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The news letter of HyWeb and the German Hydrogen Association (DWV) · 1st Quarter 2001 – 5th Year ã L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH
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"Thinking of hydrogen, I always think of dirigeables."
Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, CEO Volkswagen, Braunschweiger Zeitungsverlag, February 21, 2001
Buderus and IFC to jointly develop and market residential fuel cells in Europe
HyWeb, 01-03-29: Buderus, Germany, and International Fuel Cells (IFC), USA, yesterday today announced they will work together to develop and market fuel cell systems for small and medium size residential applications.
Under terms of the agreement, Buderus will market in Europe the IFC fuel cell system now being developed for homes and light commercial buildings. The two expect to test initial units in important European markets beginning mid 2003. IFC and Buderus will also explore other opportunities for fuel cells in Europe, according to comapny press releases.
IFC is currently developing a five-kilowatt PEM fuel cell for residential and light commercial applications. These units, which operate on natural gas or propane, will be used to generate electricity for assured electrical power or as primary power. Buderus will offer fuel cells in co-generation units, using the heat generated by the fuel cell for space heating and domestic hot water. The electricity produced will replace or reduce use of electricity from the electrical grid.
Buderus is one of the European leaders in heating appliances. IFC is one of the internationally leading developers of fuel cells.
MA
Toyota presents new fuel cell car
HyWeb, 01-03-29: On March 1 and 2, Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan, presented its new fuel cell hybrid vehicle at the International Symposium on Fuel Cell Vehicles in Tokyo, Japan.
Photo: Toyota
The vehicle runs on pure hydrogen with a hydrogen-absorbing alloy tank (metal hydride). It is based on Toyota's Kluger V/Highlander sport utility vehicle. The hybrid power train, which is similar to the Prius hybrid system, includes a 90 kW stack developed by Toyota and a nickel-metal hydride battery. It can travel more than 300 km and has a top speed of 150 km/h.
In January, Toyota announced a plan for the development of a clean hydrocarbon fuel for fuel cell vehicles in cooperation with General Motors. In parallel, Toyota conducts research on other possible fuels. According to a company press release, Toyota believes that, in terms of cleanliness and efficiency, fuel cell vehicles that directly employ pure hydrogen will become mainstay in the future.
Toyota is participant of the Fuel Cell Development Council in Japan, which has recently been established by the Japanese government, according to various newspapers. The first meeting of the approximately 80 participating companies has taken place in late March. The council will discuss the development of an infrastructure for fuels for fuel cell vehicles as well as problems relating to product durability and safety.
To see a compilation of all hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles world-wide, click www.HyWeb.de/h2cars.
MA
CUTE -- Clean Urban Transport for Europe
HyWeb/DWV, 01-03-26: Fuel cell buses will operate in normal public transportation in Iceland's capital Reykjavik as well as in Amsterdam (Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain), Hamburg (Germany), London (Great Britain), Luxembourg, Porto (Portugal), Stockholm (Sweden), Stuttgart (Germany) in about two years. During an event in Reykjavik on 2. March for the occasion of the start of the project in Iceland named ECTOS, Prime Minister David Oddson and industry minister Valgerdur Sverrisdottir pointed out the importance of transport based on non-fossil fuels. They would make oil or gas imports more or less superfluous since the country supplies its stationary energy consumers already almost completely from hydropower and geothermal sources.
During the next two years the hydrogen production and a filling station will be built in Iceland, and there will be other preparations and studies. The hydrogen will be produced by electrolysis. Since electric power in Iceland comes from renewable sources, not even indirect emissions are produced.
40% of the about 7 Million Euro for the ECTOS project are funded by the EU. The cooperation between DaimlerChrysler and Iceland is a part of the project CUTE (Clean Urban Transport for Europe), but has earlier roots. This is why the start event in Reykjavik was a bit earlier than for the rest.
CUTE involving up to 30 fuel-cell powered buses was inaugurated in Amsterdam on 20 March 2001, when the participating European bus operators confirmed their commitment to the practical trials, and each of them signed purchase contracts for three fuel-cell powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban buses. The first buses will be delivered at the end of 2002 and during 2003. This is the first small series of fuel-cell powered vehicles available in the market anywhere.
The fuel-cell powered, low floor Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban regular service buses will be produced by EvoBus GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler with responsibility for European bus activities. The price for the left-hand drive version is approx. 1.25 million EUR per bus. This includes an extensive two-year service package.
Another party interested in the buses is the Australian state of Western Australia. Beginning in late 2002 the city of Perth will be the site of a test run with three buses, similar to the one in the European cities.
MA/DWV
Practical market study in Iceland: fuel cells replace batteries
DWV, 01-03-26: Fuel cells and hydrogen as replacement for batteries are not publicly available in Iceland. This is a market study which is limited to six months at first and aims at exploring the customer potential in a practical way.
According to an announcement made on 3. March in Reykjavik the fuel cells will be delivered by the US company DCH Technology (Valencia, California). The membrane cells, distributed under the name ENABLE, output 12 W at 12 V, have about the size of a soda can, and a weight of 640 g. They were shown on the last Hannover Fair and found a lot of interest (HyWeb, 00-03-30).
Skeljungur Ltd. (Shell Iceland) distributes the cells and various kinds of hydrogen storage (gas cylinders, hydride storage) in its filling stations. There will be a depot in Reykjavik where hydrogen is generated by electrolysis to refill the storages. The hydrogen price was said to be significantly below what is typical for commercial vendors.
Since electric power in Iceland is generated almost completely from renewable sources (hydropower, geothermy), neither the cell itself is clean nor the hydrogen production generate CO2 or other harmful emissions.
The project is part of the strategy of the Icelandic government to use renewable energies instead of fossil fuels. Torsteinn Sigfusson, chairman of Icelandic New Energy, said: „The market study will allow Icelanders to become intimately involved with fuel cells, and the clean energy they provide. They will learn how they work, how easy they are to fuel, and thus how easy and safe they are to meet their portable power needs.“ DCH Chairman David Haberman pointed out that this is the first time ever that a wholly commercial enterprise is comprehensively addressing the hydrogen energy market as a viable business.
DWV
HyWeb link: Forum Brennstoffzelle
HyWeb, 01-03-16: Under the motto "fuel cell competence in Baden-Württemberg", the new website www.forum-brennstoffzelle.de presents information about fuel cells in German language. In addition to general information allowing for a quick introduction into the subject, news are presented on a weekly basis. An additional section presents activities in Baden-Württemberg, south-western German Land and home of DaimlerChrysler. The website is especially targeted at the automotive supply industry.
General judgement: Professional website with up-to-date information, especially targeted at automotive supply industry.
MA
BMW CleanEnergy World Tour started
HyWeb, 01-03-16: On January 22, the CleanEnergy World Tour 2001 started with the shipping of ten BMW 750hL from Munich, Germany, airport. During the following six months, the hydrogen cars will go on a world tour with five events in Dubai, Brussels, Milano, Tokyo and Los Angeles and will give new momentum to hydrogen energy.
The CleanEnergy World Tour is a follow-up of the CleanEnergy project that has been a part of the Expo 2000 (HyWeb, 00-05-16): Since the presentation of the cars in Berlin, Germany, on May 11, 2000, they have accumulated more than 100,000 kilometers without problems.
After having thus presented the "zero-liter-car" (="infinite-mileage-car") according to BMW nomenclature, a hydrogen refueling infrastructure is now required. It is the conviction of BMW that only the renewable production of hydrogen in large quantities a significant reduction in CO2 emissions can be reached.
The first stop of the CleanEnergy World Tour brought the fleet to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on February 1. Countries in the sunbelt of the earth are especially well-suited to produce solar hydrogen in large quantities at low costs, according to BMW. Hydrogen is also a good economic alternative to finite oil ressources for Arab countries.
The second stop had the cars in Brussels, Belgium, on March 6.
BMW presents the hydrogen fleet in the metropolitain areas and seeks for answers for the decisive questions. This is BMW's contribution to the realisation of a sustainable energy economy using hydrogen as energy carrier.
Technical Data BMW 750hL: Bivalent 5.4 Liter 12 cylinder V-engine, 0-100 km/h in 9.6 sec., max. 226 km/h, safety optimised 140 liter hydrogen tank with housing, autonomy on hydrogen fuel: 350 kilometers, additionally operation on gasoline possible. Permanent electricity supply by 5 kW, 42V fuel cell APU.
MA
Hydrogen trailer accident near Cologne
DWV, 01-03-15: A serious traffic accident with a hydrogen trailer happened in the morning of 7. March on a highway near Cologne, Germany. At the end of a traffic jam a lorry crashed with considerable speed into a Messer Griesheim tube trailer for compressed hydrogen, obviously due to a lack of attention on the side of the driver. Hydrogen gas escaped from valves and pipings of three of the nine tanks and was ignited. The lorry driver could not escape and died. Other persons or vehicles were not involved.
The driver of the hydrogen lorry could uncouple the trailer from the truck and thus remove its diesel fuel from the danger zone. The fire brigade blocked the highway as well as the nearby railway line between Cologne and Aachen, which caused extended traffic jams. As common in such cases the fire was not extinguished; only the undamaged tanks were cooled to prevent them from bursting. Due to the small diameter of the leaks it took several hours for the gas from the damaged tanks to burn. The danger of explosion was over in the afternoon, but the highway remained blocked until the next morning.
A spokesman of the Cologne fire brigade said that accidents with road transports for dangerous goods like this are extremely rare. A rough estimate would give a number of about 30 accidents per year in and around Cologne with transports for dangerous goods involved directly or indirectly. Most of these cases were said to be not more dangerous than any other accident. He said that vessels for liquefied or compressed gases are particularly resistant.
DWV
DWV, 01-03-15: Two fuel cell cars with drive systems from XCELLSIS have obtained a road permit from the Japanese Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport. One of them is the NECAR 5 of DaimlerChrysler, the other the FC-EV of Mazda (HyWeb, 00-04-18). Both run on methanol. XCELLSIS chairman Ferdinand Panik said: „The support given this project by the Japanese ministries is an important positive signal for the use of fuel cell drive technology“. A series of extensive tests on Japanese roads, running until the end of March, will demonstrate the driving characteristics, fuel consumption and emission levels of the systems as well as the suitability of fuel cell technology for everyday driving. One partner in the project is the Petroleum Energy Center, an institution of the Japanese Economics Ministry, which is working in close cooperation with the Japanese Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to invite domestic automakers and energy companies to participate in the development of technology aimed at removing sulfur from regular gasoline for use in fuel cell-powered vehicles, according to Nikkei Weekly. It is intended to create an official body before the end of March together with Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Nippon Mitsubishi Oil and about 80 other companies to set unified quality standards for the gasoline. The project will be funded from the 2002 budget. The reason given for the decision by the ministry is that gasoline can be distributed more easily than methanol by means of the existing network of filling stations.
DWV
BMW presents solid oxide fuel cell running on gasoline
DWV, 01-03-15: After almost two years of development BMW presented on 17. February the first car with an on-board electrical supply not based on a battery, but its gasoline tank by means of a solid oxide fuel cell (HyWeb, 00-05-16). In about five years the system will be marketed with an output of about 5 kW. A reformer cracks the gasoline at 800 °C in hydrogen plus the rest; the hydrogen feeds the cell, the rest is burnt to provide heat for the reformer. The power generation this way is almost twice as efficient as with the combination of motor, APU, and battery. A fuel saving of about 1 l per 100 km is possible. And the cell does not depend on the motor. Heating and air condition while the car is not running and new electronic systems can be based on it.
DWV
Ford presents fuel cell Focus in Brussels and Berlin
DWV, 01-02-15: On 6. February Ford presented in Brussels its fuel cell car "Focus" to the EU Commissioner for energy and transport, Mrs. Loyola de Palacio. For Ford Europe Mr. Scheele said that the fuel cell has the potential to terminate the 100 year rule of the internal combustion engine within our lifetime. De Palacio said that the EU Commission plans a large scale test of fuel cell cars in ten European cities. The use of hydrogen motors is to be tested under real market conditions. The commissioner did not say, however, when and where the test will start. She said that Brussels will not enforce which fuel cell technology has to be used. It would be left to car and fuel makers whether hydrogen would be stored as gas or liquid or somehow else. She further said that the introduction of new fuels were anything but simple. A sufficient supply would have to be guaranteed. Alliances between car makers and oil companies in this field would therefore be a good idea.
On 14. February the Focus was presented in Berlin for the first time in Germany, together with other Ford cars with economic or alternative drives, including the electric ultra-small car TH!NK and even bicycles with an electrical auxiliary motor. The place for the event was the embassy of Norway, because the TH!NK is built in this country; the embassy owns a TH!NK, and the ambassador uses is a lot. Ford Germany was represented by CEO Rolf Zimmermann and board member Wolfgang Schneider and as well by the chairman of the board Casper.
Most prominent guest was the Federal Minister for Transport, Kurt Bodewig, who had the opportunity to make a test ride. Apart from the ambassador, the minister, and the board members a speech was also given by Gerhard Timm for BUND (environment association). He pointed out that clean motors alone would left many problems unsolved. what is also necessary is a reasonable transport policy which is aimed at avoiding traffic.
The vehicle presented is based on the standard type Focus and offers almost the same space in the passenger compartment; only the seat beside the driver is a bit higher to hide the fuel cell (Ballard Mark 900). A composite tank for compressed hydrogen gas is behind the back seat and occupies the greater part of the baggage compartment. The range of about 150 km is still far from satisfactory. It was said that all ways to improve this are evaluated, but that it is yet too early to make a decision. Ford spokesmen said that in 2004 Ford will use a fleet of 50 test vehicles in California; around 2007 the test could be extended numerically and geographically. Starting in 2010 a sale to normal customers would be possible.
DWV
Photos: DWV
The storage system behind the back seats
HyWeb, 01-02-08: HyWeb contains a new area presenting hydrogen and fuel cell cars under www.HyWeb.de/h2cars. So far, vehicles from 1967 until 1996 are available. The overview of the years 1997 to 2002 will be online soon.
For each vehicle, a data sheet is available presenting a photo and relevant technical and other information.
General judgement: HyWeb makes an effort to present a comprehensive overview.
MA
"Developing the use of hydrogen as a fuel would allow us to reduce road transport's impact on air quality and help reduce our reliance on oil products."
Loyola de Palacio, EU Commissioner for Energy and Transport Policy, Brussels, February 6, 2001 (Reuters news note)
European Integrated Hydrogen Project: report phase 1 published, phase 2 starting
HyWeb, 01-02-07: The publishable final report of the European Integrated Hydrogen Project - Phase 1 (EIHP) can be downloaded at www.eihp.org.
This address will also be the official homepage of the European Integrated Hydrogen Project - Phase 2 (EIHP2) starting in February 2001 and lasting 36 months until beginning of 2004.
MA/RW
NBG Technologies and Long Island Power Authority to demonstrate a residential PEM fuel cell system
HyWeb, 01-02-07: NBG Technologies, Inc. (NBG) has agreed with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) (New York, USA) a yearlong collaboration program to install, demonstrate and evaluate a 4.5 kWe PEM residential cogeneration fuel cell system powered by hydrogen derived from natural gas.
The fuel cell system, developed by H Power Corp., will be supplied by NBG and installed on a site to be named by LIPA on Long Island. The test and demonstration phase, addressing also grid connectability, will be conducted over a six month period.
MA/EZ
Initial fuel cell manufacturing facility of Ballard Power Systems commissioned
HyWeb, 01-02-07: Ballard Power Systems announced on December 20, 2000 that it has commissioned its initial fuel cell manufacturing facility adjacent to Ballard´s corporate headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
The capacity of the 9,900 m2 facility is sufficient to meet immediate production requirements for portable and automotive fuel cells. A larger facility, finally producing fuel cells for 300.000 vehicles per year, is planned to be built in 2002 in North America (HyWeb, 00-02-01).
MA/EZ
Further steps of the California Zero-Emission Vehicle plan
HyWeb, 01-02-07: Voting on the continuation of the 10-year-old Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate on January 26, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resources Board (ARB) gave automakers additional options in meeting their ZEV requirements. Starting in 2003 each automaker is required to sell in California between 4.450 and 15.450 new ZEV cars, depending on the type of clean vehicle (battery-powered electric vehicles or other new clean cars, such as fuel cell vehicles, electric-gasoline hybrids and superclean gasoline vehicles); starting in 2007, also heavier sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans will be accounted for.
Incentives are available to automakers for introducing ZEVs prior to 2003.
The ZEV market introduction is promoted at federal, state and local level and by utilities through financial assistance to consumers.
Federal incentives include e.g. elimination of luxury tax for alternative-fuel vehicles and a tax credit for 10% of an electric vehicle cost, limited to $4000 and being in place with progressive reductions through 2004.
Already on December 7, 2000 ARB approved guidelines for the $18 million three years ZEV incentive program, created in September 30, 2000 ('Lowenthal Bill'), for the purchase or lease of ZEVs by private and public consumers. Individual grants are up to $3000/year over three years.
Further incentives, available from state and local institutions, include e.g. grants up $5000 for the purchase or lease of electric vehicles, free parking, exemption from vehicle licence fee and financial supports for chargers and other infrastructure installations.
Also utility incentives are available, mainly providing electricity discount rates between 2.5 and 5.1 Cents per kWh used to recharge electric vehicles during off-peak periods or, as by Edison International, a grant of $3.600 to the employees for the purchase or lease of an electric vehicle.
For more information on the ZEV Programm see here (www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/zevprog.htm) or specifically on incentives here (www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/incentiv.htm).
MA/EZ
HyWeb link: H2 Information Network
HyWeb, 01-02-02: The Hydrogen Information Network of the US Department of Energy contains important information on R&D advances and technology validation efforts within the US Department of Energy's Hydrogen Program. The website has been completely redesigned in May 2000.
General judgement: Detailed information available, highly recommended.
MA
Fuel cell vacuum-cleaner by Manhattan Scientifics, NovArs, Electrolux and Lunar Design
HyWeb, 01-01-31: A prototype of a light and compact fuel cell powered vacuum-cleaner without electric cords is being jointly developed by Manhattan Scientifics, Inc., Electrolux LLC and Lunar Design. Manhattan Scientifics is a multi-technology company with headquarter in New York and laboratories in New Mexico; Electrolux LLC is a North American floor care products company (not to be confused with Electrolux AB in Sweden); Lunar Design is a firm located in Silicon Valley, designing and developing general products.
As Manhattan Scientifics announced on January 24, 2001, its 1 kW power system, consisting of two fuel cell stacks, a hydrogen storage vessel and an electronic control board is based on advanced technology developed by its partner company NovArs GmbH, (Passau in South Germany). A particular feature is the use of carbon fiber composites (CFC) as structural material and advanced sealing technology, which minimizes system size and weight (to about 4,5 kg).
Hydrogen is stored in a CFC bottle, which can be easily replaced within seconds (similarly to the LPG bottles usual in several applications) and is available through the Electrolux delivering network worldwide.
Manhattan Scientifics acquired in 1999 the intellectual property rights of NovArs GmbH, at that time one year old, and is funding further developments aiming at additional reduction of size and weight in subsequent prototypes.
Manhattan Scientifics develops also a fuel cell powered bicycle with the Italian Aprilia SpA (HyWeb, 00-12-19).
MA/EZ
First 2 kW PEM fuel cell stack shipped by Teledyne Technology
HyWeb, 01-01-31: Based on its own experience in electrolytical hydrogen production, Teledyne Energy Systems has developed, manufactured and shipped its first 2 kW PEM fuel cell stacks for on-site power generation.
Teledyne Energy Systems (Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA) is a business unit of Teledyne Technology, Inc. (Los Angeles, California, USA), a company operating in USA, UK and Mexico in various fields, such as electronics, communications and aerospace technologies and systems engineering.
MA/EZ
First Italian hydrogen fuel cell bus in regular service in Torino in 2001
HyWeb, 01-01-22: In the North-Italian city of Torino the first urban FC-bus is planned to start road tests in June2001 and regular public service within 2001. The bus by Irisbus, a 50/50 subsidiary of Renault V.I. and Iveco, is fuelled with electrolytically produced hydrogen and equipped also with a battery system. The fuel cell has a power of 60 kW.
The project, which represents also the first concrete technological, regulatory and organizational activity of the national hydrogen programme of Italy launched in 2000, is financed by the private and public sector in nearly equal parts. The involved companies and institutions are associated in the ATI ('Associazione Temporanea di Imprese') and include: ATM (municipal transport company of Torino), Iribus Italia SpA, Sapio Produzione Idrogeno Ossigeno Srl, CVA SpA ('Compagnia Valdostana Acque'), Ansaldo Ricerche Srl, the Ministry of the Environment and ENEA.
The operating company ATM may decide upon a systematic purchase of these zero-emission buses in the second half of this decade, depending on the results of the multi-year experimental phase and depending on future market conditions.
In the meantime, ATM will continue the substitution of diesel with lower emission fuels, such as natural gas and the so-called 'white diesel', an emulsion of diesel oil and water, which in tests on 40 buses evidenced about 50% reduction of particulate emissions.
Irisbus plans two further fuel cell bus projects in Paris (France) and Madrid (Spain) at the end of 2002 / beginning of 2003.
MA/EZ
Celanese and Honda joint development of automotive fuel cell
HyWeb, 01-01-22: Celanese Ventures GmbH and Honda R&D Co. Ltd. will jointly develop membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for automotive fuel cells with improved performance and lower cost. The two companies are research subsidiaries of the global chemicals company Celanese AG (Kronberg, Germany) and of the japanese automaker Honda, respectively. Announcing the co-operation agreement on Dec. 4, no indication was given, however, on time expectations for the availability of the new fuel cells.
The Celanese membrane is based on polybenzimidazole (Pbi), a plastic manufactured exclusively by Celanese and stated to reach a working temperature twice that of other types. In addition to the automotive FC, the Celanese membrane electrode units are to be commercialized also for stationary FC for heating and power generation in collaboration with Plug Power.
Celanese Ventures was founded on Oct. 1, 2000 for innovative projects including, besides FC membranes, also new catalysts for high-performance polymers and innovative food ingredients.
MA/EZ
MicroFC-initiative of Mechanical Technology Inc. based on LANL know-how
HyWeb, 01-01-22: On January 4, Mechanical Technology Inc. (Albany, New York, USA) announced the start of activities on development and commercialization of micro fuel cells for portable devices such as cell phones, digital organizers etc. The development will be based on the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Technology of Los Alamos National Laboratory, with which Mechanical Technology concluded a licence agreement. Also the new chief technology officer, the renowned electrochemistry scientist Dr. Gottesfeld, comes from LANL, where he led the Fuel Cell Research Programme.
MA/EZ
