powered rail vehicles, Skoda Electric was responsible for the vehicle, including its electric drive system and system integration. The project was coordinated by UJV, a leading research institution in the Czech Republic. Proton Motor supplied the propulsion system.
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Next-Generation Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid Debuts in June
May 09, 2009
| The new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
The new Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid bus will have its world premiere from 7-11 June at the UITP Congress in Vienna (the World Congress of the International Association of Public Transport). (Earlier post.) This fuel cell hybrid bus is the first representative of the new generation of fuel cell models from Daimler Buses.
Daimler said that the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid is the next logical step on the path to zero-emission public transport which the company had already announced it would take, and thus represents an important element in the development of the mobility solutions of the future.
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$26.4B DOE FY 2010 Budget Request Cuts Funding for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles; With Recovery Act Funding Boosts Support for PHEVs, Biomass and Biorefineries
May 07, 2009
| The budget picture for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. FY 2010 Budget requests are in green, the FY 2009 additional appropriation (Recovery Act funding) is in red. Electrification of transportation is receiving a major infusion of investment. Click to enlarge. |
President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2010 $26.4 billion budget request to Congress for the Department of Energy increases investments in a number of areas, including investments in basic science and plug-in and hybrid electric vehicles and biofuels. It also scales back in areas such as oil and gas company research and moves away from funding vehicular hydrogen fuel cells to technologies “with more immediate promise,” according to Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
The budget request represents a 21.8% decrease against the FY 2009 Appropriation of $33.7 billion for DOE. However, the FY 2010 budget complements the $38.7 billion the Department of Energy will invest as part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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European Automotive Industry Outlines R&D Priorities for EU Green Car Initiative
European automotive suppliers and vehicle manufacturers have united to submit a series of R&D priorities to the European Commission to shape the European Green Car Initiative (EGCI), announced by the EU. CLEPA (the European umbrella membership organization representing the interests of the global automotive supply industry) and EUCAR (the European Council for Automotive R&D from the major European passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturers) jointly prepared the document.
The Green Car Initiative, a part of the European economic recovery plan, aims to allocate €5 billion (US$6.7 billion) through a Public Private Partnership to bolster innovation in the automotive sector and sustain its focus on environmental progress. The initiative complements the European Clean Transport Facility which, through the European Investment Bank, serves to provide more immediate financial relief to the sector.
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California Energy Commission Adopts $176M Green Transportation Plan
April 23, 2009
The California Energy Commission has adopted the state’s first transportation Investment Plan. The Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Program’s Investment Plan allocates $176 million over the next two years to stimulate green transportation projects and encourage innovation to help meet the state’s aggressive climate change policies.
The Alternative and Renewable Fuels Vehicle Technology Program was established by Assembly Bill 118 (Núñez, Chapter 750, Statutes of 2007) and is an essential element of the California's climate change and energy policies. The state is aggressively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, decrease petroleum fuel use to 15% below 2003 levels by 2020, and increase alternative fuel use to 20% by 2020.
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DOE to Award $41.9M in Recovery Funds to Spur Growth of Fuel Cell Markets
April 16, 2009
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $41.9 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to 13 projects to accelerate the commercialization and deployment of fuel cells and to create jobs in fuel cell manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and support services. Funded projects include stationary, portable and specialty vehicle applications. Total project funding of nearly $114.3 million will include approximately $72.4 million in cost-share funding from industry participants in addition to the Federal money.
The $41.9 million will support immediate deployment of nearly 1,000 fuel cell systems for emergency backup power and material handling applications (e.g., forklifts) that have emerged as key early markets in which fuel cells can compete with conventional power technologies. Additional systems will be used to accelerate the demonstration of stationary fuel cells for combined heat and power in the larger residential and commercial markets.
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Study Finds That CO2 Standards for Vehicles Can Reduce Price of Oil
April 10, 2009
| Car fleet composition in the EU under the different scenarios. Click to enlarge. |
A new study by the French institute Enerdata, commissioned by the European Federation for Transport & Environment (T&E), suggests that the European CO2 standards for new vehicles due to come into effect in 2012 will lead not only to a European savings on oil (mainly via lower oil import volumes) but also to slightly lower global oil prices. Enerdata concluded that a 0.9% reduction in global oil consumption results in a drop in global oil prices of 1.2%.
Most analyses of the economic assessments of energy efficiency measures normally use fixed oil prices when accounting for economic benefits. By working out that the price of oil will fall when the EU’s regulations fully take effect, the study suggests that the European economic benefits of fuel efficiency have been underestimated, in general by up to 17%, according to T&E.
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Researchers Achieve Major Advance in Performance of Non-Precious Metal Catalysts for PEM Fuel Cells
April 06, 2009
| Comparison of the best NPMC (non-precious metal catalyst) in this work with a Pt-based catalyst. Lefèvre et al. (2009). Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunication in Quebec, Canada, report a major advance in the use of non-precious metal catalysts for PEM fuel cells. In a study published 3 April in the journal Science, they describe a new synthetic route for inexpensive iron-based catalysts that can equal the performance of a platinum-based cathode with a loading of 0.4 milligram of platinum per square centimeter at a cell voltage of ≥0.9 volt.
One of the obstacles to commercializing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is the cost of the fuel cells themselves. Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) cells, widely studied for such mobile applications, generally use carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) catalysts at the electrodes. Much research has gone into replacing platinum with less expensive substitutes. (Earlier post, earlier post.)
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Mazda Begins Commercial Leasing of Hybrid Rotary Hydrogen Vehicle
March 25, 2009
| Transparent view of Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid. Battery pack and hydrogen tank are at the rear. Click to enlarge. |
Mazda Motor Corporation has begun commenced commercial leasing of the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid (earlier post), a hydrogen hybrid vehicle that offers substantially improved performance due to the addition of a hybrid system. Mazda is the first automobile manufacturer to begin commercial leasing of a hydrogen hybrid vehicle; the first units will be delivered to local government authorities and energy-related companies during 2009.
The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid features a series-hybrid drivetrain, which combines Mazda’s hydrogen rotary engine with an electric motor. The engine output is converted to electricity, which then powers the motor that drives the wheels.
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FTA Report on Worldwide H2 Bus Demonstrations Finds Better Than Expected Performance and Strong Customer Acceptance; Challenges Remain
March 20, 2009
The US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has published a report summarizing interviews with participants in the hydrogen-powered buses trials underway in more than 20 cities around the world from 2002 to 2007. These included buses powered by fuel cells or hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines, as well as a variety of fueling and related technologies.
The report gathers insights from demonstration participants at transit agencies in the United States, Europe, China, Japan and Australia, analyzes lessons learned, identifies key remaining challenges, and suggests potential roles for government in supporting commercialization. Among the findings were that the performance of the fuel cell stacks exceeded expectations, but the batteries and supporting components experienced significant challenges.
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Argonne Devises New Variable Combustion Strategy for Hydrogen-Fueled Engines
March 14, 2009
Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory’s Center for Transportation Research have devised new variable combustion strategy for hydrogen-fueled engines using the Lab’s Modular Automotive Technology Testbed (MATT).
As they put the engine through its paces, Argonne’s researchers evaluate the fuel economy and emissions generated by different combustion strategies. Argonne engineer Henning Lohse-Busch and his colleagues developed an optimal variable air-fuel ratio combustion strategy that allows a hydrogen internal combustion engine to run efficiently and cleanly in a conventional vehicle.
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High-Pressure Direct-Injection Hydrogen Engine Achieves Efficiency of 42%; On Par with Turbodiesels
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| H2BVplus hydrogen combustion engine. Click to enlarge. |
The BMW Group Forschung und Technik, in cooperation with researchers in Graz and Vienna, Austria, has developed a dedicated (i.e., monovalent) hydrogen combustion engine with diesel-like geometry and progressive H2 high-pressure direct-injection technology. The result is an efficiency level of up to 42%, on par with that of the best turbodiesel engines.
The “H2BVplus” project is aimed at investigating a hydrogen self-ignition combustion process. Current hydrogen combustion engines are spark-ignited. Sponsored by Austria’s Federal Ministry for Transportation, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT), project partners include BMW, the Institute for Internal Combustion Engines and Thermodynamics at Graz University of Technology, HyCentA Research GmbH in Graz, as well as HOERBIGER ValveTec GmbH in Vienna.
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ARB Chairman Characterizes Ideological Debate Between Hydrogen and Batteries as “Madness”
February 23, 2009
California Air Resources Board (ARB) Chairman Mary Nichols characterized the sometimes contentious, ideological debate between those who advocate for hydrogen fuel cells and those who advocate for batteries as the ultimate enabler of low-carbon transportation as “madness” from the point of view of a regulator.
Chairman Nichols made the comment during a keynote at the third annual UC Berkeley Energy Symposium, presented by the Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative (BERC), that focused on policy and legislative activity in the context of California’s climate change efforts.
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East Penn Manufacturing and Nuvera Fuel Cells Provide 20 Fuel Cell/Battery Hybrid Units for Forklift Demonstration
February 10, 2009
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| ReadyPower 750 Ah hybrid fuel cell/battery power pack. Source: Nuvera. Click to enlarge. |
East Penn Manufacturing and Nuvera Fuel Cells have supplied 20 ReadyPower fuel cell/battery hybrid units to the Susquehanna Defense Distribution Supply Depot (DDSP) in New Cumberland, PA. The units have been installed into 20 Yale forklift trucks as part of a two-year demonstration project run by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).
The ReadyPower units will be run at the DDSP in regular operation consisting of two shifts a day, five days a week, and will be compared to the performance that would have been attained using standard motive batteries.
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US DOE Issues Request for Information on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Market Development; Reports to Congress on Program
February 05, 2009
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on potential early markets and deployment opportunities for hydrogen and fuel cells. The information gathered is intended to help DOE to identify key early markets, validate hydrogen and fuel cell system performance through data collection and communicate results, cultivate demand and accelerate market development, and reduce non-technical barriers that hinder market penetration.
At the end of January, DOE also issued the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Activities, Progress, and Plans Report to Congress as required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT). Among its findings, the report notes that in DOE’s assessment, “although significant progress has been made”, fuel cell cost is still too high and durability still too low to enable industry to meet the deployment goal of 100,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles by 2010, as specified in EPACT.
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Eden Energy Sells Off HyRadix and Other Assets; Hythane Remains a Core Focus
January 22, 2009
Australia-based Eden Energy has sold all the shares in its two US subsidiary companies: Eden Cryogenics LLC, which has two operating businesses (Eden Cryogenics and Cryogenic Technical Services which manufacture cryogenic equipment and supply cryogenic design services) and Eden Hydrogen Inc which operates the business known as HyRadix which manufactures hydrogen reformers.
Eden acquired US-based HyRadix, a company specializing in on-site autothermal reforming systems for the production of hydrogen from methane or LPG, in 2007. (Earlier post.)
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US Fuel Cell Council Pushes Congress for $1.17B for Hydrogen, Fuel Cell and Infrastructure Programs
December 30, 2008
The US Fuel Cell Council (USFCC), an industry association formed to foster the commercialization of fuel cells in the United State, is asking Congress to put $1.17 billion into fuel cells, hydrogen and infrastructure.
Fully funding programs of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) at levels Congress has already approved for FY2010, and use of other authorized funds, would account for the $1.17 billion. The US Fuel Cell Council would like to see the money applied in six basic areas: deployment programs; development of a refueling infrastructure; learning demonstrations; building domestic manufacturing capability; accelerating public-private research; and investing in fuel cell transit programs.
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Study Concludes Wind-Powered BEV and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Best Options, Biofuels the Worst to Address Climate, Energy Security and Pollution
December 13, 2008
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| A combined weighted ranking of the 12 combinations of energy sources and vehicle type against 11 impact categories. Click to enlarge. |
A new study by Stanford University professor Mark Jacobson (earlier post) reviews and ranks major proposed energy-related solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security while considering impacts of the solutions on eleven different factors ranging from resource availability to mortality. To place electricity and liquid fuel options on an equal footing, Jacobson considered 12 combinations of energy sources and vehicle type: nine electric power sources (solar-PV, CSP, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, nuclear, and coal with CCS) and two liquid fuel options (corn-E85, cellulosic E85) in combination with three vehicle technologies (battery-electric, BEVs; hydrogen fuel cell, HFCVs; and flex-fuel E85 vehicles).
The overall rankings of the combinations (from best to worst) were: (1) wind-powered battery-electric vehicles (BEVs); (2) wind-powered hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; (3) concentrated-solar-powered-BEVs; (4) geothermal-powered-BEVs; (5) tidal-powered-BEVs; (6) solar-photovoltaic-powered-BEVs; (7) wave-powered-BEVs; (8) hydroelectric-powered-BEVs; (9-tie) nuclear-powered-BEVs; (9-tie) coal-with-carbon-capture-powered-BEVs; (11) corn-E85 vehicles; and (12) cellulosic-E85 vehicles. His findings are published online in an open access article in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.
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VW Highlights Three Fuel-Cell Vehicle Prototypes at LA Auto Show
November 19, 2008
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| The Tiguan HyMotion fuel cell concept uses a VW-developed high-temperature fuel cell stack. Click to enlarge. |
Volkswagen came to the Los Angeles Auto Show to tout the efficiency and performance of its diesel powertrains and the recent market success of the Jetta Clean Diesels in the US, as well as to introduce the new Touareg V6 TDI.
However, the company said it was also casting an eye to the future with its presentation of three fuel cell prototypes: the Tiguan, a compact SUV; the Touran, a compact minivan; and the Passat Lingyu, a sedan customized for use in China (earlier post). In Germany, the Tiguan and Touran are the most successful cars in their class. The same is true of the Passat Lingyu in China. All three zero emissions vehicles were available for test drives at the show.
