Fuel Cells 2000 : Archives : Technology Update Dec03

December 2003

Fuel Cell Technology Update

TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS

Anuvu Selling Fuel Cell Truck.
Anuvu Incorporated is selling a zero-emission hydrogen-powered pick-up truck running on a fuel cell/battery hybrid engine. The Clean Urban pick-up truck is a modified Nissan Frontier running on two Anuvu Power-X™ 6 kW PEM fuel cells and a motor from Solectria Corporation. The truck accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 10 seconds, can achieve speeds of up to 75 miles per hour and can travel 250 miles within city environments. Although this range is similar to conventional vehicles, this initial version of the Clean Urban pick-up will be limited to 60 miles on highways in order to keep the price to US$99,995 dollars. Longer-range highway fleet vehicles are available by custom order.

MTU Unveils World's First Fuel Cell Powered Yacht.
MTU Friedrichshafen unveiled the first yacht with a fuel cell propulsion system, manufactured by Ballard Power Systems. The 12-meter-long yacht, named "No. 1", will operate in Lake Constance in Kressbronn.

Hyundai and Kia to Test 32 Vehicles in U.S.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation announced plans to test 32 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the U.S. beginning next year. Both Hyundai and Kia expect to launch approximately 10,000 fuel cell vehicles in Korea by the end of the decade, with commercial production of such vehicles to follow in 2020.

Industry Coalition Launches National Fuel Cell Bus Initiative.
WestStart-CALSTART is coordinating the National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Initiative - a six-year, $150-million development effort to support the research, development and demonstration of fuel cell and hydrogen technology. The effort will address fuel cell and hydrogen vehicle technology commercialization challenges, focus on reducing technical and cost barriers for fuel cell and hydrogen use in the transit sector, and use transit demonstrations as rolling classrooms for fuel cell and hydrogen education.

Parker Hannifin, Vectrix Unveil Fuel Cell Hybrid Scooter.
Parker Hannifin unveiled a prototype of a new fuel cell hybrid electric scooter at the Fuel Cell Seminar in Miami Beach, Florida. Parker led an international, cross-industry team of manufacturers and suppliers in the scooter demonstration project, including Vectrix Corporation, Giner Electromechanical Systems, GP Batteries International, Ltd., Methanex Corporation and ROBRADY design.

STATIONARY POWER

FCT to Supply University of Liege with SOFC, Also to Provide Residential Fuel Cell (link 1, link 2).
Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd. (FCT) has signed a contract to manufacture and supply one of its Second Generation Series solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 5 kW units to the University of Liège in Belgium. The prototype of the new SOFC unit is currently being built at the company's production facility in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. FCT will also demonstrate the first installation of a residential fuel cell in a house in Canada. An FCT 5 kW product will be installed at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT) at the National Research Council campus in Ottawa. Natural Resources Canada is contributing to the project.

Marubeni and FuelCell Energy Site Two Fuel Cells.
The Marubeni Corporation and FuelCell Energy, Inc. announced the siting of two Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants at the Epson facilities in the City of Ina, Nagano Prefecture, in Japan. Marubeni, Asian partner of fuel cell developer FuelCell Energy, will supply two 250 kW DFC power plants to the First Energy Service Company, Ltd. (FESCO), a Tokyo-based energy services company, who will own and operate the units, in the fourth quarter of 2003. The DFC units will operate on liquefied natural gas and provide power and steam to the industrial site.

IdaTech Unveils Natural Gas and LPG Fuel Cell System.
IdaTech unveiled its 5-kW natural gas and LPG fuel cell system to the US market at the Fuel Cell Seminar in Miami, Florida.

FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE

International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy Formally Established.
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, along with Ministers representing fourteen nations and the European Commission, signed an agreement formally establishing the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. The partnership is an international mechanism to coordinate hydrogen research and hydrogen technology development and deployment.

Stuart Energy Receives Contract from AQMD, Opens Second Station in Sweden (link 1, link 2).
Stuart Energy Systems Corporation has secured a groundbreaking contract from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) for a Hydrogen Energy Station with both vehicle fueling and power generation capabilities (HESfp). Using Stuart Energy's proprietary water electrolysis technology, the HESfp will generate and dispense hydrogen fuel to a fleet of AQMD hydrogen-powered vehicles. The station is expected to be delivered to AQMD's headquarters in early 2004. In Stockholm, Sweden, Fortum AB officially opened its first Stuart Energy Hydrogen Energy Station (HESf). The HESf will supply clean hydrogen fuel to three fuel cell buses as part of the prestigious Clean Urban Transport Europe (CUTE) program.

DTE to Build Hydrogen Energy Park in Michigan.
DTE Energy is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy, the state of Michigan and the city of Southfield to develop, build and operate a hydrogen energy pilot project that will create hydrogen gas from tap water and use that gas in fuel cell generators and to refuel fuel cell vehicles. The $3 million, five-year pilot project will result in a system capable of delivering about 100,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year - enough to power a small office park or about 20 homes - and enough compressed hydrogen gas to fuel three vehicles per day.

Proton Energy to Deliver Solar-Powered Hydrogen System to UNLV.
Proton Energy Systems, Inc. has received a contract award from the University of Nevada Las Vegas Research Foundation (UNLVRF) to design, build, integrate, and commission a hydrogen system utilizing its HOGEN® RE hydrogen generator and a purchased PV solar panel array and storage tank.. Proton will cost share 50 percent of the $1,376,640 contract award and can receive up to $688,320 in payments from UNLVRF.

FUEL CELL COMPONENTS

Greenlight Unveils FCATS G500 Fuel Cell Test Station.
Greenlight Power Technologies unveiled the first product in its next generation of FCATS proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell test stations at the Fuel Cell Seminar in Miami, Florida. The FCATS G500 incorporates a new proprietary software platform - HyWARE II - that is able to comprehensively manage the full range of test system parameters, including testing and control, rapid data acquisition, diagnostics and safety subsystems.

Arbin Instruments Receives Order for Fuel Cell Testing System.
Arbin Instruments has received a $500,000 order for its integrated fuel cell testing system (FCTS) from a leading global automobile manufacturer.

T/J Technologies Offers New Materials for Electrocatalysts.
T/J Technologies, Inc. is offering electrocatalyst materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells developed under funding from the National Science Foundation. This new cathode electrocatalyst would increase power density by 10% or more versus leading commercial electrocatalysts with the same amount of platinum.

Sumitomo Develops New Stainless Steel for Bipolar Plates.
Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. has developed a stainless steel that exhibits high performance for the use of bipolar plates. This newly developed stainless steel is distinctively different from conventional stainless steels and has a high performance of low surface electrical contact resistivity, making it feasible and cost-competitive to mass produce.

Weidmann's New Technique Allows Mass Production of Plates.
Weidmann Plastics Technology has developed a new technique for the mass production of bipolar plates for use in fuel cells. Weidmann's injection compression molding method enables the company to generate 1.6-millimeter-thick bipolar plates in under three minutes, compared to the 4-millimeter-thick plates produced in approximately 20 minutes through current processes. The plates are constructed with highly filled thermoplastic, comprising more than 80 percent by weight of graphite.

REPORTS/MARKET STUDIES

Stationary Fuel Cell Markets.
Allied Business Intelligence's "Stationary Fuel Cell Markets: A Global Market Analysis, Major Player Strategies and Forecasts" predicts that global stationary fuel cell cumulative shipments will rise to nearly 18,000 megawatts (MW) in 2013 from 55 MW in 2003.

Report on Rochester as a Site for Fuel Cell Research.
Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), an economic development group dedicated to job creation in the Rochester Region, has announced the results of a fuel cell research and commercialization plan for the Greater Rochester New York Region. The report, conducted by the consulting firm Deloitte & Touche Fantus, concludes Rochester is well-suited to become a leading fuel cell research and manufacturing center and has the promise to appeal to a broad spectrum of the fuel cell industry as an ideal place to locate their operations.

MISCELLANEOUS

Fuel Cell Organizations Sign Collaborative MOU.
The U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC), the Fuel Cell Commercialization Conference of Japan, Fuel Cells Canada, the World Fuel Cell Council and Fuel Cell Europe have a signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to initiate collaboration on information sharing, education, regulation and technical exchange with regards to fuel cell commercialization. Under the MOU, the organizations agree to support a proposal to change the regulation of air transport of methanol fuel cell cartridges; explore other avenues of cooperation and information exchange on regulatory issues; and exchange information on test protocols for some proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell components.
Neutron Technologies Joins Fuel Cells Canada.
Neutron Technologies, Inc., an electrical and control systems integrator, has joined Fuel Cells Canada.

Global Thermoelectric and FuelCell Energy Complete Merger.
Global Thermoelectric, Inc. has completed its merger with FuelCell Energy, Inc.


	December 2003 Fuel Cell Technology Update TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS Anuvu Selling Fuel Cell Truck. Anuvu Incorporated is selling a zero-emission hydrogen-powered pick-up truck running on a fuel cell/battery hybrid engine. The Clean Urban pick-up truck is a modified Nissan Frontier running on two Anuvu Power-X™ 6 kW PEM fuel cells and a motor from Solectria Corporation. The truck accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 10 seconds, can achieve speeds of up to 75 miles per hour and can travel 250 miles within city environments. Although this range is similar to conventional vehicles, this initial version of the Clean Urban pick-up will be limited to 60 miles on highways in order to keep the price to US$99,995 dollars. Longer-range highway fleet vehicles are available by custom order. MTU Unveils World's First Fuel Cell Powered Yacht. MTU Friedrichshafen unveiled the first yacht with a fuel cell propulsion system, manufactured by Ballard Power Systems. The 12-meter-long yacht, named "No. 1", will operate in Lake Constance in Kressbronn. Hyundai and Kia to Test 32 Vehicles in U.S. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation announced plans to test 32 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the U.S. beginning next year. Both Hyundai and Kia expect to launch approximately 10,000 fuel cell vehicles in Korea by the end of the decade, with commercial production of such vehicles to follow in 2020. Industry Coalition Launches National Fuel Cell Bus Initiative. WestStart-CALSTART is coordinating the National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Initiative - a six-year, $150-million development effort to support the research, development and demonstration of fuel cell and hydrogen technology. The effort will address fuel cell and hydrogen vehicle technology commercialization challenges, focus on reducing technical and cost barriers for fuel cell and hydrogen use in the transit sector, and use transit demonstrations as rolling classrooms for fuel cell and hydrogen education. Parker Hannifin, Vectrix Unveil Fuel Cell Hybrid Scooter. Parker Hannifin unveiled a prototype of a new fuel cell hybrid electric scooter at the Fuel Cell Seminar in Miami Beach, Florida. Parker led an international, cross-industry team of manufacturers and suppliers in the scooter demonstration project, including Vectrix Corporation, Giner Electromechanical Systems, GP Batteries International, Ltd., Methanex Corporation and ROBRADY design. STATIONARY POWER FCT to Supply University of Liege with SOFC, Also to Provide Residential Fuel Cell (link 1, link 2). Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd. (FCT) has signed a contract to manufacture and supply one of its Second Generation Series solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) 5 kW units to the University of Liège in Belgium. The prototype of the new SOFC unit is currently being built at the company's production facility in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. FCT will also demonstrate the first installation of a residential fuel cell in a house in Canada. An FCT 5 kW product will be installed at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT) at the National Research Council campus in Ottawa. Natural Resources Canada is contributing to the project. Marubeni and FuelCell Energy Site Two Fuel Cells. The Marubeni Corporation and FuelCell Energy, Inc. announced the siting of two Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants at the Epson facilities in the City of Ina, Nagano Prefecture, in Japan. Marubeni, Asian partner of fuel cell developer FuelCell Energy, will supply two 250 kW DFC power plants to the First Energy Service Company, Ltd. (FESCO), a Tokyo-based energy services company, who will own and operate the units, in the fourth quarter of 2003. The DFC units will operate on liquefied natural gas and provide power and steam to the industrial site. IdaTech Unveils Natural Gas and LPG Fuel Cell System. IdaTech unveiled its 5-kW natural gas and LPG fuel cell system to the US market at the Fuel Cell Seminar in Miami, Florida. FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy Formally Established. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, along with Ministers representing fourteen nations and the European Commission, signed an agreement formally establishing the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. The partnership is an international mechanism to coordinate hydrogen research and hydrogen technology development and deployment. Stuart Energy Receives Contract from AQMD, Opens Second Station in Sweden (link 1, link 2). Stuart Energy Systems Corporation has secured a groundbreaking contract from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) for a Hydrogen Energy Station with both vehicle fueling and power generation capabilities (HESfp). Using Stuart Energy's proprietary water electrolysis technology, the HESfp will generate and dispense hydrogen fuel to a fleet of AQMD hydrogen-powered vehicles. The station is expected to be delivered to AQMD's headquarters in early 2004. In Stockholm, Sweden, Fortum AB officially opened its first Stuart Energy Hydrogen Energy Station (HESf). The HESf will supply clean hydrogen fuel to three fuel cell buses as part of the prestigious Clean Urban Transport Europe (CUTE) program. DTE to Build Hydrogen Energy Park in Michigan. DTE Energy is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy, the state of Michigan and the city of Southfield to develop, build and operate a hydrogen energy pilot project that will create hydrogen gas from tap water and use that gas in fuel cell generators and to refuel fuel cell vehicles. The $3 million, five-year pilot project will result in a system capable of delivering about 100,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year - enough to power a small office park or about 20 homes - and enough compressed hydrogen gas to fuel three vehicles per day. Proton Energy to Deliver Solar-Powered Hydrogen System to UNLV. Proton Energy Systems, Inc. has received a contract award from the University of Nevada Las Vegas Research Foundation (UNLVRF) to design, build, integrate, and commission a hydrogen system utilizing its HOGEN® RE hydrogen generator and a purchased PV solar panel array and storage tank.. Proton will cost share 50 percent of the $1,376,640 contract award and can receive up to $688,320 in payments from UNLVRF. FUEL CELL COMPONENTS Greenlight Unveils FCATS G500 Fuel Cell Test Station. Greenlight Power Technologies unveiled the first product in its next generation of FCATS proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell test stations at the Fuel Cell Seminar in Miami, Florida. The FCATS G500 incorporates a new proprietary software platform - HyWARE II - that is able to comprehensively manage the full range of test system parameters, including testing and control, rapid data acquisition, diagnostics and safety subsystems. Arbin Instruments Receives Order for Fuel Cell Testing System. Arbin Instruments has received a $500,000 order for its integrated fuel cell testing system (FCTS) from a leading global automobile manufacturer. T/J Technologies Offers New Materials for Electrocatalysts. T/J Technologies, Inc. is offering electrocatalyst materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells developed under funding from the National Science Foundation. This new cathode electrocatalyst would increase power density by 10% or more versus leading commercial electrocatalysts with the same amount of platinum. Sumitomo Develops New Stainless Steel for Bipolar Plates. Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. has developed a stainless steel that exhibits high performance for the use of bipolar plates. This newly developed stainless steel is distinctively different from conventional stainless steels and has a high performance of low surface electrical contact resistivity, making it feasible and cost-competitive to mass produce. Weidmann's New Technique Allows Mass Production of Plates. Weidmann Plastics Technology has developed a new technique for the mass production of bipolar plates for use in fuel cells. Weidmann's injection compression molding method enables the company to generate 1.6-millimeter-thick bipolar plates in under three minutes, compared to the 4-millimeter-thick plates produced in approximately 20 minutes through current processes. The plates are constructed with highly filled thermoplastic, comprising more than 80 percent by weight of graphite. REPORTS/MARKET STUDIES Stationary Fuel Cell Markets. Allied Business Intelligence's "Stationary Fuel Cell Markets: A Global Market Analysis, Major Player Strategies and Forecasts" predicts that global stationary fuel cell cumulative shipments will rise to nearly 18,000 megawatts (MW) in 2013 from 55 MW in 2003. Report on Rochester as a Site for Fuel Cell Research. Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), an economic development group dedicated to job creation in the Rochester Region, has announced the results of a fuel cell research and commercialization plan for the Greater Rochester New York Region. The report, conducted by the consulting firm Deloitte & Touche Fantus, concludes Rochester is well-suited to become a leading fuel cell research and manufacturing center and has the promise to appeal to a broad spectrum of the fuel cell industry as an ideal place to locate their operations. MISCELLANEOUS Fuel Cell Organizations Sign Collaborative MOU. The U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC), the Fuel Cell Commercialization Conference of Japan, Fuel Cells Canada, the World Fuel Cell Council and Fuel Cell Europe have a signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to initiate collaboration on information sharing, education, regulation and technical exchange with regards to fuel cell commercialization. Under the MOU, the organizations agree to support a proposal to change the regulation of air transport of methanol fuel cell cartridges; explore other avenues of cooperation and information exchange on regulatory issues; and exchange information on test protocols for some proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell components. Neutron Technologies Joins Fuel Cells Canada. Neutron Technologies, Inc., an electrical and control systems integrator, has joined Fuel Cells Canada. Global Thermoelectric and FuelCell Energy Complete Merger. Global Thermoelectric, Inc. has completed its merger with FuelCell Energy, Inc.