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letter of L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST) and the German Hydrogen Association
(DWV) · 4th Quarter 2005 – 9th Year
ã L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH
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"Is it possible to decouple economic growth from energy use? – Yes it is! And it is quite important that we do so as a matter of urgency [...] We have to achieve growth but it has to be the right kind of growth that has an environmental and social aspect to it [...] If we concentrate on employment and growth and just the Lisbon strategy, we decided that it had to be sustainable development."
Günter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Enterprise and Industry, looking at several aspects of the competitiveness of the EU car industry at a hearing in the European Parliament on 6 October. Source: EurActiv, 6 October 2005, http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-145384-16&type=PolicyNews
Methanol to get approval for airplane use
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: Another important step towards the progress of the micro fuel cell market has been made. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has drafted conditions that will allow the transportation and use of fuel cells and fuel cartridges on board passenger airliners. The action came during a two-week meeting of the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel in Montreal. The draft allows transportation and use of butane fuel cells, formic acid fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells, and reformed methanol fuel cells by passengers. The new conditions require compliance with the International Electrotechnical Commission Specification for Micro Fuel Cell Safety which places limits with respect to size and number of fuel cartridges to be carried. Transportation is restricted to carry-on baggage only.The draft still has to be approved by the ICAO Air Navigation Committee. Once ratified, it could be effected in the ICAO Technical Instructions on January 1, 2007. The various member states (US, UK, Japan, et al) will all need to revise their own rules prior to actual implementation.
PS
Canon develops fuel cells for portable applications
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: Canon has announced its plan to develop small fuel cells to replace battery in its digital cameras and printers within the next three years. The Japanese company is working on own PEM fuel cells fuelled by hydrogen from refillable cartridges.MZ
3rd International German Hydrogen Energy Congress
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: On February 15-16 the 3rd International German Hydrogen Energy Congress is taking place in Essen/Germany in the framework of the "E-world energy & water". Representatives from academia, industry and politics will discuss developments and market opportunities of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Young people are invited to learn about hydrogen and fuel cells in two dedicated tutorials.Some 60 presentations will be held by experts from Canada, USA, Korea, Sweden, Iceland, Austria and Germany. Presentations in conjunction with the accompanying exhibition will provide overview about the current state-of-the-art in research, international projects and emerging markets. The automobile industry will present new hydrogen powered vehicles, the hydrogen industry hydrogen infrastructure components and the fuel cell industry early markets.
Congress and exhibition is under the joint auspices of the German Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association (DWV), the North-Rhine Westphalien State Initiative on Future Energies and E-world energy & water GmbH. Translation German - English (and vice versa) is provided at the congress.
Information: Uwe H. Burghardt, Landesinitiative Zukunftsenergien NRW, burghardt@energieland.nrw.de
Registration: www.h2congress.dePS
Material handling with H2 powered trucks by Still, Toyota, A. Flensburg and General Hydrogen
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: The company STILL is progressing with the development of fuel cell powered forklift trucks. Together with Proton Motor (fuel cells, Germany), Linde Gas (infrastructure, Germany) and Hoppecke (batteries, Germany), several fuel cell hybrid power systems for forklift trucks shall be realised in order to gain knowledge about the interdependencies between various operation profiles and battery technologies applied.Toyota Industries Corporation (Japan) has succeeded in independently developing a fuel cell hybrid system for forklift use, a first among forklift manufacturers. The fuel cell stack is provided by Toyota Motor Corporation. A prototype TOYOTA FCHV-F featuring the system is displayed at CeMAT, the world’s leading trade fair for intralogistics.
H2 Logic and A. Flensborg (Denmark) have released a hydrogen fuel cell powered electrical truck, the so-called H2 Truck for sale, thereby being the first in Europe to start up a larger batch production. The first 6 units of the H2 Truck have already been ordered by Danish customers, the target is sale of 10-15 H2 Truck in the end of 2005. During 2006 sale will be released for countries outside Denmark.
General Hydrogen, a developer of fuel cell battery replacement technology, announced beginning of November 2005 that it has received an order from Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Company’s Warren County manufacturing plant in Tennessee/USA. Delivery is scheduled for January 2006. Ballard fuel cells are utilised.
PS
India inaugurates 1st hydrogen/CNG filling station
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: India began pilot testing the use of hydrogen in vehicles with the inauguration of the first hydrogen-CNG dispensing station beginning of October. Initially, five percent hydrogen will be mixed with CNG for use in four vehicles and the percentage would be gradually increased to reach the optimum level. The motivation to use hydrogen blended natural gas (so-called 'Hythane') is controversially discussed among energy experts.For more hydrogen filling stations, refer to www.h2stations.org
PS
China: On the road to commercialising hydrogen vehicles
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: End of August, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) – one of China's biggest automakers – unveiled its plans for alternative energy-powered vehicles over the next three to five years. According to this, SAIC will start small-volume commercial production of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars before 2010. For this, SAIC announced a strategic collaboration deal with China's two renowned engineering academies – Shanghai Jiaotong University and Tongji University.Mid this year, SAIC unveiled a fuel cell-powered station wagon, dubbed Start 3 MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle). The fuel cell is designed and built by Shanghai Shenli High Tech. It is able to produce 44 kW. In the new Start 3 sedan, top speed is 120 km/hour and the operating range is 230 km.
A hydrogen filling station – the first of its kind in China – will be built at Yongfeng New and Hi-tech Industrial Base in Haidian District, Beijing, at the end of this year. The station will provide the energy to electric buses with hydrogen fuel cells. The electric buses, developed independently by Chinese scientists, have a max speed of 70 kilometres per hour. By the end of this year, three such buses will trial service in public transport in Beijing. It is expected that eight to 10 hydrogen-fuelled buses will operate on public transport routes in 2008.
PS / H2&FC Letter / Asia Pulse
Sulzer-Hexis to be dissolved
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: End of October 2005, Swiss-based manufacturer of residential heating systems – Sulzer – declared their quest for additional investors of their fuel cell sister company Sulzer-Hexis being unsuccessful. Shortly following, all Hexis staff was dismissed. According to the "Neue Züricher Zeitung", part of the staff and hardware could be absorbed in a provisional affiliation. Therein, for another two years, the development of residential fuel cells could be further progressed in co-operation with universities and interested investors.PS
Sekisui sells pre-built houses with residential fuel cells
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: Tokyo Gas Co., the largest city gas supplier in Japan, announced last April that it has installed residential fuel cell cogeneration systems in pre-built private homes.
The systems were installed in three new pre-built family houses in Hachioji City, Tokyo, to be sold by Sekisui House Ltd, a leading Japanese housing manufacturer. The two companies plan to install fuel cell system in seven houses in Kichijoji, Musashino City, Tokyo.
MZ
Ford delivers five fuel cell hybrid vehicles to Michigan
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: In October, the Ford Motor Corp has handed over the keys for five hydrogen fuelled fuel cell vehicles for field test and demonstration projects in Michigan. Four Ford Focus cars will be trial tested in Taylor and one in Ann Amor. The fuel cell cars are equipped with a PEM fuel cell supplied by Ballard Power Systems (85 kWe), a hybrid battery developed by Sanyo (NiMH, 216 V) and CGH2 tanks (35 MPa). The Ford fuel cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) has a range of up to 320 km and a top speed of 80 mph (128 km/h).
For more hydrogen cars, refer to www.h2cars.de
MZ
Morgan to develop a fuel cell sports car
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: At this year's Society of Motor Manufacturers International Business Group, a British partnership of BOC, Cranfield University, Morgan Motor Company, Oxford University, OSCar and QinetiQ unveiled a plan to develop a zero-emission sports car powered by a fuel cell. The project is dubbed LIFECar. The vehicle will be based on a conventional Morgan Motor Aero Eight, and is powered by a QinetiQ-made fuel cell. The powertrain consists of a hybrid system architecture in which supercaps allow for regenerative braking and provide the peak power for acceleration. Thus, a fuel cell with a mere 24 kW will provide sufficient power as expected with a sports car. The 2 ½ year long project is part-funded by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI).PS
Fuel cell vehicle highlights at the Tokyo Motor Show 2005
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: The 39th Tokyo Motor Show (TMS) in October 2005 was clearly dominated by alternative propulsion systems. Similar to two years ago on the same occasion, Japanese car manufacturers presented their latest hydrogen fuelled vehicles to the world and set new benchmarks for the car industry. But not only Japanese companies were presenting their latest concepts and technology highlights to the public. DaimlerChrysler e.g. showed its first real fuel cell hybrid vehicle concept.
Toyota – perhaps the leading developer of fuel cell hybrid vehicles – has presented its „Fine-X“ passenger car. This vehicle is the next generation vehicle, following the fuel cell concepts car „Fine-N“ which was shown at the 37th TMS two years ago and the „Fine-S“ presented in January 2003. The latest FCHV model, the „Fine-X“, is based on by-wire-technology (steering, braking, acceleration), a new fuel cell system and hybrid battery. Toyota has developed a new hydrogen tank allowing the storage of hydrogen at a pressure of up to 70 MPa. The only 3.8 meters long vehicle, has a four-wheel independent drive control that enables on-the-spot rotation, and the ability to easily perform parking and U-turns.
For interior and exterior vehicle components Toyota has used plant-based materials which are principally CO2 neutral to the environment.
Honda has presented its next-generation fuel cell hydride vehicle, the newest„FCX“ concept. This vehicle is based on the fuel cell concept study „Kiwami“ also presented at the 37th TMS two years ago.
Similar to the „Fine-N“ concept of Toyota, the “FCX” is based on by-wire technology, too. One highlight is the new, extreme compact PEM fuel cell system (85 kWe) which is integrated in the low-center-of-gravity platform. The around 4 meter long and 1,680 kg heavy vehicle is equipped with four wheel-motors (4 x 25 kWe). Honda has also developed with the US company Plug Power Corp, the next generation of the „Home Energy Station“ (HES). This systems is designed to refill the FCX with hydrogen produced from natural gas as well as to supply heat and power as stationary generator to the household.
Another highlight is the announcement of a newly developed hydrogen adsorption material. This new hydrogen tanks could double the H2 storage capacity to 5 kg at 35 MPa. Thus, the operation range of Honda’s hydrogen FCX car could be increased to 560 km.
DaimlerChrysler presented its first real fuel cell hybrid concept to the public in Japan. Although former fuel cell vehicles had an integrated battery too, these concepts were not real hydrogen-electric hybrids. On basis of the Mercedes development line for future technologies (e.g. F100 - F500), the company presented the „F600 Hygenius“ with H2 fuel cell / battery to the world press this year. Although the PEMFC produces only 60 kWe, the alternative propulsion system (with integrated hydride battery) supplies a total power of 85 kWe. The 4.3 meter long “F600 Hygenius” has a fuel consumption of less than 3 liter of gasoline equivalent per 100 km and achieves an operation range of 400 km.
The fuel cell system of the car is designed to supply also stationary power for independent and remote power applications.
Daihatsu – the Japanese company has developed the very compact „Tanto“ fuel cell hybrid vehicle, the follow-up model of the „Move FCV-K2“, first presented at the TMS in 2001. The 30 kWe fuel cell system of the 3.3 meter short vehicle was supplied by Toyota. One CGH2 tank (35 MPa) is located under the rear seats and enables an operation range of 160 km.
Suzuki – the 3.4 meter long „Ionis“ fuel cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) is the newest concept study of the Japanese car developer. It is the follow-up model of the last FCHV study, the „Efis“, which was presented at the 37th TMS.
Mazda which is 1/3 owned by the Ford Motor Corp, a developer of hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engines (ICE) for vehicles, plans to sell hydrogen-hybrid vehicles with a rotary engine and battery within three years. Mazda presented its „Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid“ at the 39th TMS. This mini van could be operated both, on hydrogen and gasoline. The duel fuel (H2 / gasoline) vehicle is also equipped with a hybrid battery and a 30 kW electric motor. The development of the bi-fuel hybrid car is following the „RX-8“ hydrogen / gasoline roadster which was presented at the 37th TMS 2003.
For more hydrogen cars, refer to www.h2cars.de
MZ
PEMEAS and E-TEK join forces
HyWeb 2005-12-21: As announced (see HyWeb Gazette as of 26 July 2005), PEMEAS and E-TEK have now officially joined their forces. De Nora brought their fuel cell venture E-TEK into PEMEAS. In return, De Nora received shares from the grown company.PS
20 years – ElectroChem
HyWeb, 2005-12-21: Founded in 1986 in MA, USA, ElectroChem develops PEMFC and PAFC technologies, fuel cell test equipment and complete fuel cell power systems. As one of the first fuel cell companies, ElectroChem has been delivering several products, prototypes and components to almost all fuel cell developers. The small fuel cell developer has an international network of alliances, e.g. with Germany (QuinTech), Japan, Taiwan, India and Korea.MZ
Breaking News:
LBST launches information system on worldwide hydrogen refuelling stations
HyWeb, 2005-12-02: As per 1st December this year, Germany based strategy and technology consultant L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST) has launched an information system on worldwide hydrogen refuelling stations. The database contains more than 220 hydrogen refuelling stations. Its compilation took several months. Access to the information system through www.H2Stations.org is open to any interested party and free-of-charge.The major share of hydrogen refuelling stations is found in Europe, North America and Asia. Especially California, Western Europe and Japan are the front runners in infrastructure development for automotive hydrogen applications.
The number of newly erected hydrogen refuelling stations has rapidly grown during the last couple of years. Past as well as future infrastructure developments mostly rely on broad-scale regional roadmap initiatives.
LBST's new information system comprises all hydrogen refuelling stations, be they operative, planned or decommissioned meanwhile.
Browsing through the world of hydrogen refuelling stations is supported by a graphical user interface. Starting from the world map, users may navigate through various geographical aggregation levels down to the individual hydrogen refuelling station.
Each hydrogen refuelling station is described in a profile sheet. This comprises technical as well as organisation information, such as the year of erection, financiers, operator and the system components applied. Images of many hydrogen refuelling stations complete this database which is unique in terms of international coverage and completeness.
Link: www.H2Stations.org
PS
Interesting Projects Clean Energy Partnership (CEP)
HyNet - the European Thematic Network on Hydrogen
European Integrated Hydrogen Project - EIHP
www.fuelcellpark.com
Introductory information on energy, hydrogen and fuel cells (website of the Bewag Fuel Cell Innovation Park, implemented by HyWeb)www.h2guide.de
Guide of German hydrogen projects by the German Hydrogen Association (in German language)Fuel cell drive project for municipal commercial vehicles – Bavarian fuel cell bus project
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