HyWeb - Gazette
The news letter of HyWeb and the German Hydrogen Association (DWV) · 2nd Quarter 2000 – 4th Year ã L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH
The topical quotation (00-06-19)
Journalists drive Opel’s HydroGen1 fuel cell car (00-06-19)
Hyundai joins California Fuel Cell Partnership (00-06-19)
Market prospects for molten carbonate cells (00-06-19)
China and Italy work jointly on hydrogen (00-06-19)
New reformer converts natural gas or LPG to hydrogen (00-06-19)
RWE goes for fuel cells (00-06-06)
Bayernwerk will test fuel cell cogeneration unit (00-06-06)
Ballard ships 250 kW stationary fuel cell system to Berlin (00-06-06)
First commercial fuel cell cogeneration system to be installed in the UK (00-06-06)
European Union fosters fuel cell car development (00-06-06)
Liquid hydrogen transport truck damaged (00-05-06)
The topical quotation (00-05-29)
General Motors forsees hydrogen economy (00-05-29)
BP Amoco describes emergence of a pre-eminent 'gas economy' (00-05-29)
Shell plans to bring hydrogen to the filling station (00-05-29)
Green members of parliament call for solar hydrogen cars (00-05-29)
Study about fuel cell car market penetration (00-05-29)
The topical quotation (00-05-16)
BMW declares hydrogen era opened by starting Clean Energy Project (00-05-16)
Miniature fuel cell from Case Western Reserve University (00-05-16)
Renault joins BMW and Delphi in development of an SOFC to replace car battery (00-05-16)
Texaco purchases a 20% interest in ECD (00-05-16)
Al Gore: Abolish the internal combustion engine (00-05-16)
The topical quotation (00-05-09)
Day of Fuel Cell great success -- 8 vehicles presented -- two world's firsts (00-05-09)
The topical quotation (00-04-18)
Project guide German Hydrogen Projects in the Internet (00-04-18)
Mazda, DaimlerChrysler and Nippon Mitsubishi to demonstrate fuel cell vehicles in Japan (00-04-18)
General Hydrogen founded by Geoffrey Ballard (00-04-18)
ZeTek Power announces alkaline fuel cell production facility in Cologne (00-04-18)
The topical quotation (00-04-14)
Epyx and De Nora Fuel Cells merge to form Nuvera (00-04-14)
DaimlerChrysler offers first fuel cell buses for customers (00-04-14)
Heliocentris presents portable fuel cell electricity generator (00-04-14)
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells established at Hanover Fair (00-04-14)
Competence Network Fuel Cell founded in Northrhine-Westfalia (00-04-13)
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"I am no enemy to the eco-tax, we can live with it. […] Very high fuel costs can be a source of innovation."
Werner Pollmann, Environmental plenipotentiary of DaimlerChrysler, in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung of June 13, 2000; translation: LBST
Journalists drive Opel’s HydroGen1 fuel cell car
HyWeb, 00-06-19: In an event organized for international journalists in Brussels, Opel presented HydroGen1, its fuel cell car based on the Zafira with on-board liquid hydrogen storage. The vehicle, which was presented for the first time on the Geneva Motor Show in March (HyWeb, 00-03-01), but was not running at that time, was driven and tested by the journalists.
The vehicle displayed very good driving performances, and the drivers generally appreciated it. Refueling with liquid hydrogen was carried out manually using a transportable system consisting of a liquid hydrogen tank and a filling system with tubes, connectors, valves etc. The hydrogen was delivered from Germany.
Photo: Opel
Opel announced that HydroGen1 would be the pacecar of the Olympic marathon in Sydney this summer.
Dr. Erhard Schubert, co-director of the Global Alternative Propulsion Center (GAPC) of GM and Opel, underlined the following five key statements:
- Hydrogen is the fuel of the future, the fuel cell is the propulsion concept of the future.
- The key challenge in the development of the fuel cell vehicle is the development of a suitable hydrogen fuel tank for the vehicle.
- There is no hydrogen infrastructure in place. This is why GM and Opel are collaborating with car and mineral oil companies on this issue.
- GM and Opel see gasoline reforming on-board the vehicle as the bridging solution to a hydrogen economy as long as there is no hydrogen refueling infrastructure in place to support fuel cell vehicles.
- Public information, education and training are of prime importance. This relates both to hydrogen and fuel cells.
MA
Hyundai joins California Fuel Cell Partnership
DWV/HyWeb, 00-06-19: South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co Ltd (HyWeb, 00-03-17) has joined the California Fuel Cell Partnership (www.drivingthefuture.org) (HyWeb, 00-03-07) according to a Reuters news note on June 8.
To secure a place in the alliance, Hyundai Motor in April signed a US-$40 million deal with International Fuel Cells (IFC). Hyundai and IFC will cooperate to develop fuel cell vehicles, using hydrogen, gasoline and methanol as fuel. The first fuel cell prototype running on hydrogen would be ready for testing by the end of this year, according to Hyundai. Prototypes of gasoline and methanol-driven fuel cell vehicles will be ready before 2003.
Hyundai has made an agreement with IFC to equip between two and four sports utility vehicles with PEM cells and a hydrogen tank. The cell will deliver 75 kW so that the car will exceed the performance of the standard model. Hyundai is said to develop the technology with great energy. The comparatively small company would give it a greater rank than the big competitors.
Because of this cooperation in the partnership led by DaimlerChrysler, there is some speculation on closer cooperation of the two companies, both in fuel cells and conventional cars.
DWV/MA
Market prospects for molten carbonate cells
DWV, 00-06-19: Five students from a "Technology Marketing" course at the Fachhochschule Ravensburg-Weingarten have investigated which market prospects the molten carbonate fuel cell according to the "Hot Module" principle investigated by MTU would have with companies of the south-western region of Germany. The results are promising. The spectrum of potential customers ranges from gardeners over hospitals, wood industry and pharmaceutical companies to breweries and other food industry companies. "If the technology were available on a serial basis, I would use it at once", said the owner of a gardening company. While with the heat he could heat his greenhouses during the winter, he could sell the electricity to the grid and get money for it under the new German legislation for the promotion of renewable energy. The local utility of Friedrichshafen sees good chances to use the cell for the city hospital. Most important for the potential "Hot Module" customers are the investment costs, says the study. "Future serial production will make them competitive", says MTU specialist Peter Berger.
(Suedkurier, Konstanz, 11. June 2000)
DWV
China and Italy work jointly on hydrogen
DWV, 00-06-19: China and Italy will closely cooperate in the use of hydrogen as new and clean energy carrier. According to a story in the newspaper "China Daily" there was a workshop in Beijing on 9. Juni which ended with the decision that a corresponding Memorandum of Understanding be signed. About 80 experts from both countries had discussed generation, storage, and use of hydrogen on the meeting. The Italian delegation was headed by physics Nobel laureate Carlo Rubbia, head of ENEA (Ente per le nuove technologie, l'energia e l'ambiente). Rubbia was also received by Vice-Premier Li Lanqing.
Hydrogen generation from coal will be a center of the joint work. China has little oil, but much coal; the environment, however, suffers badly from the effects of coal combustion (acid rain, air pollution). Ma Songde, vice-minister of Science and Technology, called hydrogen technology a means to achieve economical growth and protection of the environment at the same time.
Delegates of the hydrogen world conference WHEC XIII reported that the news struck the participants "like a bombshell". Carlo Rubbia gave the opening speech of the conference and described in detail the Italian policy concerning hydrogen and fuel cells.
DWV
New reformer converts natural gas or LPG to hydrogen
DWV, 00-06-19: Johnson Matthey, best known for catalysts, has demonstrated a new "Dual Fuel" processor which is able to convert both natural gas (methane) and LPG (propane/butane mixtures) to hydrogen plus the rest. The device works equally well with both and can be switched at any time.
The company expects urban fuel cell users to be supplied mainly with natural gas, while the latter might be not available in rural areas. Thus more than one fuel must be considered. The development is said to be much cheaper than that of two separate reformers.
DWV
HyWeb, 00-06-06: According to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung relying on an articel in Berliner Zeitung, one of the largest German electric utilities, RWE of Essen, aims at a radical change of its electricity production structure. Management sources disclosed that the company is planning to start distributing natural gas fuelled fuel cell systems for combined power and heat production for residential use in 2004.
RWE will offer financing, operation and maintenance of the systems, the newspaper reports. Internal RWE calculations show that the electricity produced by the fuel cells could in the mid-term reach 14% of the company's electricity sales. This is equal to the amount produced in RWE's nuclear power plants at present.
MA
Bayernwerk will test fuel cell cogeneration unit
HyWeb, 00-06-06: Bayernwerk, a large German electric utility, plans to erect a fuel cell cogeneration system in the technology pavillion of the building center at Munich Fairgrounds.
The project, which will be funded by the Bavarian Ministry for Economics, Transport and Technology, has started at the beginning of this year and will last until the end of 2002. The fuel cell system will be delivered at the beginning of 2001. There will be a scientific monitoring and analysis aimed at laying a sound basis for the technical assessment and the further development of the system to become a product.
The entire system will be delivered by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Freiburg, Germany. The PEM fuel cell stack will be delivered by Siemens. The system will have an electric power of 3.3 kW and a thermal output of 4.5 kW.
MA
Ballard ships 250 kW stationary fuel cell system to Berlin
HyWeb, 00-06-06: On April 26 Ballard Power Systems announced that its subsidiary Ballard Generation Systems shipped its second 250 kW stationary fuel cell system for field testing through its associated company Alstom Ballard. The fuel cell system is a joint project of the utilities Bewag (Berlin), EdF (Paris, France), PreussenElektra (Hannover), VEAG (Berlin) and HEW (Hamburg) (HyWeb, 98-08-07).
The project is accompanied by an 'Innovation Parc Fuel Cell', which will be inaugurated on June 19, 2000. The vision of an energy economy saving the world's resources will be presented to the visitors. Address: Heizwerk Treptow, Eichenstraße 4/ Ecke Puschkinallee, 12435 Berlin.
The first field trial unit was shipped to Cinergy Technology Inc. on September 30, 1999 for commissioning at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, during the fourth quarter of that year.
MA
First commercial fuel cell cogeneration system to be installed in the UK
HyWeb, 00-06-06: According to the May issue of the News Review, a quarterly publication for the UK new & renewable energy industry by ETSU on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry, the UK's first commercial fuel cell cogeneration system will be installed in Woking Park this year. The 200 kWe phosphoric acid fuel cell system will provide power, heating and cooling for the pool in the Park/Leisure Lagoon swimming pool complex and for Woking Leisure Centre.
The new fuel cell system, together with a low-temperature heat-fired absorption chiller and solar electricity PV screening is due to be installed at the swimming pool complex to complement an existing and a new conventional combined heat and power systems. Additionally, a high-temperature heat-fired absorption chiller and a thermal store will be located at the Leisure Centre.
MA
European Union fosters fuel cell car development
HyWeb, 00-06-06: On May 29, the European Union's research commissioner Philippe Busquin presented several fuel cell vehicles in Brussels: a passenger car by DaimlerChrysler, and two buses by MAN and Scania. Busquing expressed his confidence that "we are making real progress on the way to a means of transport that combines the comfort of a normal car (or bus) with zero pollution".
The European Commission has supported fuel cell research since 1988. The budget spent has developed from 8 million Euro in the Second Framework Programme (1988-1992) to 54 million Euro in the Fourth Framework Programme (1994-1998). In the currently running Fifth Framework Programme (1998-2002), 28 million Euro have been allocated so far.
A political decision needs to be taken concerning the supply and distribution (filling station network, quality standards, tax incentives) of hydrogen, Busquin said. He continued that the great advantage of hydrogen was that it can be produced from a wide variety of sources, such as natural gas, oil, bio-ethanol, solar and wind energy, "and even coal". This gives considerable flexibility to the energy/hydrogen provider, makes energy supply less dependent on one source and gives political choice to state, regional and local governments as to how sustainable their energy and fuel supplies should be.
The fuel cell vehicles were presented in Brussels during a conference on Europen fuel cell research organised by the European Commission. From the following Internet page, an overview of fuel cell projects funded by the EU can be downloaded: http://www.cordis.lu/eesd/src/ev290500.htm.
MA
Liquid hydrogen transport truck damaged
DWV, 00-06-05: On 16. May a truck carrying 1,200 kg (17 m3) of liquid hydrogen for Messer Griesheim got out of control on a highway between Munich and Stuttgart because a tyre burst. The vehicle could finally be stopped at the crash-barrier, but the outer shell of the double walled thermally insulating vessel was damaged. The guard vacuum between outer shell and tank collapsed, leading to a an increase of the pressure in the tank which was decreased in a controlled manner by means of the relief line. The inner tank remained intact, as well as the equipment, so that no liquid hydrogen escaped. Both drivers were not hurt and took part in the emergency measures; no other vehicles were involved. The fire brigade stopped the traffic on the highway while Messer Griesheim specialists provided a controlled release of the hydrogen through a special device. There was no danger for the surroundings; the only nuisance was a traffic jam extending for 25 km in both ways.
DWV
"The implementation of the hydrogen vision for an environmentally benign mobility that is not depending any more on a finite fossil primary energy carrier will therefore not be possible within a few years. It is a task of the next decades and is the responsibility of two generations. But it is today that the agenda has to be set. The start has to be made by the present generation."
Rezzo Schlauch, Albert Schmidt and Michaele Hustedt, members of the German Parliament of the Green Party (Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen), in their position paper "Driving cars with sun and water" (in German) of May 26, 2000
General Motors forsees hydrogen economy
HyWeb, 00-05-29: What the oil and auto industries do today and over the next few years will have a dramatic effect on the kinds of vehicles poeple drive and how they live and work in the 21st century, General Motors' Executive Director Robert Purcell Jr. told the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association's Annual Meeting, reports Octane Week in its May 15 edition.
"The world's population today stands at 6 billion people and is expected to top 9 billion by 2050. This ever increasing population will put greater pressure on our planet's resources."
Near-zero and zero-sulfur fuels are the short-term goal for the most promising advanced systems such as lean burn engines and fuel cells, but in the long term, GM sees a much different picture. "In fact, our long-term vision is of a hydrogen economy."
"There will also be increasing percentages of transportation fuels from renewable sources in support of efforts to reduce global greenhouse gases."
The dominant transportation fuels will depend on the dominant engine technology, according to Purcell, continuing that only the marketplace can answer the question what engine technology will be. GM's "current best thinking" on the fuels needed to power fuel cell vehicles is the following: In the near term, light naphtha refinery streams and liquid hydrocarbons derived from natural gas. Also, methanol, and as production, storage and distribution systems develop, hydrogen.
GM is actively pursuing partnerships with oil companies. "We are currently partnering with BP Amoco on the development of advanced engine-fuel systems. And we are negotiating non-exclusive relationships with a number of oil companies because no other industry has the expertise in fuels that your industry possesses," Purcell told refiners at the meeting.
MA
BP Amoco describes emergence of a pre-eminent 'gas economy'
HyWeb, 00-05-29: In a keynote speech to the world's first on-line energy e-conference and exhibition (www.energyresource2000.com, May 15 to 26), Richard Flury, Chief Executive, BP Amoco Gas & Power, described how many factors now in place are leading to the emergence of a pre-eminent 'gas economy' in the early decades of the century. Natural gas will become the principal fuel for electricty generation, the primary feedstock for chemical industry, and gas could also power the the transport sector, firstly as compressed natural gas, and later as the primary feedstock for fuel cell vehicles. Fuel cell fuel could initially be manufactured as clean diesel and/or methanol in gas-to-liquids plants. Later, gas could be used as the fuel to generate hydrogen for direct use in on-board fuel cells.
Flury sees natural gas as the much needed 'bridge to a renewables future'. BP Amoco's major investment in solar energy, where it is already the world's largest producer of photovoltaic panels, signalled the company's belief and commitment to that future, according to Flury.
During a transition period, natural gas will be one of the best sources for the hydrogen that will be used to build up the hydrogen economy. The use of hydrogen, or its derivatives such as methanol, is the most efficient source of 'wells to wheels' energy known for transportation, Flury noted.
Both stationary power and transport applications of fuel cells are likely to appear sooner than people think -- with distributed power applications already happening, and 'commercially viable' cars and buses on the road in 2004 from many majot motor manufacturers, Flury concluded.
MA
Shell plans to bring hydrogen to the filling station
HyWeb, 00-05-29: On the occasion of the presentation of the BMW Clean Energy Project (HyWeb, 00-05-16), Fritz Vahrenholt, board member of Deutsche Shell, said: "We will deliver hydrogen when the demand is there. [...] BMW and Shell are thinking along the same lines". Dr. Burkhard Göschel, member of the board of BMW responsible for technical development, on the same occasion announced the hydrogen BMW 750hL to be "in one of the next price lists": "We at BMW start now, our car is technologically mature, we want to go for the series."
Vahrenholt predicted 50% of all new vehicles, and 20% of the existing fleet, to be hydrogen vehicles by 2020. To reach this goal, nonetheless, car manufacturers and energy suppliers need politics: "It would be a political great feat if part of the eco tax would be redirected into hydrogen technology. 1% of the eco tax income would be sufficient to retrofit 400 filling stations."
In September 1999, Shell presented its study "More cars -- less emissions" (in German). It contains two scenarios for the market introduction of fuel cell vehicles: Scenario 'New Order', leading to the 20% fuel cell vehciles in the fleet or 50% of new cars in 2020 as mentioned by Mr. Vahrenholt, and the scenario 'Creative Variety' leading to 7% fuel cell vehicles in the fleet in 2020. Fuel of choice is hydrogen even though several problems have yet to be solved. The study can be downloaded in German language under www.deutsche-shell.de (click on "Publikationen", "1999").
MA
Green members of parliament call for solar hydrogen cars
HyWeb, 00-05-29: On May 26, three members of the German Parliament of the Green Party (Bündnis 90/ Die Grünen) Rezzo Schlauch (floor leader), Albert Schmidt (speaker for transport) and Michaele Hustedt (speaker for energy) presented nine statements on "Driving cars with sun and water" (in German). They call for environmentally friendly cars and for an alternative to mineral oil, shortages of which will become visible in the near future. There are two possibilities according to the statements: battery vehicles running on solar electricity, or fuel cell or internal combustion engine vehicles running on renewable hydrogen. The latter is regarded as the more promising option as battery development is lacking the necessary significant advances.
Industry has already started to tackle the challenge to build up a hydrogen infrastructure and to start into the long-term production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources. "Industry is intensively working on hydrogen technologies. It is a time of new departures." Therefore, an energy consensus for a solar future between politics and economy is required in order to support these activities.
The three members of parliament call for a "research focus solar era" and the building-up of a new infrastructure. "This includes research on solarthermal power plants and photovoltaics, the further development of water electrolysis for hydrogen production, gas generation from biomass as a further relatively chep means of hydrogen production as well as research on technologies for hydrogen storage and transport. [...] Car and mineral oil industry need support for the introduction of a new hydrogen infrastructure. [...] A distribution network for solar hydrogen has to be installed within 10 years. Then, newly sold vehicles will have to be able to fill up with hydrogen. Politics has to support a common European market introduction strategy."
The position paper underlines the necessity to intensively persue "green concepts" such as more goods transport on rail and ship, extension of public transport or a strengthening of decentralzed structures, in addition to the development of new propulsion concepts and fuels. This is required by the fact that the strong increase in traffic during the last decades cannot be continued indefinitly.
MA
Study about fuel cell car market penetration
DWV, 00-05-29: Fuel cell cars might have a share of the US market in 2010 of almost 4% with 608,000 cars. The share might even reach 7.6% (1,215,000 cars). 80% of them will be running on a PEM cell. Already 2003 or 2004 there will be some 10,000 of them around. This are the key statements of a new study by Allied Business Intelligence. The author Atakan Ozbek concludes: "We will see dramatic changes sooner than most people think, and that will lead to early mass commercialization." The greatest challenge is to decrease the costs to a level suitable for mass production. No fuel cell producer has today the capacities for the amounts mentioned above. At the end of the decade, however, the cells will be able to compete with the combustion engine in terms of prices. After the USA they will also gain in Japan and Europe, here particularly in Germany. In 2010 there might be a market share of 4.5% in Japan and of 3.7% in Europe.
DWV
"We want to make the choice for one of these fuels within the next few months (natural gas, methanol or hydrogen, the editor]. This is a tiny revolution ahead of us. Personally, I think that a share of ten percent of all new vehicles in 2010 is possible. [...] Our objective is an increased independence of mineral oil, the use of renewable resources and a significant reduction of pollutants over the entire energy chain."
Reinhard Klimmt, German federal transport minister, Kölnische Rundschau, May 3, 2000
BMW declares hydrogen era opened by starting Clean Energy Project
DWV, 00-05-16: The hydrogen era will not come -- it is there. This was the message by BMW when the company presented its "Clean Energy" fleet of 15 cars under the type name 750 hL during a press event on 11. May in Berlin. There were two firsts:
- the cars are the first series cars of the world running on hydrogen (even though the series is not too large in terms of numbers), and
- some of them are the first series cars of the world with a fuel cell -- though not instead of the motor for propulsion, but instead of the battery for the electrical supply of the vehicle.
The 15 Clean Energy hydrogen vehicles by BMW in front of Brandenburger Tor in Berlin, Germany. Photo: BMW
During the whole duration of the EXPO world fair at Hannover the cars will have to prove their suitability for everyday use in shuttle service. "We move the alternative and environmentally benign propulsion from the laboratory to our cities", said BMW R&D head Burkhard Goeschel. "We aim not at the three, nor at the two or the one liter car" (consumption in l per 100 km), but at the propulsion without any emissions.
Reinhard Klimmt, federal minister for transportation, promised financial support from the federal government to create favourable conditions for the implementation of this technology. Klimmt said that BMW's technology development was a very good example for the reconciliation of environment and transportation.
For more than 20 years hydrogen cars are being developed in Munich, and they could have been in the showrooms for years, if there were the infrastructure. About this Goeschel said: "Our vision is that on 11. Mai of the year 2005 a hydrogen filling station will be available around major BMW stations in Germany." To this end BMW will cooperate with energy companies. "In 2010 there should be a sufficient density of hydrogen filling stations all over Europe." By then BMW plans to have sold already a few thousand hydrogen cars. When the filling station infrastructure has been extended accordingly, "I could well imagine that at least half of you will drive a new car running on hydrogen in 2020." The prices both for the cars and for the fuel will be similar to those for the conventional goods.
The 750hL in hydrogen mode has an output of 150 kW, accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9,6 s and run a peak of 226 km/h. The cryotank accomodates 140 l and provides a range of 350 km. There is an additional gasoline supply on board, taking into account that the hydrogen supply still has gaps. All cars are permanently radio connected to the computer of the development workshop in Munich. All systems can be controlled around the clock, and the most minute deviation from normal can be cared for. "The workshop knows earlier than the driver when something is not all right", said Klaus Pehr, BMW engineer responsible for the hydrogen cars.
DWV
Miniature fuel cell from Case Western Reserve University
DWV, 00-05-16: The Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) has completed a prototype of a very small fuel cell which can be produced simply and cheaply. The volume is 5 mm3, while nothing was stated about the power output. This was achieved by adopting production methods from the semiconductor field: various layers of cell components were printed on a substrate which helped to reduce size and costs of the device. The prototype runs on hydrogen from a hydride storage. The further development running on methanol is under way. The US department of defense supports the work with 2.2 M$.
DWV
Renault joins BMW and Delphi in development of an SOFC to replace car battery
DWV, 00-05-16: Renault has joined BMW and Delphi Automotive Systems in the development of a solid oxide fuel cell which is to replace the conventional car battery (HyWeb, 00-01-18, 99-05-20). A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed on 2. May in Paris; a detailed agreement on the joint development will follow in the summer. A new technical feature is the fact that systems for diesel trucks and cars will be developed. So far only units for gasoline were developed. The devices developed by Delphi will be integrated by BMW and Renault in their respective vehicles during the next five years.
DWV
Texaco purchases a 20% interest in ECD
HyWeb, 00-05-16: On May 2, Texaco and Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) announced the execution of a share purchase agreement for Texaco to purchase a 20 percent equity stake in ECD for US-$67.3 million. Additionally, the companies have agreed to establish joint ventures for the continued development and commercialization of advanced energy technologies, initially in the fields of ECD's proprietary Ovonic metal hydrogen storage technology and the Ovonic regenerative fuel cell.
Texaco's interest in ECD will be managed by Texaco Energy Systems Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Texaco Inc., established in 1999 to harness the company's fuel conversion expertise to advance commercialization activities in the areas of fuel cells and hydrocarbons-to-liquids (HyWeb, 99-12-06).
"Energy Conversion Devices represents an exciting investment opportunity for Texaco and this agreement reflects our commitment to developing the next generation of advanced energy technologies,'' said William M. Wicker, Texaco Inc. Senior Vice President. "We intend to be a company that is responsive to the changing face of the marketplace and the energy sector. While oil and gas will remain the dominant energy resource for the foreseeable future, hydrogen will inevitably become part of the energy mix, and Texaco aims to be a leader in the development and commercialization of environmentally smart alternative energy technologies.''
In February, Shell and ECD terminated their collaboration in metal hydride storage technology (HyWeb, 00-02-28).
MA
Al Gore: Abolish the internal combustion engine
DWV, 00-05-16: US vice president Al Gore would like to abolish the internal combustion engine. This is not altogether new, but was already written in summer 1992 in his book "Earth in the Balance". Just in time for the hot phase of the campaign for the election of the next president of the USA the book is republished. The content is unchanged, but the foreword is new and duly praises the merits of President Clinton and himself for the environment during the past eight yeas. The "big lie" according to Gore is that a good environment is bad politics. The foreword now also mentions the place in the book where Gore demanded the internal combustion engine to be abolished: "It ought to be possible to establish a coordinated global program to accomplish the strategic goal of completely eliminating the internal combustion engine over, say, a twenty-five year period." Gore's comment of today: "It is possible (to abolish this engine); it needs to be done; it will create more jobs, not destroy jobs," Gore adds in the new introduction. "I am proud that I wrote those words in 1992, and I reaffirm them today." It goes without saying that not everybody was happy about positions like these. Some suspect Gore to abolish the car as well, what he denies. Republican party chairman Nicholson said: "Every American should buy and read Al Gore's extremist manifesto."
(Environmental News Network, 21. April 2000)
DWV
"Fuel Cell activities are no longer toy developments of technology addicts. On the contrary: The development of fuel cell technology and their broad application create new business opportunities and jobs."
Dr. Otto Wiesheu, Bavarian State Minister of Economics, Transport and Technology, Day of Fuel Cell, Munich, Germany, May 8, 2000
Day of Fuel Cell great success -- 8 vehicles presented -- two world's firsts
HyWeb, 00-05-09: The Day of Fuel Cell in and around the Bavarian State Ministry for Economics, Transport and Technology in Munich, Germany, on May 8 was a great success (HyWeb, 00-03-16). Economics Minister Dr. Otto Wiesheu was impressed on his 90 minute walk through the exhibition and expressed his appreciation of the large attendance in his opening remarks. Dr. Ludwig Bölkow, 87 year old hydrogen pioneer in Bavaria joined the one day program of speeches and had discussions with many participants.
Many visitors came to listen to the high quality speakers; the 225 seats were always occupied and many had to find a place to stand. Visitors had come from all over Germany and the neighbouring countries.
In the introductary speech, Firoz Rasul (CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Ballard Power Systems) drew a very vivid picture of his visions of the revolutionary and disruptive potential of fuel cells in industry and society.
The further speakers were: Dr. Ferdinand Panik (DaimlerChrysler), Dr. Erhard Schubert (Opel/GM), Detlef Frank (BMW), Dr. Karl-Viktor Schaller (MAN Nutzfahrzeuge), Dr. Götz Heidelberg (Proton Motor), Dr. Franz Dübel (Ford), Dr. Peter Martin (Alstom), Dr. Klaus Hassmann (Siemens), Jörg Demmler (Rhön-Klinikum), Dr. Ulrich Wagner (wiba).
Eight fuel cell and hydrogen vehicles were presented outside the building. Two vehicles, one fuel cell bus by MAN/Siemens/Linde (www.fuelcellbus.com) and by Proton Motor/Magnet Motor/Neoplan (www.protonmot.de) each, were publicly pesented for the first time.
Bavarian Fuel Cell Bus by MAN/Siemens/Linde
The fuel cell bus by MAN/Siemens/Linde is a low-floor city bus of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge called NL 263. Siemens Power Generation (KWU) delivered the fuel cell system, Siemens Transportation Technologies delivered the electric propulsion system, MAN Technologie delivered the compressed hydrogen storage system and Linde delivered the hydrogen gas installation in the bus.
After intensive testing on the premises of MAN the bus will be operated in regular service in the cities of Erlangen/Nuremberg in the second half of this year. More information on the bus can be obtained under www.fuelcellbus.com . At the end of the program, the fuel cell bus took the visitors for a ride through the inner city. The project has been funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economics, Transport and Technology.
Bavarian Fuel Cell Bus II by Proton Motor/Magnet Motor/Neoplan
Proton Motor of Starnberg near Munich, Germany, presented a low-floor city bus by Neoplan (on the basis of the N8012) with fuel cell propulsion.
The bus is 10.6 m long, 2.50 m wide and 2.59 m high. The coach is a self-supporting composite body. The bus has 33 seats. The fuel cell system is composed of 18 type GZ41 stacks with a total power of 80 kW. The fuel cell system weighs 210 kg and operates at 400 V.
The compressed hydrogen storage system located on the roof of the bus consists of 4 pressure bottles of 150 l geometric volume each. The total storage capacity amounts to 120 Nm3. The flywheel storage has a power of 100 kW. The wheel-mounted motors by Magnet Motor have a maximum power of 70 kW per rear wheel and a maximum torque of 740 Nm per wheel.
The bus achieves a top speed of 80 km/h and has a driving range of 150 to 250 km. The efficiency (tank-to-wheel) is 40% to 45%.
The project has been funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economics, Transport and Technology.
Opel Zafira
Opel displayed its liquid hydrogen fuel cell Zafira first presented in Geneva this year (HyWeb, 00-03-01).
Necar 2 bis 4
DaimlerChrysler presented Necar 2 and Necar 4 (HyWeb, 99-03-17) as well as the only methanol fuel cell vehicle on display: Necar 3 (HyWeb, 97-09-10).
BMW
The hydrogen car with internal combustion engine displayed by BMW unfortunately did not have a fuel cell auxiliary power unit to replace the battery.
Fuel cell fork lift by Linde/Siemens
The fuel cell fork lift truck developed by Linde and Siemens three years ago was also on display (HyWeb, 97-10-31).
Exhibition
Additionally on display were a full-size model of the MCFC "Hot Module" of MTU Friedrichshafen as well as a hydrogen compressor by BAUER Kompressoren.
Inside the ministry, the following companies and projects had presentations: Aral, ARGEMUC, Ballard Power Systems, Bayernwerk, BMW, EcoStar, ET, Fraunhofer ISE Freiburg, H-TEC, heliocentris, L-B-Systemtechnik, Linde, MAN, Mannesmann Pilotentwicklung, MTU, Proton Motor Fuel Cell, Siemens, Studiengesellschaft Brennstoffzellen e.V., XCELLSiS.
Fuels for fuel cell vehicles
In the speeches, the different fuel-for-fuel-cell-vehicles strategies of car industry were discussed.
Dr. Erhard Schubert, head of the Global Alternative Propulsion Center (GAPC) at Opel/General Motors together with Byron McCormick, expressed the view that hydrogen is the long-term fuel of choice for fuel cell vehicles, but that a bridging strategy would be required. On the other hand, a bridge is not acceptable that requires large investments which cannot be recovered as this is only an interim solution. As investments in a methanol refueling infrastructure are higher than initially anticipated methanol is no acceptable fuel and is rejected by Opel/GM. Sources of hydrogen could be renewable energies and natural gas with carbon dioxide sequestration.
The biggest challenge and the key question, according to Dr. Schubert, is the development of appropriate hydrogen storages for vehicles.
Dr. Ferdinand Panik, head of fuel cell development at DaimlerChrysler and managing director of Xcellsis, the joint subsidiary od DaimlerChrysler, Ballard and Ford working on fuel cell propulsion systems, repeated the strategy of DaimlerChrysler: hydrogen for fleet vehicles that come back to a central filling station regularly and can be refueled by trained personnell, and methanol for individual vehicles. He qualified this statement by saying that this was not a dogma. In the framework of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (HyWeb, 00-03-07) hydrogen will be tested as a vehicle fuel under every day conditions. The same will be done with methanol in a second project phase. A lot of experience will be collected as a basis for decisions. Dr. Panik rejected gasoline as a fuel cell vehicle fuel because of the high complexity of the system.
In a short statement, Mr. Walter Heuer of DaimlerChrysler mentioned the Transport Energy Strategy (TES) in Germany (HyWeb, 00-02-01) including seven car and energy companies (BMW, DaimlerChrysler, MAN, VW, Aral, RWE, Shell). The initiative shows a significant tendency towards hydrogen and is developing a hydrogen introduction strategy until this summer. He invited further car and energy companies to join this initiative.
Demonstration projects and new fuel cell vehicles
In his opening remarks, Minister Dr. Wiesheu announced to plan a fleet test including 10 fuel cell buses in or before 2002. In addition, a project is being developed as a continuation of the Munich airport project, including as many fuel cell vehcile manufacturers as possible.
Dr. Panik announced the public presentation of Necar 5 with methanol reformer for the near future. Additionally, he announced a fleet test of 30 Citaro fuel cell buses in European cities called NEFLEET. Until the end of this month, the project is scheduled to be defined and will be filed for European funding.
Commercialization
Dr. Schaller, head of pre-development at MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, expressed his assessment that the fuel cell was not yet a propulsion system. It needed more development work, especially for the periphery and the hydrogen storage. The MAN/Siemens/Linde fuel cell bus, which was much admired by the guests, supported this assessment in several details. During the ride, a rather soft but irritating whistling of the steering support pump was present. Normally, the diesel engine coveres up this noise. The problem will be solved before the test operation of the bus in public service. In addition, MAN had to use electric motors for auxiliary systems that were not designed for vehicle applications and consequently were not optimized for a bus. The same problem was encountered several times and requires further developments of electric motors, air compressors etc. Apart from these details, the bus made a very good impression with low noise levels and a good acceleration.
Dr. Panik supported this assessment presenting the new DaimlerChrysler concept for fuel cell buses: The buses will have a central electric motor integrated into the bus like a diesel engine and attached to the rear axle via an automatic gear box. This allows to use standard components (e.g. for the steering support) reducing weight and costs and increasing the reliability. It was not discussed in how far this affects the efficiency of the propulsion system.
Dr. Heidelberg, managing director of Proton Motor and Magnet Motor, announced to be selling fuel cell buses on a commercial basis starting immediately. According to his knowledge, no other company in Europe was able to offer complete fuel cell propulsion systems for buses. The Proton Motor concept requires only a minimum of periphery as the stacks are air cooled. Magnet Motor has a long history in electric propulsion systems for buses with more than 300,000 operating hours of electric propulsion systems in public transport and military applications. He explained that one single bus propulsion system already represented a small series production as around 1,000 identical cells were required. As production costs of fuel cells are still high, the concept includes a rather small fuel cell of 80 kW power and a flywheel storage that can deliver 100 kW for a short period of time. Proton Motor will deliver buses for a niche market with this concept, and thereby develop a broader market.
According to Dr. Panik, DaimlerChrysler intends to introduce fuel cell vehicles into North American, European, Japanese and Brazilian markets. Brazil is an interesting market with a strong national bus industry.
Fuel cell auxiliary power unit
Mr. Detlef Frank, head of research BMW Group, repeated the negative assessment of fuel cells by BMW. According to his presentation, fuel cells are worse in efficiency than internal combustion engines and therefore no competitors of these engines. Dr. Panik contradicted firmly hinting at the efficiency advantages of fuel cells in realistic driving cycles presented by him earlier. The comparison of maximum efficiencies by BMW was irrelevant as combustion engines were only very rarely operated in the point of maximum efficiency, while fuel cells increased their efficiency at part load resulting in a pronounced advantage in driving cycles.
On the other hand, Mr. Frank presented significant efficiency advantages of a fuel cell over a vehicle battery. The fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) allows e.g. the operation of an air conditioner even without operating the vehicle. This brings additional benefits for the customers, which they are willing to pay for.
HyWeb
Of course, HyWeb was also present on the Day of Fuel Cell. L-B-Systemtechnik presented HyWeb on a computer terminal allowing the visitors to try and get to know HyWeb.
MA, photos: LBST
"The only true ZEV [zero emission vehicle] would be a fuel-cell vehicle where you would store hydrogen on board, which you could make by breaking down salt water. It's a vision way out there, but it's not impossible."
Harry Pearce, Vice Chairman of General Motors Corp., in Across the Board, March 2000
Project guide German Hydrogen Projects in the Internet
HyWeb, 00-04-18: The German Hydrogen Association (DWV) has published a guide to German hydrogen demonstration projects in the Internet under www.h2guide.de (in German language only).
In this EXPO year, the main focus was on those projects which can be visited.
Each project description presents technical, economic and organisational information as well as a contact person. In a special section, project partners are named.
The German Hydrogen Association hopes that the project guide will increase the public awareness of the clean and renewable energy carrier hydrogen.
If you have information about German hydrogen projects, that are not listed yet, but which can be visited, please send them to DWV (h2@dwv-info.de).
MA
Mazda, DaimlerChrysler and Nippon Mitsubishi to demonstrate fuel cell vehicles in Japan
HyWeb, 00-04-18: According to a Reuters news note, Mazda and DaimlerChrysler Japan Holding will demonstrate fuel cell vehicles in Yokohama, Japan, south of Tokyo, starting in early 2001 supported by Nippon Mitsubishi. Earlier, DaimlerChrysler had announced to co-operate with Nippon Mitsubishi in infrastructure issues for fuel cell vehicles (HyWeb, 99-11-03). No more details are available at present.
MA
General Hydrogen founded by Geoffrey Ballard
HyWeb, 00-04-18: As pronounced for the first time in the April 1998 issue of the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter, Geoffrey Ballard and Paul Howard, founding partners of Ballard Power Systems have started a new business: General Hydrogen.
General Hydrogen selects and invests in emerging technologies and companies, which are strategically positioned for rapid and sustained growth well into the 21st century. General Hydrogen creates operating divisions and acquires major equity positions in these companies ensuring that the business model of each fits cohesively into the emerging hydrogen energy infrastructure.
MA
ZeTek Power announces alkaline fuel cell production facility in Cologne
HyWeb, 00-04-18: On March 23, ZeTek Power of Belgium and the UK announced on the Hanover Fair (HyWeb, 00-04-14) that they are building the world's first fully automated fuel cell production plant in Cologne, Germany. It will be situated on the joint campus of the German Aerospace Agency DLR and the European Space Agency next to Cologne-Bonn airport.
The first of four 5 MW production lines is expected to start producing fuel cells this July, according to the April edition of the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter. Each of the four lines will employ about 100 persons, and the per-line capacity will be doubled during the next two years. Assuming that 5 kW systems will be produced, the production amounts to 10 units per member of the staff in one year, or 20 units after the capacity extension.
MA
"The future of BP is in the sun and hydrogen."
Peter Knoedel, Member of the board of directors of Deutschen BP, interview in the German newspaper taz, April 14, 2000
Epyx and De Nora Fuel Cells merge to form Nuvera
HyWeb, 00-04-14: On April 12, Arthur D. Little (ADL) announced the merger of its Epyx (HyWeb, 99-06-07) fuel processing business with De Nora Fuel Cells (HyWeb, 99-07-23, 99-11-03), a subsidiary of De Nora of Milan, Italy. The new company, called Nuvera Fuel Cells, brings together technology from the U.S. and Europe to produce complete fuel cell systems for applications in the stationary power and transportation markets.
Ongoing development plans for Nuvera call for conducting prototype demonstrations of integrated stationary power systems, leading to beta test systems and commercial prototype power modules in 2001.
At the same time, Nuvera, will continue to provide fuel processing subsystems and fuel cell stacks to automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for ongoing testing and demonstration purposes. Nuvera will also expand its research and development efforts in next generation systems.
At the time of the formation of Nuvera in a 50-50 merger between Arthur D. Little and De Nora, ADL sold a minority share in the new entity to Amerada Hess Corporation. Hess is a leading East Coast provider of fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity to industrial and commercial customers.
Nuvera will maintain operations at both Arthur D. Little's corporate headquarters in Cambridge, Mass., and in Milan. The new company currently employs 80 people, but expects to increase its staff to more than 200 by year-end, 150 of whom will be based in Cambridge.
MA
DaimlerChrysler offers first fuel cell buses for customers
HyWeb, 00-04-14: On April 6, DaimlerChrysler announced to be the first auto manufacturer world-wide to offer fuel cell vehicles on the market.
The company plans to build some 20 to 30 urban buses with fuel cell drives during the next three years, and then offer them for sale to transport operating companies in Europe and abroad.
Photomontage: DaimlerChrysler
The first vehicles should be ready for delivery by the end of 2002. They will then be driven in normal traffic conditions for a period of two years. The transport companies incorporating these test fleets of emission-free vehicles will become global pioneers and gain considerable experience in this technology of the future. It will also mark the first time that detailed evaluations can be made on the basis of data from an entire fleet of vehicles according the DaimlerChrysler press release.
EvoBus GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, will supply the Mercedes-Benz Citaro low-floor urban buses with fuel cells at a price of 1.25 million euros each. The price includes comprehensive technical consulting and on-the-spot maintenance by EvoBus for a period of two years. While the infrastructure is being set up, DaimlerChrysler will provide the transport operators with guidance, knowledge and expertise.
The Citaro's fuel cell unit delivers more than 250 kilowatts of power. It was developed and manufactured by the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary Xcellsis. The gas pressure bottles containing compressed hydrogen are mounted on the roof of the bus. The environmentally friendly bus can travel up to 300 kilometers at a top speed of 80 km/h and carry around 70 passengers. The electric motor, transmission, drive shaft and mechanical rear axle are all located at the rear of the bus. This ensures smooth low-floor design and easy access during maintenance. The bus also includes three doors for optimal passenger flow.
MA
Heliocentris presents portable fuel cell electricity generator
HyWeb, 00-04-14: On April 4, heliocentris of Berlin, Germany, presented the prototype of a portable fuel cell electricity generator.
The small portabler power source is able to supply small consumer electronics such as portable TV sets as well as cooling boxes, lamps etc. four times as long as a lead-acid battery of comparable weight, according to a company press release.
Supported by their financial partners IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft and bmp Life Science AG, heliocentris will continue to develop portable power sources based on fuel cell technology. Attractive applications are appliances relying on electricty at remote locations: road signs, measurement stations, telecommunications installations and others. Also camping and other leisure activities are interesting markets.
heliocentris Energiesysteme, which has been founded in 1995, have introduced their first fuel cell products three years ago: experiment and demonstration models for schools and universities.
MA, photo: heliocentris
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells established at Hanover Fair
HyWeb, 00-04-14: The large interest by visitors and media confirmed the extension of the joint presentation "Hydrogen & Fuel Cells -- Research / Technology" (Hall 18) by "Products / Services" (Hall 8). Moving from research to commercialization convinced many high-ranking international politicians.
The exhibitors from the USA in Hall 8 were enthusiastic about the many positive talks with international potential clients on Hanover Fair 2000 as reports Arno Evers, co-ordinator of the joint presentation. Contracts have been signed in the order of tens of millions of US-$. Since 1995, Hanover Fair, being the largest industrial fair of the world, is the only international platform for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
The joint presentation Hydrogen & Fuel Cells will be organized again next year on the Hanover Fair 2001 (April 23 through 28) by Arno A. Evers FAIR-PR, (arno@fair-pr.com).
MA
Competence Network Fuel Cell founded in Northrhine-Westfalia
HyWeb, 00-04-13: On April 10, a new "Competence Network Fuel Cell" has been founded in the German Land of Northrhine-Westfalia (NRW) by NRW economics minister Schwanhold. The network is an extension of the working group fuel cell, which exists since about four years, in the framework of the "Future Energies Initiative NRW". The wiorking group has not had much impact so far. This will change with the new network.
Companies and Institutions working in the fields of fuel cell technology, production and application are called to take part in the Competence Network Fuel Cell. The focus will be on materials technology, chemistry, materials processing, electrical engineering, and applications, such as automobile industry (DaimlerChrysler, BMW etc.), energy utilities as well as power plant technology companies (MTU etc.), according to a press release of the Future Energies Initiative NRW.
A main objective of the network is to motivate national and international companies to implement their production lines for fuel cells and related components in NRW. The network will supply the necessary know-how as a support to these companies. Forschungszentrum Jülich and a Center for Fuel Cell Technology, which is presently in the planning stage at the University of Duisburg, will be the two nuclei of the network.
MA
