Toyota’s second-generation Mirai, a premium rear-wheel drive fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) with coupe-like design, is offering Toyota Teammate advanced driver assistance technology for model year 2022. Toyota Teammate is built around the philosophy that people and vehicles can work in partnership to achieve safe, convenient and efficient mobility. Toyota Teammate,... Read more →

The Vertical Flight Society (VFS), a non-profit organization working to advance vertical flight, is holding the first public event in the United States on the use of hydrogen and fuel cells for aviation applications. The event, the 1st H2-Aero Symposium & Workshop, is being held 29-31 March 2022, in Long... Read more →

Hino USA has been awarded a grant provided by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a Japanese governmental agency, to promote new technology for energy and environmental sector, along with Hino Motors, Ltd. The grant supports the demonstration of Hino’s Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell trucks in... Read more →

The US Federal Transit Administration will award approximately $1.47 billion in competitive grant funds from two programs to help modernize bus fleets and facilities across the country. The combined announcement is the first FTA competitive grant opportunity under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). FTA’s Low or No Emission... Read more →

Austrian bus company Österreichische Postbus AG (ÖBB Postbus) has signed another framework agreement with Solaris for the delivery of up to 106 battery-electric and hydrogen buses that would be deployed throughout Austria. The models offered include Urbino 9 LE electric and Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. ÖBB Postbus is the largest... Read more →

California’s HVIP (Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project) will re-open to voucher requests for standard HVIP funds at 10 a.m. Pacific on Wednesday, 30 March 2022. For FY21-22, $196.6 million is available for standard HVIP voucher requests. Additionally, the following set-aside funds will also become available at... Read more →

Isuzu Motors, Hino Motors and Toyota Motor plan to strengthen their efforts to electrify buses. In collaboration with Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies, which works to solve social issues through the spread of CASE technologies, the three companies will expand their lineup to increase customer options and reduce vehicle cost, in... Read more →

A research team in Korea has synthesized metal nanoparticles that can significantly improve the performance of hydrogen fuel cell catalysts by using the semiconductor manufacturing technology. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced that the research team led by Dr. Sung Jong Yoo of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems and MAHLE Group, a Tier 1 automotive supplier, are progressing the development of a new fuel cell system concept for long-haul trucks, with MAHLE taking delivery of a 120kW module at the company’s hydrogen test center in Stuttgart, Germany. The new concept system is a part of... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems and ABB have received an approval in principle (AiP) from leading classification society DNV for a jointly developed fuel cell concept capable of generating 3 megawatts, or 4,000 HP, of electrical power. DNV is an international accredited registrar and classification society headquartered in Høvik, Norway. The AiP... Read more →

MAN Truck & Bus is accelerating the production of heavy-duty e-trucks in Munich to as early as the beginning of 2024 with prompt delivery of an initial 200 units. This is almost a year earlier than originally planned. In addition, the depth of added value for battery-electric commercial vehicles is... Read more →

QUANTRON has unveiled its new 12m electric bus called CIZARIS. The new bus model in the Augsburg-based company’s bus portfolio will be launched as an all-electric version (CIZARIS 12 EV), followed in 2023 by a fuel cell drive (CIZARIS 12 H) that uses a largely identical powertrain. Two- and three-door... Read more →

Embraer, Widerøe and Rolls-Royce are partnering to study conceptual zero-emission regional aircraft. The 12-month cooperation study—in the context of pre-competitive research and development—will address passenger requirements to stay connected in a post COVID-19 world, but do so sustainably, and seeks to accelerate the knowledge of the technologies necessary for this... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $175 million for 68 research and development projects aimed at developing novel advanced energy technologies. Led by DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the OPEN 2021 program prioritizes funding high-impact, high-risk technologies that support novel approaches. The selected projects—spanning 22 states and... Read more →

Rolls-Royce is teaming up with UK rail rolling stock owner and asset manager Porterbrook to identify and develop technological innovations to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality across the rail network. The two companies, who have signed a memorandum of understanding, will investigate the potential for the use of... Read more →

BMW AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, TesTneT Engineering GmbH and Hexagon Purus are working together in research and advanced development of an innovative hydrogen storage system solution for future fuel cell passenger cars. The project called FlatHyStor—“Functional design and testing of an innovative hydrogen tank system”—with a total project budget of... Read more →

Rheinmetall AG has received major orders in the two-digit-million-euro range to supply fuel cell components. Leading fuel cell manufacturers have turned to the company for hydrogen recirculation blowers and cathode flaps. The order package marks a further success for the Group’s hydrogen strategy as it systematically expands into alternative drive... Read more →

Phillips 66 and H2 Energy Europe will develop up to 250 retail hydrogen refueling stations across Germany, Austria and Denmark by 2026 through a 50-50 joint venture between their subsidiaries, Phillips 66 Limited and H2 Energy Europe AG. The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Phillips... Read more →

In a recent analysis, Fraunhofer ISI concludes that battery-electric drives will become established in heavy-duty applications in the commercial vehicle sector and that fuel cells will remain a niche application. The decisive factor for the switch to battery-electric vehicles is the energy cost advantage compared to hydrogen and diesel. A... Read more →

Fukuoka City—the sixth-largest city in Japan and the second-largest port city after Yokohama—and Toyota Motor Corporation have signed a partnership agreement aiming for the early realization of a hydrogen society. They will work closely with Commercial Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT), which works on commercial projects, to promote a wide range... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems has delivered two, 200 kilowatt (kW) FCwave modules to Norled A/S, one of Norway’s largest ferry and express boat operators. The fuel cell modules will power the world’s first liquid hydrogen-powered ferry, the MF Hydra, later this year. MF Hydra will be the first hydrogen-powered ship to... Read more →

University of Delaware engineers have demonstrated an effective way to capture 99% of carbon dioxide from the ambient air feed to an hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cell (HEMFC) air using a novel electrochemical system powered by hydrogen. It is a significant advance for carbon dioxide capture and could bring more... Read more →

Leveraging more than 90 years of combined hydrogen experience and collaborating under the heavy-duty hydrogen fuel system joint development MOU announced in February 2021, Ballard Power Systems and Chart Industries have successfully tested a fuel cell powered by liquid hydrogen. For the test, a Ballard FCmove-HD fuel cell was paired... Read more →

Chemists at Cornell University have discovered a class of nonprecious metal derivatives—transition metal nitrides (TMNs)—that can catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline fuel cells about as well as platinum, at a fraction of the cost. The researchers, led by Héctor D. Abruña, the Émile M. Chamot Professor in... Read more →

Ionomr Innovations, a developer of ion-exchange membranes and polymers for the hydrogen economy, closed a $15-million Series A funding round with lead investors Shell Ventures and Finindus, joined by Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV), NGIF Cleantech Ventures and Pallasite Ventures. Ionomr produces materials in both proton exchange membrane (Pemion) and anion... Read more →

Canadian Pacific is expanding its Hydrogen Locomotive Program from one to three locomotives, with expected delivery in 2022, and has ordered eight additional 200 kW fuel cell modules from Ballard to support the expansion. Inclusive of Ballard’s announcement in March 2021, the company will provide a total of 14 fuel... Read more →

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) has taken delivery of 23 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEV), marking the company’s first purchase of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The company plans to expand its fleet of HFCEVs to 50 next month, making SoCalGas among the first utilities in the nation to start... Read more →

Hyzon Motors, a leading supplier of heavy-duty hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles, announced a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Transform Materials, a provider of renewable hydrogen through its proprietary microwave reactor technology (earlier post). Together, Hyzon and Transform Materials will evaluate proposals to develop facilities to produce low-to-negative carbon... Read more →

GM announced new commercial applications of its HYDROTEC fuel cell technology. HYDROTEC projects, which are currently in development, from heavy-duty trucks to aerospace and locomotives, are being planned for use beyond vehicles for power generation. GM is planning multiple HYDROTEC-based power generators, all powered by GM’s Generation 2 HYDROTEC fuel... Read more →

Nikola and Proterra announced a strategic, multi-year supply agreement to power Nikola zero-emission semi-trucks with Proterra’s battery technology. Proterra product is expected to be incorporated in the Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and Tre fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The first Proterra Powered Nikola semi-trucks are expected to be produced... Read more →

The FCH2RAIL project, already launched in January 2021, is developing emission-free bi-modal trains, which combine normal track use and emission-free rail travel without overhead lines. The FCH2Rail consortium is developing a Fuel Cell Hybrid Power Pack and integrating it into a demonstration bi-modal train. (Earlier post.) Toyota has built, tested... Read more →

Hyzon Motors reported that it delivered 87 fuel-cell-powered heavy-duty vehicles in 2021 under commercial sales agreements. Eight dump trucks that were deployed under trial leases in Foshan, a UN Hydrogen Demonstration City in China, are not included in the 87 vehicle deliveries. The 2021 shipments exceeded the forecast of 85... Read more →

Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH is working with Torqeedo on an innovative hydrogen hybrid propulsion system building kit for maritime mobility, which will be able to deliver fuel cell powers between 30 and 120 kW and variable hydrogen storage capacity. As part of the DEUTZ Group, Torqeedo offers marine electric... Read more →

Nikola Corporation and Covenant Logistics Group, a total logistics provider based in Chattanooga, Tenn., announced a collaboration that will further Covenant’s sustainability objectives by adding 50 zero-emission vehicles to its fleet. This collaboration includes a Letter of Intent (LOI) for 10 Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and 40 Nikola Tre... Read more →

CALSTART published its annual inventory of zero-emission buses (ZEBs) “Zeroing in on ZEBs,” providing insight on the current state of ZEBs ahead of $5.25 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s Low-No Program. The deployed number of full-size ZEBs has grown to 3,533 nationally—an... Read more →

ÖBB Postbus in Austria has ordered five hydrogen buses from Solaris. has landed a deal with Solaris for the delivery of five hydrogen buses. The hydrogen-fueled vehicles will be deployed in the picturesque city of Villach in south-east Austria. This is the first order placed under a framework agreement concluded... Read more →

The University of Michigan - Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI,) Professor Qianli Chen and her collaborators are proposing a new design principle for perovskite materials with high proton conductivity for use as electrolyte materials in solid oxide fuel cells. A paper on their work is published in... Read more →

Vaekstfonden, the Danish Growth Fund, and the German engine manufacturer DEUTZ AG, are investing €15 million in methanol fuel cell company Blue World Technologies. The aim is to bring the company’s green fuel cell products and solutions to the global market. The Blue World Technologies fuel cells are based on... Read more →

Gaussin and Terminal du Grand Ouest (TGO), concessionaire and sole operator of the Montoir-based Multipurpose Cargo and Container Terminal (MCCT) near Saint- Nazaire, France, are partnering to test a hydrogen-powered heavy-duty terminal tractor. These full-scale tests will take place at the Montoir container terminal in spring 2022. A Gaussin APM... Read more →

Aurizon, Australia’s largest rail freight operator, and leading global mining company Anglo American will work together on a feasibility study to assess the introduction of hydrogen-powered trains for bulk freight. The study will explore the application of Anglo American’s proprietary hydrogen fuel cell and battery hybrid power units in heavy... Read more →

Advent Technologies Holdings and BASF New Business GmbH recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and increase the manufacturing scale of advanced fuel cell membranes designed for long-term operations under extreme conditions. BASF intends to improve the long-term stability of its Celtec membrane and to increase production capacity... Read more →

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that Nikola Corporation, a developer of battery-electric and fuel-cell-electric heavy-duty trucks, has agreed to pay $125 million to settle charges that it defrauded investors by misleading them about its products, technical advancements, and commercial prospects. The settlement follows the SEC’s litigated action filed... Read more →

Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, BNSF Railway Company (BNSF), and Chevron USA, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance the demonstration of a locomotive powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The goal of the demonstration is to confirm the feasibility and performance of hydrogen fuel... Read more →

Zero-emission aviation powertrain developer ZeroAvia (earlier post) and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a line-fit and retrofit program for De Havilland Canada’s aircraft models, using hydrogen-electric propulsion in both new and in-service aircraft. As part of the MOU, De... Read more →

As it moves closer to commercialization of its hydrogen-electric technology, ZeroAvia (earlier post) has secured a new raise of $35 million to help develop its 2-5MW zero-emission powertrain system for regional aviation. United Airlines has invested in ZeroAvia through this round, an agreement with United anticipates an order for 50... Read more →

The transport carrier in the Czech city of Ústí nad Labem and Solaris Bus & Coach have signed a framework agreement for the purchase of zero-emission Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. It covers a period of 8 years; during this time the carrier may order up to 20 hydrogen buses. Once... Read more →

Giga Carbon Neutrality (GCN) has secured a contract to supply 200 hydrogen and battery EV powered heavy trucks and associated engineering machinery from The People’s Government of Ejin Horo Banner, an administrative division of Ordos City of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China. The GCN trucks will be produced... Read more →

Opel has begun production of the hydrogen fuel cell variant of the Vivaro van, and has delievered the first one to the German manufacturer of premium domestic appliances, Miele. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will perform daily field service in the Rhine-Main region. The new Vivaro-e HYDROGEN perfectly meets the... Read more →

US President Joe Biden has issued an executive order directing all Federal agencies to transition to a Zero-Emission Fleet. Under the order, each agency needs to achieve 100% zero-emission vehicle acquisitions by 2035, including 100% zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions by 2027. Each agency with a fleet of at least 20... Read more →

Alstom and MOL, Hungary’s leading oil and gas company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to structure cooperation in examining the use of hydrogen technology in rail transportation. MOL Group already produces and utilizes almost 150,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year. As part of its National Hydrogen Strategy, Hungary has... Read more →