US Hybrid executes global fuel cell technology licensing agreement with United Technologies
28 January 2014
US Hybrid Corporation, a global supplier of medium- and heavy-duty electric and hybrid powertrain power conversion components, executed a global licensing agreement with United Technologies Corporation (UTC) to commercialize UTC’s proven Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technologies.
US Hybrid has been a key supplier of “balance of plant” components such as cathode air blowers, DI pumps and power converters to UTC and other fuel cell suppliers for over a decade. US Hybrid will now be adding fuel cell production to its core competencies of system design, integration and operation of fuel cell buses, trucks, military and specialty vehicles, as well as supporting fuel cells with component electronics.
The announcement follows news of US Hybrid’s recently awarded Federal Transit Administration (FTA) contract to build the next generation of cost-effective fuel cells for transit buses. CALSTART administers the project for the FTA. (Earlier post.) The licensing agreement advances US Hybrid’s strategy to become the leading provider of integrated fuel cell power systems for transit buses, commercial trucks and off-road vehicles worldwide.
This proven PEM fuel cell technology has accumulated millions of miles of revenue transit service with no cell stack failures to date. US Hybrid is committed to improving upon this technology to manufacture a commercially-viable, integrated fuel cell power system to enable the Americas, Europe and Asia to meet their GHG reduction goals.
—US Hybrid President and CEO, Dr. Abas Goodarzi
In late 2012, after investing in the technology for more than 40 years with industry leading technological advancements and a proven track record of reliable systems in real world use, UTC elected to license its fuel cell technology. US Hybrid was selected to continue UTC’s contract under the FTA’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCB), and will fabricate, integrate, test and validate the next generation high-powered fuel cells to commercialize the technology for transit use.
US Hybrid has established operations in South Windsor, Connecticut, where the company will complete the development, fabrication and validation of the fuel cell power plant with additional technical and management support from their Torrance, California headquarters and the Magmotor team in Worcester, Massachusetts.
This agreement will allow the transfer of technology from UTC to a rapidly growing business. US Hybrid is committed to bringing fuel cell technology to the commercial vehicle market, and we look forward to seeing what they can do now that they have this license.
—John Boesel, President and CEO of CALSTART
More should be done to promote and accelerate the use of FCs for heavier vehicles such as large cargo trucks, intercity and city large buses, locomotives, heavy machinery, ships and military vehicles.
An extra $20K to $40K for those large vehicles could be more easily managed.
Installing H2 stations every 200 miles or so on major highways and at bus-truck depots would not be as major challenge. One single week without (oil wars) would almost do it.
Posted by: HarveyD | 28 January 2014 at 07:56 AM
If you use the word "should" some people might get upset because they believe the market system will determine what is worth doing is ALL cases. It does not matter that it is good for the country or its people.
Posted by: SJC | 28 January 2014 at 08:20 AM
@SJC...China's evolution is been done about 4 to 6 times faster than we did it because it is mostly directed to move in the proper directions.
By doing so, China can do many changes much faster and at lower cost. There are 1001 examples where it was done.
The market system is good but it (often) has too many limitations because, in the first place, it has to provide huge profits for the 3% regardless of what is good for the country or its people. The Federal and States authorities are not free to pass and apply laws to benefit 'the people' because they need $B from the 3% to get elected. One way to stop that would be to limit individual contributions to $100 and group-firms direct or indirect contributions to $500 or so.
Posted by: HarveyD | 28 January 2014 at 12:36 PM
The market system is fine for many things, but not for ALL things, that is where ideology gets in the way. The government does what the private sector can not or will not do, but needs to be done.
The market forces will not always do what needs to be done but what is most profitable. If some make the leap that what is most profitable is the ONLY thing worth doing, they miss the point all together.
Posted by: SJC | 28 January 2014 at 01:11 PM
If it is not profitable, the market dictates outsourcing, closure or Chapter 11 regardless if it is good or bad for the people?
People (the 97%) do not decide what is or will be done any more. Come voting day, the people will be told 1001+ times for who they should vote for and they will do so. It doesn't really matter who gets elected because they will do what the paying hands will tell them to do.
Posted by: HarveyD | 30 January 2014 at 12:13 PM