Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), part of the Daimler Trucks family, plans to start the series production of fuel-cell trucks by the late 2020s. At the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show in October, MFTBC unveiled the Vision F-CELL, a light-duty fuel-cell concept truck. The Vision F-CELL delivers 135 kW... Read more →

The Südwestdeutsche Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft (SWEG) (Southwest German Transport Company), and Daimler Buses signed a letter of intent to bring the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro REX with a fuel-cell range extender out of series production onto the road. SWEG is a transport company in southwest Germany that operates railway lines and bus services.... Read more →

PowerCell Sweden AB has signed a contract with a leading European shipyard regarding the development and delivery of a megawatt marine fuel cell system. The system will be developed and delivered over three years; the total value of the contract for the period amounts to SEK 77 million (€6.9 million).... Read more →

The falling cost of making hydrogen from wind and solar power offers a promising route to cutting emissions in some of the most fossil-fuel-dependent sectors of the economy, such as steel, heavy-duty vehicles, shipping and cement, according to a new report from BloombergNEF (BNEF). Hydrogen Economy Outlook, a new and... Read more →

The BMW Group provided some technical insights into the powertrain system for the planned BMW i Hydrogen NEXT and also reaffirmed its commitment to following a carefully considered and systematic route to emission-free mobility. The BMW Group has been working with Toyota on fuel cell technology since 2013. The two... Read more →

Loop Energy, a provider of fuel-cell-electric range-extenders for medium- and heavy-duty transport applications, has received an additional cash investment from Cummins Inc. The further investment was made following Loop’s successful completion of milestone requirements established at the time of Cummins initial investment in September 2019. (Earlier post.) Loop Energy fuel-cell... Read more →

Researchers at Aalto University (Finland), with colleagues at the University of Vienna (Austria), CNRS (France) and Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (Russia), have developed a highly graphitized graphene nanoflake (GF)–carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid catalyst doped simultaneously with single atoms of N, Co, and Mo (N-Co-Mo-GF/CNT). This high surface area material... Read more →

Toyota Motor Corporation and Hino Motors, Ltd. have agreed to develop a heavy-duty fuel cell truck jointly, and to proceed with initiatives toward its practical use through verification tests and other means. The heavy-duty fuel cell truck in this joint development project is based on Hino Profia, and is being... Read more →

A coalition of major oil & gas, power, automotive, fuel cell, and hydrogen companies have developed and released the full new report, a “Road Map to a US Hydrogen Economy.” The Road Map stresses the versatility of hydrogen as an enabler of the renewable energy system; an energy vector that... Read more →

Currently the most popular system used for water electrolysis for hydrogen production relies on precious metals as catalysts. A collaborative research team, including scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Washington State University (WSU), has developed a nickel-iron (NiFe)-based catalyst, which is much less expensive, but which delivers comparable... Read more →

DEUTZ presented its latest developments in the field of sustainable off-highway drive systems at CONEXPO in Las Vegas. (The show, originally scheduled to run from 10-14 March, closed one day early as concern over the COVID-19 outbreak began to mount). DEUTZ combines diesel, gas, hybrid, electric and hydrogen technologies to... Read more →

Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. has ordered 25 of Ballard’s new 70 kilowatt heavy-duty FCmove HD fuel cell modules. These 25 modules will power 15 Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses planned for deployment in Cologne, Germany and 10 Urbino 12 hydrogen buses planned for deployment in Wuppertal, Germany, all under... Read more →

The European Commission (EC) presented a broad new European Industrial Strategy to help Europe’s industry lead the transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership. The Strategy sets out the key drivers of Europe’s industrial transformation and proposes a comprehensive set of future actions, including a Clean Hydrogen Alliance to accelerate... Read more →

The Intermountain Power Agency (IPA) has awarded Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) a contract for two M501JAC power trains for the Intermountain Power Plant (IPP) in Delta, Utah. (Earlier post.) This award marks the first Advanced Class Gas Turbines in the industry specifically designed and purchased as part of a... Read more →

Both houses of the Washington state legislature have passed SB 5811, the ZEV mandate bill. Governor Inslee says he will sign it. This will result in the entire West Coast—from California to British Columbia—having a ZEV mandate. Washington originally adopted the California emissions standards in 2005—but without the ZEV mandate.... Read more →

Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS), Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., and Iwatani Corporation announced that Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R), which had been under construction in Namie town, Fukushima Prefecture since 2018, has been constructed with a... Read more →

Neste, the leading provider of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, and an expert in delivering drop-in renewable chemical solutions, has acquired a minority stake in Sunfire GmbH, a developer of high-temperature electrolysis technology. The company’s patented technology allows the production of renewable hydrogen as well as the direct conversion... Read more →

Nikola Corporation, a designer and developer of BEV and FCEV Class 8 trucks is executing a reverse merger with VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. to create a company focused on the development of next generation smart transportation. VectoIQ Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq:VTIQ) is a $230-million publicly traded Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) formed... Read more →

DEME Concessions and Omani partners are partnering to develop a world-leading, green hydrogen plant in Duqm, Oman. The facility will significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the regional chemical industry in Oman, as well as providing green hydrogen and/or derivatives (such as green methanol or ammonia) to international customers in... Read more →

Researchers at S. Korea’s Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have developed a novel process for the production of hydrogen using various types of biomass, including lignin, as an efficient alternative to water oxidation as an electron source. In a paper published in the journal ACS Catalysis, the... Read more →

The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) has awarded New Flyer a contract for two hydrogen fuel-cell-electric sixty-foot Xcelsior CHARGE H2 heavy-duty transit buses (for a total of four equivalent units). MTD is the first in the US to order 60' hydrogen fuel cell buses commercially. The Xcelsior CHARGE H2 is... Read more →

The Netherlands-based Terberg is introducing a new generation of electric vehicles with new EV technology, including the YT203-EV terminal tractor (which replaces the older YT202-EV) and the BC202-EV body carrier. New generation YT203-EV The performance of the new electric drive system is comparable with that of diesel engines and the... Read more →

By investing in R&D and performing fundamental studies of the different carrier systems and their properties, Topsoe has developed a new and more robust carrier system. This system forms the basis for the new TITAN series of steam reforming catalysts. The series, launched earlier this month at the Nitrogen+Syngas Conference... Read more →

Two hydrogen mobility projects led by Air Liquide—Hype and HyAMMED—were selected in January 2020 by ADEME (French Environment & Energy Management Agency) as part of the second closing of its “Hydrogen Mobility Ecosystems” call for proposals. Hype is developing the world’s first fleet of hydrogen-powered taxis. Launched during the 2015... Read more →

Currently, most hydrogen evolution photocatalysts (HEPs) are made from single-component inorganic semiconductors. These can only absorb light at ultraviolet wavelengths—constituting less than 5% of the solar spectrum—which limits their efficiency. However, photocatalysts formed from a single organic semiconductor typically suffer from inefficient intrinsic charge generation, which leads to low photocatalytic... Read more →

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have demonstrated the first visible-light photoelectrochemical system for water splitting using TiO2 enhanced with cobalt. The proposed approach is simple and represents a stepping stone in the quest to achieve affordable water splitting to produce hydrogen. A study on their work is... Read more →

An international collaboration led by Cranfield University will examine the potential for the low-carbon production of hydrogen from natural gas. The HyPER project (Bulk Hydrogen Production by Sorbent Enhanced Steam Reforming) will construct a 1.5 MWth pilot plant at Cranfield University to test the innovative hydrogen production technology that substantially... Read more →

The UK has awarded £7.5 million for the next phase of Gigastack, a new renewable hydrogen project, as part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Hydrogen Supply Competition. (Earlier post.) The Gigastack project, led by ITM Power, Ørsted, Phillips 66 Limited and Element Energy, will show... Read more →

As part of a larger £90 million (US$117 million) package of awards to cut carbon emissions in industry and homes, the UK is awarding £28 million (US$36.5 million) to five demonstration phase projects for low-carbon hydrogen production. The Dolphyn project showcases a floating semi-submersible design with an integrated wind turbine,... Read more →

Plug Power Inc. has launched its heavy-duty 125 kW ProGen zero emission hydrogen fuel-cell system. ProGen fuel cell systems include the fuel-cell stack and all required subsystems for humidification, air delivery, fuel regulation and cooling. The new ProGen product expands Plug Power’s market reach into heavy-duty on and off-road applications... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Company and Yeosu Gwangyang Port Corporation are partnering to commercialize hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. An MOU between the two includes the development and demonstration of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks for logistics transportation and the establishment of a hydrogen fueling station. The port region is home to petrochemical complexes that produce... Read more →

Nikola Corporation announced the product launch of the Nikola Badger electric pickup truck with an estimated range of 600 miles. The advanced electric pickup will feature a hydrogen fuel-cell and battery powertrain. The Badger is engineered to deliver 980 lb-ft (1,330 N·m) of torque, 906 peak HP and 455 continuous... Read more →

The CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, is joining forces with Energy Observer, the first hydrogen-powered vessel to embark on a round-the-world voyage. (Earlier post.) Energy Observer, formerly a racing catamaran, is now an experimental platform for tomorrow’s energy sources. It is sailing round the world... Read more →

Global mining company, Anglo American, has engaged Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) to develop its new Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): a 290-tonne electrically powered mining haul truck, which is set to be the world’s largest electrified vehicle. (Earlier post.) As part of its FutureSmart Mining program, which applies innovative thinking... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Company is expanding its partnership with the US Department of Energy (DOE) and its support of the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program. Hyundai’s commitment aims to increase technical collaboration to better understand challenges and to collect and publish independently validated data from demonstrating fuel cell technologies and... Read more →

Faurecia recently was awarded a significant contract for fuel cell electric vehicle storage systems from Hyundai Motor Company. Faurecia will supply the entire hydrogen storage system (including 10,000 hydrogen tanks) which will be produced in its new global center of expertise dedicated to hydrogen storage systems in Bavans, France with... Read more →

IVECO and FPT Industrial, the commercial vehicle and powertrain brands of CNH Industrial N.V., and Nikola Motor Company will manufacture, through their European joint venture, the Nikola TRE in Ulm, Germany, at the IVECO manufacturing facility. This strategic and exclusive heavy-duty truck partnership saw CNH Industrial taking a $250-million stake... Read more →

Within the scope of EU-funded GiantLeap project, Bosch Engineering GmbH, together with VDL Enabling Transport Solutions b.v. and their partners, designed and built a fuel cell range extender system for battery-electric buses. The system is contained in a specially designed trailer to be attached to the tow hitch of any... Read more →

Trillium has completed construction of the largest hydrogen transit refueling station in North America. The Santa Ana, California hydrogen station, which went live Friday, was jointly developed by Trillium, Air Products, the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), Ballard Fuel Systems and New Flyer. Houston-based Trillium is a leading... Read more →

Researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, led by Miguel Modestino, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a novel ion-conducting polymer (ionomer) that increases the power and lowers the cost of fuel cells. The material delivers copious amounts of oxygen from the... Read more →

An interagency collaboration between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DoD) will support an opportunity to address disaster mitigation through the use of an advanced fuel truck technology concept known as H2Rescue. (Earlier post.) The H2Rescue is a fuel cell/battery hybrid truck that first responders... Read more →

Toyota, official partner of Energy Observer and an avid supporter of their project from the start, has developed a fuel cell system for maritime applications, with its first delivery destined for Energy Observer. Embarking in June 2017 from Saint-Malo Port in France, Energy Observer is an electrically propelled vessel of... Read more →

New Zealand energy companies Waitomo Group and Hiringa Energy intend to work in partnership to develop New Zealand’s first nationwide hydrogen refueling stations network. Hiringa Energy’s initial refueling station plan. Taranaki-based Hiringa Energy is the first company in New Zealand dedicated to the supply of green hydrogen (produced via electrolysis),... Read more →

Norwegian wholesaler Asko is among the first to operate a goods vehicle that runs on hydrogen, thanks to a collaborative effort by research scientists and industry. SINTEF, one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations, has been working with Asko and hydrogen fuel for almost ten years with the aim of... Read more →

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) unveiled ten new hydrogen fuel-cell-electric Xcelsior CHARGE H2 heavy-duty transit buses in Santa Ana, California. The order was previously announced in April 2018, at that time becoming the US’ largest procurement and deployment of fuel cell-electric buses. The hydrogen-fueled buses will be strategically integrated... Read more →

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University have used a gallium, indium, tin and bismuth alloy to generate hydrogen, when placed in contact with an aluminum plate immersed in water. The hydrogen is then used in a PEM fuel cell. An open-access paper on their work appears... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems announced that its proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel-cell technology and products have now successfully powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles in commercial Heavy- and Medium-Duty Motive applications for an industry-leading cumulative total of more than 30 million kilometers (18.5 million miles) on roads around the globe. Ballard’s FCmove... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office, in collaboration with the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office, has established technical targets for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in long-haul tractor-trailer Class 8 truck applications. These targets will help guide early stage R&D and serve as benchmarks for tracking technology.... Read more →

Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Nissan Research Center report on their investigation of the internal reforming of ethanol fuel on high-performance metal-supported solid-oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) with infiltrated catalysts in a paper in the Journal of Power Sources. Dogdibegovic et al. Nissan’s public interest in ethanol-fueled solid-oxide... Read more →

GTI, a research, development and training organization focused on natural gas and energy markets, is launching a hydrogen technology center. GTI focuses its R&D efforts on the generation of clean hydrogen using hydrocarbon fuels that incorporate carbon capture and/or carbon sequestration in a cost-effective manner. These technology efforts are directed... Read more →