HyWeb - Gazette
The news letter of HyWeb and the German Hydrogen Association (DWV) · 4th Quarter 2000 – 4th Year ã L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH
The topical quotation (00-12-19)
Vaillant creates award for students' work on fuel cells (00-12-19)
Pacific island country Vanuatu intends to become hydrogen economy by 2010 (00-12-19)
Manhattan Scientifics and Aprilia announce joint development of fuel cell bicycle (00-12-19)
New liquid hydrogen tank increases holding time by a factor of 4 (00-12-19)
BSE creates energy (00-12-19)
New solid oxide projects (00-12-19)
The topical quotation (00-12-08)
Gaz de France tests H Power residential fuel cell in France; Cooperation H Power -- SGL Carbon (00-12-08)
DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi push the methanol fuel cell (00-12-08)
TES develops strategy for the introduction of hydrogen (00-12-05)
Renault and Nissan go into fuel cells (00-12-05)
CaFCP: Headquarter inaugurated, all vehicle photos (00-12-04)
DaimlerChrysler presents the last NECAR (00-11-10)
DaimlerChrysler and Ballard to introduce the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell in cars (00-11-10)
State of Baden-Wuerttemberg promotes fuel cells (00-11-10)
USA: FuelCell Energy cooperates with Enron (00-10-19)
The first fuel cell locomotive of the world (00-10-05)
MTU develops fuel cells for railways and ships (00-10-05)
Aviation causes more emissions than assumed (00-10-05)
Award for Bielefeld fuel cell project (00-10-05)
The topical quotation (00-10-03)
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"Hydrogen as mass production is important and I will support it, also as climate relevant instrument."
Mrs. Jorritsma, Minister of Economic Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, US/EU Partnering Event on Environmental Technologies, Amsterdam, November 29, 2000
Vaillant creates award for students' work on fuel cells
HyWeb, 00-12-19: A new award for students who write their final thesis on the application of fuel cells in residential and commercial combined heat and power applications has been created by Vaillant. The competition by the German heating appliance manufacturer is open to students at German colleges (Fachhochschule) studying energy supply services, electrical engineering or electrical and energy technology. A high-ranking jury comprising experts from research and industry will decide upon the best work. The winner will be awarded a five month professional training at Vaillant's development partner Plug Power in Latham/New York, USA, one of the world-wide leading companies in fuel cell development. The first price is valued at 20,000 Euro. Applications have to be sent to Vaillant until February 28, 2001.
The second and third prices are a one week management training at Vaillant.
More information can be found at the Vaillant homepage (in German language).
MA
Pacific island country Vanuatu intends to become hydrogen economy by 2010
HyWeb, 00-12-19: On September 13, 2000, the Vanuatu Council of Ministers issued a paper on "Vanuatu's Vision for a 100% Renewable Energy Economy". Here are some excerpts of the resolution:
"The Government of Vanuatu is aware that the world is on the brink of a major energy revolution using renewable energies to manufacture hydrogen-based fuels. [...]
At an April, 2000 conference in Vanuatu, Vanuatu, in association with other Pacific island countries, notified the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific that our primary critical concern for sustainable development is converting our existing petroleum based energy economy into a hydrogen based economy built on renewable energy. [...]
Therefore, Vanuatu resolves:
[...]
2) The Government of Vanuatu requests immediate assistance from bilateral donors, experts in renewable energy technology, and our regional organizations in the preparation of a design and feasibility study for an integrated, petroleum independent, hydrogen based renewable energy economy. Because feasibility studies have already been completed for the Geothermal potential of Efate we need to proceed now with a design to integrate this potential with hydrogen fuel manufacturing and integration of hydrogen fuels and renewable energy systems for the entire country. We will seek assistance in completing a preliminary design by April 2001 and beginning the first construction activities no later than December 2001. [...]
3) 2010 is the target date to stop importation of petroleum fuels and become a hydrogen based economy. By 2020 we will eliminate any remaining internal combustion engine vehicles and all machinery, vehicles and electrical generation will be done using fuel cells and renewable energy systems such as hydroelectric, geothermal, wind and solar. [...]"
For more information see under www.hydrogenpacific.com/participants/vanuatu/vanuatuvision.html
MA
Hydrogen und Fuel Cells on the Hannover Fair 2001: bigger, more, more global, more comprehensive
DWV/HyWeb, 00-12-19: The joint presentation on hydrogen technology and fuel cells on the Hannover Fair 2001 (23. to 28. April 2001) are already the greatest of this kind in the world, and they will exceed their predecessors of the last six years in every respect.
- More space: The exhibition area altogether is 1600 m2, about twice the size of the last fair.
- More numerous: At this time 52 exhibitors have booked (2000: 32), there are negotiations with a few more.
- More global: The exhibitors come from seven countries plus Germany; ten exhibitors from the USA or Canada. For most of these, this is the only presence of this kind outside North America.
- More comprehensive: Apart from the developers and the stack producers more and more supplier and applicant companies are present, so that the whole field is on display.
More information can be found under http://www.fair-pr.com/e/indexd.html or directly from Arno A. Evers FAIR-PR, Achheimstr. 3, D-82319 Starnberg, Tel.: +49/8151/99892-3, Fax +49/8151/99892-43, e-mail info@fair-pr.com.
DWV/MA
Manhattan Scientifics and Aprilia announce joint development of fuel cell bicycle
HyWeb, 00-12-19: On December 7, Manhattan Scientifics announced that it has entered into an agreement with Aprilia, S.p.A., one of Europe's largest manufacturers of motor scooters and motorcycles, to develop a fuel cell powered concept bicycle. Aprilia unveiled the bicycle, a version of Manhattan Scientifics' Hydrocycle(TM) bicycle (HyWeb, 00-08-25), this week at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy.
The concept vehicle is similar to the Hydrocycle(TM) unveiled by Manhattan Scientifics earlier this year. It is based on an existing Aprilia electric bicycle and motor. Aprilia replaced its Ni-MeH battery system with the Manhattan Scientifics' power system consisting of NovArs' fuel cell, fuel source, pressure reducer and control electronics.
Aprilia also modified the mechanical styling features to accommodate the fuel cell system. The fuel cell uses hydrogen supplied from a two liter pressurized tank to provide 670 watts of power to the bicycle drive motor at ambient pressure, with minimum ancillary equipment. This is sufficient to give it a range of 70-100 km with one filling of fuel. Refilling takes only "seconds" compared with hours needed to recharge a battery. Aprilia said this approach also provides a significant reduction in the weight of the bicycle and an increse in the operational range now provided by batteries. It also potentially lowers the cost of the system.
MA
New liquid hydrogen tank increases holding time by a factor of 4
HyWeb, 00-12-19: On December 6, Linde Gas AG (Germany) announced the development of a new liquid hydrogen vehicle tank allowing for increased holding times before boil-off occurs. Conventional liquid hydrogen tanks release hydrogen after approximately three days if the vehicle has not been operated during this time. These boil-off losses can now be reduced significantly. Linde has developed a cooling system that prolongs the holding time to up to 12 days.
For the following principle patents are pending: Ambient air is dryed and cooled by the liquid hydrogen taken from the tank. The cold air (-191°C) cools the insolation layers of the tank through a piping system, acting like a refrigerator. As a result, the undesirable warming of the liquid hydrogen in the tank is reduced significantly.
Until the end of this year, the tests for the optimization of the system will be finished.
MA
BSE creates energy
DWV, 00-12-19: Producers of meat and bonemeal are now left high and dry with a few 100.000 t of their stuff due to the total ban to feed them which was issued because of the danger of the spread of BSE. On the basis of a request of Germany's Federal Ministry for Agriculture RWE Power, one of Germany's greatest power station operators, tests whether it can be burnt in power stations along with coal. A press release of 30. November said that there is no principal problem. The temperatures in coal firing power stations are several 100 °C higher than in conventional waste furnaces, which means that organic compounds are completely destroyed.
The recycling center SVZ located at Schwarze Pumpe (Brandenburg, Germany) will convert meat and bonemeal and fat to methanol. The company has already offered its help to the agriculture ministries of various German states. 1 t of animal fat gives about 1 t of methanol. The only leftover is a glasse cinder which can be used for building or deposited. 25 t fat from saxony have already been converted. The company sayd on 4. November that during the next years "several 100.000 t meat and bonemeal can be processed".
The gasification of Tiermehl to priduce hydrogen is also subject of detailed in development activities.
DWV
New solid oxide projects
DWV, 00-12-19: A 1 MW solid oxide fuel cell demonstration plant will be built on the ground of a power station of the south west German utility EnBW at Marbach / Neckar. It would be big enough to supply a community of 2000 with power. It will cost about 25 MEuro, and it will deliver energy to the companies in the Marbach energy and technology park starting about 2002. (EnBW press release of 30. October 2000)
Two other systems of this kind will exist soon. One will be installed at RWE Power AG in the Meteorit technology park in Essen (Germany); it will be delivered in February 2002 and start operating in March. The other is for the Italian italienischen Edison Spa at Sinetta Marengo, near Alessandria in northwest Italy. It will be delivered in September 2002 and start operating in October. Both have as a special feature an added microturbine which enhances the electrical efficiency from 45 % to 60 %. Both systems output about 300 kWel, of which 250 kW come from the cell and 50 kW from the turbine. (Siemens-Westinghouse press release of 6. December 2000)
DWV
"What would speak against using the saved hard coal subsidies directly for the build-up of a solar hydrogen economy? This would be several billion Deutschmarks after all. [...]
As fuel cells fit into every cellar in principle some already talk of a 100,000 cellar program (in analogy to the 100,000 roof program for photovoltaics). Perhaps a good idea for 2005."
Reinhard Loske, speaker for environmental policy of the Green Party in the German Parliament, taz, October 7/8, 2000
Gaz de France tests H Power residential fuel cell in France; Cooperation H Power -- SGL Carbon
DWV/HyWeb, 00-12-08: H Power Corp. announced on 28.November that Gaz de France, the French national gas utility, has installed an H Power residential cogeneration fuel cell system, powered by natural gas, in a model house and has begun a five month evaluation of the unit. The house is located on Gaz de France's research and development campus in Saint-Denis La Plaine, a suburb of Paris. During the initial testing period, any additional performance requirements and design modifications will be noted and used to design a next-generation unit, which will also undergo a multi-month test by Gaz de France.
On October 23, H Power announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with SGL Carbon of Meitingen, Germany, for the joint development of cost-effective graphite bipolar plates. Cost reductions by as much as 90% compared to conventional production techniques for this component are expected by the two partners.
DWV/MA
DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi push the methanol fuel cell
DWV/HyWeb, 00-12-08: DaimlerChrysler Japan and Nippon Mitsubishi Oil Co., the greatest Japanese energy supplier, will jointly promote the use of fuel cell cars in Japan and clarify matters of fuel infrastructure. Nippon Mitsubishi hat 29 public "Eco Filling Stations" in Japan, offering electric power, natural gas, methanol, and LPG. DaimlerChrysler tests methanol, hydrogen, and a purified gasoline as fuel for fuel cell vehicles. Such cars will tested in Japan under normal operating conditions. The first fuel cell test car will use methanol as fuel. A DaimlerChrysler press release said, however, that the project idea includes the investigation of further fuels as well. A detailed plan, including the exact number of test vehicles and the program schedule, is now being worked out by both parties (HyWeb, 00-04-18).
According to a Reuters story of November 7, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has announced that it may develop fuel cell vehicles together with DaimlerChrysler. DaimlerChrysler had taken a 34% stake in Mitsubishi earlier this year. "We will be beginning work on cooperative projects with DaimlerChrysler, and the development of fuel cells will be under discussion," Mitsubishi Motors said in a statement.
Methanol producer Methanex Corp. has formed a strategic alliance with Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsui & Co. to promote the use of methanol in environment-friendly fuel-cell vehicles in Japan. The companies say they will work with governments and the private sector "to address any potential regulatory hurdles and encourage the initiation of methanol-based fuel-cell vehicle demonstration programs," according to a joint release published end of November. Vancouver-based Methanex, the world's largest producer and marketer of methanol, expects Japan to become one of the first countries to widely introduce automotive fuel cells. The company is already a partner of DaimlerChrysler in other methanol directed projects in Canada.
DWV/MA
German Government decides on national climate protection program; 40 million DM for fuel cells
HyWeb, 00-12-05: On OCtober 18, the German government has decided on the national climate protection program. Germany keeps the ambitious goal of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 25% until 2005 compared to the 1990 value.
In addition to the extension of combined heat and power production, a new energy savings regulation, a program for retrofitting old buildings and further measures to reduce CO2 emissions, fuel cell technology will receive significant funding. According to Hans-Josef Fell, speaker for research policy of the Green Party in the German Parliament, an additional funding of 107 million DM for energy research and market development programs for renewable energies will be available in 2001. 40 million DM of this sum will be spent on fuel cells (stationary and mobile).
According to Frankfurter Rundschau, a leading German newspaper, of October 19, the following projects are already planned:
- Funding of the acquisition of 10 fuel cell buses,
- build-up of the necessary infrastructure in three model cities,
- 20 fuel cell CHP units in public buildings, small commerce and single and multiple family homes each,
- studies on the use of fuel cells in locomotives.
MA
TES develops strategy for the introduction of hydrogen
HyWeb, 00-12-05: In a presentation of MAN, Germany, Mr. Schaller and Mr. Gruber presented intermediate results of the German initiative Transport Energy Strategy (TES; Verkehrswirtschaftliche Energiestretegie -- VES; HyWeb, 00-02-01) on the VDA Technical Congress in September. TES is an initiative of Aral, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, MAN, RWE, Shell and Volkswagen as well as the Federal German Government.
As an internediate result, TES had selected the three candidate fuels natural gas, methanol and hydrogen in January.
"Since neither the environmental nor the macro economic evaluation enabled a ranking of the 3 fuels (natural gas, methanol and hydrogen), the Task Force considered strategic long-term objectives as additional criteria. [...]
From the partner's point of view hydrogen has a high potential for implementation and offers the best preconditions for meeting the strategic objectives. [...]
Until the end of the year 2000, the Task Force will prepare a strategy proposal for the introduction of hydrogen. The implementation shall be guided by clear strategy suggestions which will enable a market share of 2.5% until 2010 and a market share of 15% until 2020 of the total fuel consumption for road transport in Germany. [...]
Furthermore the Task Force will develop plans for:
- The building of a hydrogen infrastructure for mobile use
- An implementation program defined between vehicle and energy industry,
- Detailed timelines for implementation
- Necessary framework conditions (state, society, economy)
- Extending the initiative towards Europe"
(quotation from the presentation cited above).
MA
Renault and Nissan go into fuel cells
HyWeb, 00-12-05: According to a news note of dpa of October 30, Renault has announced in Paris on the same day that the car manufacturer and its subsidiary Nissan Motors will spend 85 billion Yen (around 0.9 billion Euro) on the development of an own fuel cell. More information is not yet available.
MA
CaFCP: Headquarter inaugurated, all vehicle photos
HyWeb, 00-12-04: The official inauguration of the headquarter of the California Fuel Cell Partnership (www.drivingthefuture.org) took place in Sacramento, California, USA, on November 1. DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors (new member since October 16, just as Toyota), Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Volkswagen presented fuel cell vehicles with on-board hydrogen storage.
On November 10, XCELLSiS also joined the CaFCP. As reported by www.calstart.org on November 29, Hydrogen Burner Technology, Pacific Gas and Electric, Proton Energy Systems and Stuart Energy Systems have joined the CaFCP as associate partners.
photo: CaFCP
DaimlerChrysler Necar 4 advanced, compressed hydrogen storage photo: CaFCP
Ford Focus FCV, compressed hydrogen storage photo: private
Opel Hydrogen 1, General Motors Fuel Cell Van of 1966, both liquid hydrogen storage, in front of the CaFCP photo: CaFCP
Honda FCX-V3, compressed hydrogen storage photo: CaFCP
Hyundai Santa Fe FCV, compressed hydrogen storage photo: CaFCP
Nissan Xterra, compressed hydrogen storage photo: CaFCP
Volkswagen, liquid hydrogen storage photo: www.fair-pr.com
DaimlerChrysler Nebus in front of the LCGH2 filling station of the CaFCP MA
DaimlerChrysler presents the last NECAR
DWV, 00-11-10: The NECAR era is over - the next step will be the serial production. NECAR 5, the last link in the chain, was presented by DaimlerChrysler in the presence of Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to a great crowd of politicians, managers, and journalists on 7. November 2000 in Berlin.
The Chancellor was fascinated by the technology "which will probably change car traffic in a revolutionary way" and said that he were glad that certain members of the parliament had found a quite new love to the car on this basis. The three-liter car (liters of fuel per 100 km) existe, the one-liter-car has been announced, but the zero-liter-car in front of him would surpass them all. There are important decisions yet to be made, and they would be made not only in Germany, but: "You can be assured that the Federal Government will not fail to support technically and economically reasonable concepts of the german car industry." In this context he mentioned also the hydrogen combustion engine as well as conventional engines with low consumption. And the fuel cell is expected to play an important role in stationary decentral applications.
Company head Juergen Schrempp pointed out that for the first time in the 115 years long history of the car there is a fuel available in Europe which does not come from fossil sources and can even be generated in a renewable way. "After two oil crises we are obliged to prevent a third". He called this a breakthrough comparable with the introduction of the gasoline motor in the car by Daimler and Benz. For city buses Schrempp thinks that a market share of 100 % is possible in 2020.
Photo: DaimlerChrysler
Both research director Klaus-Dieter Voehringer as project head Ferdinand Panik said that by 2002 the first buses would run in normal service and in 2004 the first cars would be given to the customer. Investment until then would be about 1 billion Euro. The cars would be a small number not exceeding 1000, Panik told journalists. In 2010, however, 100000 sold cars per year would be possible. Panik thinks that as far as he sees the situation, in particular after his observations during the opening of the new center of the California Fuel Cell Project in Sacramento the week before, there are three classes among the companies involved in the development of fuel cell cars. The upper consists of DaimlerChrysler and Ford as well as Honda. He made very positive comments about the Honda vehicle presented in Sacramento. The middle class was said to consist of General Motors, followed by the rest. Where exactly Toyota is in the picture he could not say because this company had not shown a car in Sacramento.
NECAR 5 is the first vehicle with a methanol reformer which offers the space of the conventional version both for the passengers and in the trunk. Fuel cell and reformer have become smaller and lighter by about 30 % while the power output has increased by 50 %. The cell is the type Mark 900, the latest from Ballard (Ballard head Razul was present). The range is 500 to 600 km. Figures about the efficiency are not yet available.
DWV
DaimlerChrysler and Ballard to introduce the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell in cars
DWV, 00-11-10: DaimlerChrysler will use hydrogen disguised as methanol to introduce fuel cell cars in the market, but the most complicates component of the system and the one most prone to mishaps is the reformer converting it to hydrogen. It would be easier to use a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell which integrates the cracking of the molecule in the electrochemical processes of the fuel cell. This is running well in the laboratory, and DaimlerChrysler and Ballard intend to introduce this system in cars. During an "Innovation Symposium" on 8. and 9. November in Sindelfingen (near Stuttgart) the first vehicle running on it was presented: merely a "Go-Cart" without roof and for just one person with short legs, but it does move.
(Photo: DaimlerChrysler)
The output of the system is 3 kW, the peak velocity 35 km/h and the range 15 km. A simple torch battery is enough for start-up. The biggest system of this kind in the world, with 6 kW at 60 V, is in the laboratory. By the end of 2002 the developers plan an even more powerful laboratory system with Direct Methanol Fuel Cells which will run continuously for a few months. The company says that the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell could be ready for use in ten years, and it would have implications for the creation of a methanol infrastructure. Another point of interest are the connections to stationary and portable applications.
DWV
State of Baden-Wuerttemberg promotes fuel cells
DWV, 00-11-10: A great number of research institutes from the south-western German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg has formed the "Research Alliance Fuel Cells Baden-Wuerttemberg (FABZ)". The formal signing of the bylaws was done on 8. November in the State ministry of science in Stuttgart in the presence of minister Klaus von Trotha. Partners are:
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute for Technical Thermodynamics (Stuttgart)
- Fraunhofer Society, Institute für Solar Energy Systems (Freiburg i. Br.)
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (Stuttgart)
- Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Wuerttemberg (Stuttgart and Ulm)
- University of Karlsruhe, Institute for Electrotechnical Materials
- University of Stuttgart with five different institutes
- University of Ulm with two institutes.
The alliance is to focus the resources of the participants and to bundle the state's research activities. Technology transfer to the industry will be improved. Another objective is to get joint public and private funding. The alliance has agreed to improve the technical and personal basis of the partners in a cooperative way to achieve synergy effects. Facilities and devices will be exchanged among them. Other points are joint projects and meeting and an exchange of information and experience. All partners will remain free to work on their own.
State Prime Minister Erwin Teufel also showed interest in the technology, in particular in the mobile application. During a visit to the Project House Fuel Cell in Nabern near Stuttgart on 8. November he mentioned the demonstration projects being developed in Baden-Wuerttemberg. The fuel cell will be tested in public transportation under realistic conditions during a project phase of two years. Three buses will run in Stuttgart. ”We are yet a considerable bit away from cost competitiveness with established technologies. But what I have seen today makes hope that we can go on with the amazing speed of the development. This technology offers incredible possibilities, and we are going to make use of them together with the industry”, Teufel said.
DWV
HyWeb, 00-10-23: In June, the social democrat government of the German Land of Lower Saxony has answered a parlamentary question of the two members of parliament Rebecca Harms and Stefan Wenzel (the Greens) on "Fuel Cells -- technology of the future".
The following three questions were posed to the government:
- "How does the government assess the potential of hydrogen and fuel cell technology for mobil and stationary applications for the next decades?
- What has it done so far to foster research, development and practical applications in the area of this technology?
- What does it plan for the future to foster research, development and practical applications in the area of this technology?"
In the following some excerpts of the answer (the full answer in German language can be found here as pdf file) are presented:
- "In view of the large number of research and development activities and in view of the fact that there are no manufacturers in Lower Saxony there is no need for a specific initiative in Lower Saxony for the development of fuel cells. Nonetheless, the government will fund the application of fuel cells in the framework of single demonstration projects."
- "The USA are leading the development of fuel cells, and they are the world market leaders. [...] In the meantime, the development status in Europe is estimated to be equivalent to the status of the USA and Japan."
- "Ad 1: The government judges the importance of fuel cell and hydrogen technology to be high in view of an environmentally friendly energy supply saving natural ressources. It does not share, though, the view that fuel cells will completely change energy supply within one decade. [...]"
- Ad 2: Research activities are carried out at various universities in Lower Saxony, which have been funded in the framework of the general financing of these institutions. In 1998, a pilot and demonstration activity "innovative decentralized residential combined heat and power supply using fuel cell technology" has been funded giving a loan of approximately 325,000.-EURO, according to the answer. "The State Government is in regular contact with Volkwagen AG -- among others through its representatives in the supervisory board of VW -- on the state of fuel cell development."
- "Ad 3: The Scientific Advisory Committee has stated in its Statement on energy research in 1999: 'In view of the large development potentials of fuel cell technology, especially regarding environmental issues, its development should be continued to be strongly funded.' [...] The State Government will, following this statement, support research activities. It welcomes, therefore, project proposals that are currently developed by CUTEC institute [Clausthaler Umwelttechnik-Institut; the editor] in collaboration with universities and automobile industry."
MA
USA: FuelCell Energy cooperates with Enron
DWV, 00-10-19: FuelCell Energy, Inc., maker of molten carbonate fuel cells, has announced the formation of an alliance with the natural gas supplier Enron North America. Enron has bought 5 M$ of FuelCell Energy shares as well as options to other 1,3 M$. The focus of the cooperation is the joint participation in programs of the states aiming to rational energy use and renewable energies. The new partners think that energy generation in a fuel cell which generates no pollutants, comparatively little CO2 and in a distributed way, fits these requirements exactly.
DWV
The first fuel cell locomotive of the world
DWV, 00-10-05: The first fuel cell locomotive of the world, which is also the first fuel cell vehicle for underground use, will be shown from 9. to 12. October in Las Vegas (Nevada, USA) on the MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2000. This mining exhibition, which is held only once in four years, is the most important of the world in its class. The vehicle was developed by RA Warren Equipment, the fuel cell part by Sandia National Laboratories; the integration was done by Atlas Copco Wagner. The project as a whole has 20 partners; the coordination was done by Fuelcell Propulsion Institute.
photo: Fuelcell Propulsion Institute
DWV
MTU develops fuel cells for railways and ships
DWV, 00-10-05: The DaimlerChrysler subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen has not only molten carbonate fuel cells for stationary use. Chairman Rolf A. Hanssen told journalists on 26. September on the maritime exhibition SMM in Hamburg that the company is starting to adapt the PEM cell, which DaimlerChrysler and Ballard work on for use in cars, for applications specific to MTU. Most important among these are ships and railways.
The fuel cell is already an important part of MTU's product strategy. Stationary molten carbonate fuel cells are expected to enter the stage of serial production in 2004. Within a few years this field will contribute significantly to the total turnover.
DWV
Aviation causes more emissions than assumed
DWV, 00-10-05: Air transportation contributes more to CO2 emissions than assumed so far. This is the result of a Swiss study titled „Air transport and environment – a growing challenge“. It says that in 1998 Swiss passengers have bought 32 billion passenger kilometers in domestic and especially in international traffic, which corresponds to 24 % of the total traffic. The contribution to CO2 emissions is given as 13 %. Assuming that the demand will double until 2020 the national efforts to reduce the emissions could be useless due to the increasing emissions from aviation. The study says that a not yet existing air transport strategy would have to address the question of the sustainability of air transport.
DWV
Award for Bielefeld fuel cell project
DWV, 00-10-05 (corrected 00-10-06): Two fuel cell projects have received the Award of the German Gas Industry in the category "innovations for future oriented natural gas applications". Deputy minister Rainer Baake (Federal environment ministry) presented the awards on 29. September in Berlin.
One laureate is the prototype of a house energy supply on the basis of a PEM fuel cell with an electrical output of 5 kW. Important participants are ZSW in Ulm and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg:
photo: ZSW
The other is the project in Bielefeld which comprises a molten carbonate fuel cell from MTU running in the heating station of the university. The plant is the first molten carbonate fuel cell of the world running under the responsibility of a customer. It is designed according to the "hot module" principle developed by MTU.
DWV
"Altogether, we must step out of oil very much faster, and into fuel cells."
Michael Müller, vice floor leader of the Social Democrat Party (SPD) in the German Parliament, Berlin, September 14, 2000, vwd; translation: LBST
Honda FCX-V3 Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicle to Participate in the California Fuel Cell Partnership
HyWeb, 00-10-03: On September 28, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced a fuel cell-powered vehicle, the FCX-V3, that will be sent to participate in the California Fuel Cell Partnership program (CaFCP) scheduled to begin in November 2000. Honda has been considering public road testing to verify the potential fuel cell vehicle market in Japan and the United States, and participation in the general road testing being implemented by the CaFCP in the U.S. state of California will serve as a first step toward bringing the company’s fuel cell vehicle research into the market feasibility study stage.
Honda is in fundamental agreement with the future-oriented goals and approaches being undertaken by the CaFCP, and the company plans to participate in running tests designed to study the market feasibility of fuel cell-powered vehicles.
photo: Honda
In the fuel cell-powered FCX-V3 Honda has realized a fuel cell system with integrated control systems, a more compact drive motor, and a cabin large enough to seat four people. The vehicle also features improved startup and quieter operation than previous versions for improved viability as a commercial product. Its powerplant includes a Ballard Power Systems fuel cell stack, fueled by hydrogen stored under high pressure, combined with a newly developed ultra-capacitor. The excellent continuous electric power generation of the fuel cell stack and the powerful, instantaneous discharge capabilities of the ultra-capacitor have been combined to realize a fuel cell-based powerplant offering much-improved takeoff and acceleration performance. In addition, regenerative energy systems, reduction of discharge loss, and other measures have also been integrated to contribute to improve fuel economy and achieve highly efficient energy management.
The FCX-V3 is the latest in a long line of vehicles that Honda has actively developed to reduce the burden cars place on the earth’s environment through low emissions, high efficiency, and/or the use of alternative fuels. The FCX-V3 incorporates many of the elemental technologies Honda has cultivated over the years for use in these vehicles, for example the motor drive technologies developed for the company’s EV Plus electric car, the energy management systems used in the Insight hybrid car, and the high-pressure gas storage tank technologies developed for the natural gas-powered Civic GX car. Further, regarding the fuel cell stacks that are such an important element in fuel cell vehicle technology, Honda is actively engaged in independent research and development of a Honda-made stack.
Complete Car Maximum Travel Speed 130 km/h Vehicle Weight
1,750 kg Motor Maximum Power Output 60 kW Maximum Drive Torque
238 Nm Motor Type
Permanent magnet AC synchronous Fuel CellStack Stack Type PEFC (solid high-polymer type) (Ballard) Power Output
62 kW Fuel Fuel Type Pure hydrogen Storage Method
High-pressure hydrogen storage tank (250 atmospheres) Fuel Capacity
100 liters MA
MAN and NEOPLAN to unite their bus activities
HyWeb, 00-10-03: MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG of Munich and Gottlob Auwärter GmbH & Co. KG of Stuttgart (brand name NEOPLAN) have agreed in principle to unite their bus activities under the umbrella of a holding company yet to be founded as announced by MAN on September 21. MAN will hold all the shares in this company.
The two bus manufacturers will retain their own independent identities, their brand names and their separate sales and service organisations. Synergies are to be realised above all in purchasing, product development and production structures both in Germany and abroad.
Both bus manufacturers have already demonstrated various hydrogen and fuel cell bus prototypes (HyWeb, 00-05-09, 99-11-03).
Together, the two manufacturers will have a market share of around 35% in Germany. As a whole, the new bus group produces some 8,500 buses and bus chassis and generates a turnover of DM 2.5 billion. In Europe they will have a market share of some 15%.
MAN has already been a supplier to NEOPLAN for some time now. Half of all NEOPLAN buses are fitted with MAN engines, and MAN also delivered turnkey bus chassis for NEOPLAN exports to Africa.
Implementation of this agreement is subject to the approval of the relevant authorities and company bodies.
MA
