fuel cell-powered ice resurfacer on show

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Fuel Cells Bulletin February 2006 The reformer will be able to generate 65 kg per day of hydrogen, enough to refuel some 20 FCVs. The reformer and refueling system is scheduled to be delivered and installed by June. The refueler will be one of the first in Korea, and KOGAS-Tech will play a major role in demon- strating the potential of hydrogen technologies. Hydrogenics has ordered an H-3200 hydrogen purifier from fellow BC-based firm QuestAir Technologies. The unit will be integrated into the hydrogen generation and compression pack- age to be installed at KOGAS-Tech. Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Or contact: QuestAir Technologies Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 1134, www.questairinc.com Or contact: Korean Gas Technology, Seoul, South Korea.Tel: +82 2 2657 1200, www.kge.co.kr BOC funds hydrogen fuel cell urban concept car I n the UK, The BOC Foundation has awarded OSCar Automotive a grant to develop a powertrain for a two-seat urban vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The grant will help fund the two-year Hyrban project, which aims to prove that practical hydrogen fuel cell urban vehicles can be readily engineered using existing fuel cell technology. The Hyrban concept car will have an electric motor in each wheel powered primarily by a fuel cell. The motors will become generators under braking and will charge ultracapacitors, which will provide most of the power for accel- eration. This allows the vehicle to have the acceleration of a Smart Car, despite the fuel cell only having an output of around 6 kWe and the energy consumption of a moped. The car could cruise at around 50 mph (80 km/h). The project is being developed by OSCar Automotive in collaboration with Oxford and Cranfield universities. Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science is developing the electric motors, while Cranfield is developing computer simulations (used in design optimization) and the vehicle control/energy management strategy. Both universities are already working with BOC, OSCar, Morgan Motor Company and QinetiQ on the LIFECar fuel cell powered sports car pro- ject [FCB, August 2005]. Contact: The BOC Foundation, Windlesham, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1403 820021, www.boc.com/foundation Or contact: Hugo Spowers, OSCar Automotive Ltd, Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Email: hugospow@ compuserve.com Millennium Cell wins US Army contract N ew Jersey-based Millennium Cell has been awarded a Phase I SBIR Program contract by the US Army Tank- automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), under which the company will assess the feasibility of operating its ‘hydrogen battery’ technology in conjunction with a 5 kWe PEM-based fuel cell using water containing various impurities. Preliminary tests conducted by Millennium Cell suggest salt water and other non-potable water may be adequate for use with the company’s Hydrogen on Demand ® technology. The ability to ship dry sodium borohydride fuel which can be mixed with local water at the point of use would result in a significant reduc- tion in weight to be handled by the military’s supply chain. The results of this work will help the military determine the best option for refuel- ing and distributing hydrogen devices deployed in remote locations or extreme situations. Last fall the US Army joined the US Air Force in supporting the development of Protonex Tech- nology’s P2 prototype 30 We portable soldier power system incorporating Millennium Cell’s fuel technology [FCB, December]. The compa- nies showed the system at the Fuel Cell Seminar, and highlighted its weight and cost benefits over batteries for soldier power [FCB, January]. The P2 system weighs 5.5 kg, yet delivers the same amount of energy. The ability to carry dry fuel cartridges would reduce a soldier’s power source burden to less than 3 kg for a 72 h mission. Contact: Millennium Cell Inc, Eatontown, New Jersey, USA. Tel: +1 732 542 4000, www.millenniumcell.com Or contact: Protonex Technology Corporation, South- borough, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 490 9960, www.protonex.com Methanoic acid could be key in hydrogen economy A group of researchers from five UK universities – Bath, Leeds, Oxford, Reading and Strathclyde – has won a grant from the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council to investigate the feasibility that methanoic acid, the simplest carboxylic acid, could play a key role in a low-carbon economy. The broad concept involves the production of methanoic acid (HCOOH) by direct catalytic combination of hydrogen and CO 2 . The meth- anoic acid would effectively be a way to chemi- cally store hydrogen. It would then be used in fuel cells, with the CO 2 released recaptured to produce more methanoic acid. In addition, the methanoic acid would be used as a feedstock to manufacture higher chemicals and polymers. According to a report in Chemistry World mag- azine, Professor Peter Hall of the University of Strathclyde has demonstrated a novel type of methanoic acid fuel cell, and believes that such fuel cells could overcome many of the difficulties of their hydrogen- or methanol-based counter- parts. Other consortium members are working on new catalytic systems to make methanoic acid, and on using it as a chemical feedstock. The fea- sibility study is due for completion in the fall. Contact: Professor Peter Hall, Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.Tel: +44 141 548 4084, Email: p.j.hall@ strath.ac.uk, www.strath.ac.uk/chemeng IdaTech launches ElectraGen™3 backup power system O regon-based IdaTech has unveiled its latest backup power product, the ElectraGen™3 fuel cell system. The ElectraGen™3 is a hydrogen-based PEM fuel cell system that produces up to 3 kWe of reliable backup power. Like its bigger brother, the ElectraGen™5 launched last spring [FCB, May 2005], the new product is a CE-certified fuel cell system designed for critical backup power needs from 1.5 to 3 kWe. By offering improved system reli- ability and more predictable performance in a broad range of climates, the ElectraGen™3 sys- tem is seen as a cost-effective replacement to valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries and other traditional electricity-generating methods in telecoms and uninterruptible power system (UPS) backup power applications. Contact: IdaTech LLC, Bend, Oregon, USA. Tel: +1 541 383 3390, www.idatech.com Fuel cell-powered ice resurfacer on show T he first hydrogen fuel cell-powered ice resurfacer – a machine that smooths the surface of ice skating and hockey rinks – has been unveiled by the University of North Dakota (UND)’s NEWS 4

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Fuel Cells Bulletin February 2006

The reformer will be able to generate 65 kgper day of hydrogen, enough to refuel some 20FCVs. The reformer and refueling system isscheduled to be delivered and installed by June.The refueler will be one of the first in Korea, andKOGAS-Tech will play a major role in demon-strating the potential of hydrogen technologies.

Hydrogenics has ordered an H-3200 hydrogenpurifier from fellow BC-based firm QuestAirTechnologies. The unit will be integrated intothe hydrogen generation and compression pack-age to be installed at KOGAS-Tech.

Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario,Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com

Or contact: QuestAir Technologies Inc, Burnaby, BC,Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 1134, www.questairinc.com

Or contact: Korean Gas Technology, Seoul, SouthKorea. Tel: +82 2 2657 1200, www.kge.co.kr

BOC funds hydrogen fuelcell urban concept car

In the UK, The BOC Foundation hasawarded OSCar Automotive a grant to

develop a powertrain for a two-seaturban vehicle powered by a hydrogenfuel cell. The grant will help fund thetwo-year Hyrban project, which aims toprove that practical hydrogen fuel cellurban vehicles can be readily engineeredusing existing fuel cell technology.

The Hyrban concept car will have an electricmotor in each wheel powered primarily by afuel cell. The motors will become generatorsunder braking and will charge ultracapacitors,which will provide most of the power for accel-eration. This allows the vehicle to have theacceleration of a Smart Car, despite the fuel cellonly having an output of around 6 kWe andthe energy consumption of a moped. The carcould cruise at around 50 mph (80 km/h).

The project is being developed by OSCarAutomotive in collaboration with Oxford andCranfield universities. Oxford’s Department ofEngineering Science is developing the electricmotors, while Cranfield is developing computersimulations (used in design optimization) andthe vehicle control/energy management strategy.Both universities are already working with BOC,OSCar, Morgan Motor Company and QinetiQon the LIFECar fuel cell powered sports car pro-ject [FCB, August 2005].

Contact: The BOC Foundation, Windlesham, Surrey,UK. Tel: +44 1403 820021, www.boc.com/foundation

Or contact: Hugo Spowers, OSCar Automotive Ltd,Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Email: [email protected]

Millennium Cell winsUS Army contract

New Jersey-based Millennium Cellhas been awarded a Phase I SBIR

Program contract by the US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command(TACOM), under which the companywill assess the feasibility of operatingits ‘hydrogen battery’ technology inconjunction with a 5 kWe PEM-basedfuel cell using water containing variousimpurities. Preliminary tests conductedby Millennium Cell suggest salt waterand other non-potable water may beadequate for use with the company’sHydrogen on Demand® technology.

The ability to ship dry sodium borohydridefuel which can be mixed with local water at thepoint of use would result in a significant reduc-tion in weight to be handled by the military’ssupply chain. The results of this work will helpthe military determine the best option for refuel-ing and distributing hydrogen devices deployedin remote locations or extreme situations.

Last fall the US Army joined the US Air Forcein supporting the development of Protonex Tech-nology’s P2 prototype 30 We portable soldierpower system incorporating Millennium Cell’sfuel technology [FCB, December]. The compa-nies showed the system at the Fuel Cell Seminar,and highlighted its weight and cost benefits overbatteries for soldier power [FCB, January]. TheP2 system weighs 5.5 kg, yet delivers the sameamount of energy. The ability to carry dry fuelcartridges would reduce a soldier’s power sourceburden to less than 3 kg for a 72 h mission.

Contact: Millennium Cell Inc, Eatontown, New Jersey,USA. Tel: +1 732 542 4000, www.millenniumcell.com

Or contact: Protonex Technology Corporation, South-borough, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 490 9960,www.protonex.com

Methanoic acid could bekey in hydrogen economy

Agroup of researchers from five UKuniversities – Bath, Leeds, Oxford,

Reading and Strathclyde – has won agrant from the Engineering & PhysicalSciences Research Council to investigatethe feasibility that methanoic acid, thesimplest carboxylic acid, could play akey role in a low-carbon economy.

The broad concept involves the production ofmethanoic acid (HCOOH) by direct catalytic

combination of hydrogen and CO2. The meth-anoic acid would effectively be a way to chemi-cally store hydrogen. It would then be used infuel cells, with the CO2 released recaptured toproduce more methanoic acid.

In addition, the methanoic acid would be usedas a feedstock to manufacture higher chemicalsand polymers.

According to a report in Chemistry World mag-azine, Professor Peter Hall of the University ofStrathclyde has demonstrated a novel type ofmethanoic acid fuel cell, and believes that suchfuel cells could overcome many of the difficultiesof their hydrogen- or methanol-based counter-parts. Other consortium members are workingon new catalytic systems to make methanoic acid,and on using it as a chemical feedstock. The fea-sibility study is due for completion in the fall.

Contact: Professor Peter Hall, Department of Chemical& Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde,Glasgow, UK. Tel: +44 141 548 4084, Email: [email protected], www.strath.ac.uk/chemeng

IdaTech launchesElectraGen™3 backuppower system

Oregon-based IdaTech has unveiledits latest backup power product,

the ElectraGen™3 fuel cell system. TheElectraGen™3 is a hydrogen-basedPEM fuel cell system that produces upto 3 kWe of reliable backup power.

Like its bigger brother, the ElectraGen™5launched last spring [FCB, May 2005], the newproduct is a CE-certified fuel cell systemdesigned for critical backup power needs from1.5 to 3 kWe. By offering improved system reli-ability and more predictable performance in abroad range of climates, the ElectraGen™3 sys-tem is seen as a cost-effective replacement tovalve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries andother traditional electricity-generating methodsin telecoms and uninterruptible power system(UPS) backup power applications.

Contact: IdaTech LLC, Bend, Oregon, USA. Tel: +1 541383 3390, www.idatech.com

Fuel cell-powered iceresurfacer on show

The first hydrogen fuel cell-poweredice resurfacer – a machine that

smooths the surface of ice skating andhockey rinks – has been unveiled bythe University of North Dakota (UND)’s

NEWS

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NEWS

February 2006 Fuel Cells Bulletin5

Energy & Environmental ResearchCenter (EERC). The vehicle was subse-quently exhibited at the Electric DriveTransportation Association Conferencein Vancouver, BC in early December.

The eP-Ice Bear ice resurfacer is being devel-oped by ePower Synergies, an Illinois-baseddeveloper of clean, sustainable transportationsystems, and ice refinisher maker ResurficeCorporation of Ontario. The EERC’s NationalCenter for Hydrogen Technology is supportingsystem development and leading the initialdemonstration. The vehicle is powered with a5 kWe PowerFlow PEM fuel cell power modulemade by US/Italian-based Nuvera Fuel Cells.

Other project partners include Ontario-basedHyMotion, Dynetek Corporation in Calgary,and the US Department of Energy’s NationalEnergy Technology Laboratory. Kraus GlobalInc in Winnipeg is supplying the portable hydro-gen refueling station for the eP-Ice Bear vehicle.

Contact: ePower Synergies Inc, Cordova, Illinois, USA.Tel: +1 309 654 9299, www.epowersynergies.com

Or contact: Energy & Environmental Research Center,University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota,USA. Tel: +1 701 777 5000, www.eerc.und.nodak.edu

Or contact: Nuvera Fuel Cells, Cambridge, Massachu-setts, USA. Tel: +1 617 245 7500, www.nuvera.com

CMR floats on AIM, joinsWorld Economic Forum

UK-based CMR Fuel Cells successfullyfloated on London’s Alternative

Investment Market (AIM) in December,with a placement of 5.85 million shares.At a placing price of £1.76 (US$3.09),the company had a market value ofmore than £36m ($64m) on admission.

The AIM listing raised £10.3m ($18.1m)before expenses, which CMR will use to fundexpansion of its R&D program. The companywas spun out of technology investment groupGenerics Group to develop a revolutionary flow-through fuel cell utilizing mixed reactants [FCB,March 2004]. It is backed by venture capitalistsincluding Conduit Ventures and The CarbonTrust, with Generics retaining a 12% stake.

CMR’s technology has been further recognizedrecently by the World Economic Forum in itsselection of the company as one of 36 Technol-ogy Pioneers for 2006. Technology Pioneers arecompanies from around the world that have beenidentified as developing and applying ‘highlytransformational and innovative technologies’,with potential long-term impact on business andsociety, in the areas of energy, biotechnology andhealth, and information technology.

Each year, Technology Pioneer nominees areevaluated by an external committee of technolo-gy experts with respect to innovation, potentialimpact, growth and sustainability, proof of con-cept, and leadership. Technology Pioneers arethen fully integrated into Forum activities andcan meet with scientists, academics, NGOs andForum members and partners to discuss anddebate the impact of technology innovation onsociety and business.

Contact: CMR Fuel Cells Ltd, Harston, Cambridge, UK.Tel: +44 1223 875295, www.cmrfuelcells.com

FuelCon, Advance TechControls link up in India

German-based FuelCon, a leadingsupplier of fuel cell testing technol-

ogy, has appointed Advance TechControls Pvt Ltd as its sales partner forIndia. Advance Tech Controls is a tech-nology, engineering and services com-pany with operations throughout India,which is becoming a critical region forfuel cell technology development.

Indian clients of FuelCon will benefit fromthe support of Advance Tech’s extensive servicenetwork, particularly in the after-sales market.Advance Tech says it sees excellent opportunitiesfor FuelCon’s Evaluator® product line in India.

FuelCon is a leading independent, global sup-plier of testing equipment for PEM, DMFC,SOFC and MCFC technologies. It operates itsown test center at its facilities near Berlin.

Contact: FuelCon AG, Magdeburg-Barleben, Germany.Tel: +49 39203 961330, www.fuelcon.com

Or contact: Advance Tech Controls Pvt Ltd, Baroda,Gujarat, India. Tel: +91 265 283 1216,www.advancetech.in/tnmmain.htm

Hyundai delivers FCV to AC Transit

Korean-based Hyundai Motor hasdelivered the first of 10 Hyundai

and Kia FCEVs to California’s Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit).The handover ceremony took place atAC Transit’s Emeryville Bus Division,beginning a five-year demonstrationand validation project to evaluate FCVsand hydrogen infrastructure technolo-gies [FCB, March 2005].

Hyundai plans to place two additional Tucsonprototype FCEVs with AC Transit in early 2006,and will add six Kia Sportage FCEV models in

I N B R I E F

Swiss investor saves HexisThe Sulzer Hexis fuel cell business will continuethrough a foundation that will finance futuredevelopment work. Last summer Sulzerannounced that it would discontinue invest-ments in the SOFC developer because it hadnot found a partner for the business [FCB,September 2005].

A Swiss foundation acquired 100% of theshares of Sulzer Hexis AG with effect from1 January. This will allow continuing develop-ment of fuel cells at the established site. Thecompany will be renamed Hexis AG as soon aspossible. Dr Alexander Schuler, previously headof systems development at Sulzer Hexis, will bemanaging director of the new company.

Manhattan Scientifics sells licensee stakeUS-based Manhattan Scientifics has sold itsequity interest in a Singaporean licensee fornearly $900 000, which the company intends touse to eliminate a significant portion of its debt.

In early 2004, Manhattan Scientifics signed anon-exclusive worldwide license agreementwith the undisclosed Singapore company,which has production facilities in Shanghai, tomanufacture and sell its NovArs mid-range fuelcell technology [FCB, April 2004]. The licenseincluded an upfront license fee, royalty onproducts sold, gross revenue sharing on non-fuel cell products, and an equity interest in thatcompany. Manhattan Scientifics has now soldback its equity interest and the interest in thelicensee’s non-fuel cell products. However, itcontinues to license its patented fuel cell enginetechnology to the Singapore company, andanticipates potential future royalty revenue.

The company is now focused on identifyinga strong Asian manufacturing partner to co-produce the small, lightweight NovArs hydro-gen fuel cell engine, which is targeted at electricscooters and bicycles.

FCE system certified to Cal 2007 standardsFuelCell Energy’s modular 250 kWe DirectFuelCell® power plant has met the CaliforniaAir Resources Board (CARB)’s stringent distrib-uted generation emissions standards for 2007,qualifying the DFC300MA power plant forstate-sponsored economic incentives.

By meeting this standard, the company’sDFC300MA power plant is categorized as an‘ultra-clean’ distributed generation technology,exempting it from air quality district permit-ting requirements. In addition, the certifica-tion qualifies the products for preferential ratetreatment by the California Public UtilitiesCommission (CPUC).

Introduced last summer with a productioncost of approximately $6000/kW, the produc-tion cost of the DFC300MA power plant hasnow been further reduced to $4600/kW [FCB,August 2005].