Fuel Cell Specialty Vehicles

U.S. and Canada

AeroVironment

AeroVironment is working on incorporating a fuel cell with the Helios, its unmanned aerial vehicle. The fuel cell energy storage system will provide power for continuous flight for months at a time at altitudes of 50,000 to 70,000 feet. Thus, it will be able to function as a “Near Earth Orbit” (NEO) satellite complement or substitute. Testing of this 247-foot wingspan aircraft is currently ongoing.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Boeing Commercial Airplanes will develop and test a fuel cell-powered single-engine airplane that would use an electric motor to turn a conventional propeller, in order to evaluate fuel cells for future Boeing products. Boeing is ultimately interested in exploring the use of fuel cells to replace the gas turbine auxiliary power units in commercial transports.

DCH Technology

DCH showcased a multi-passenger hydrogen-based water taxi that uses fuel cells to provide on-board electrical power for GPS navigation, ship instrumentation, and communications. The taxi is propelled by compressed hydrogen fueling a hybrid powertrain based on a small turbine engine and an electric motor. On-board navigation, communications, and vehicle instrumentation are powered by an 8-by-3-inch EnableTM 12W/12V portable fuel cell.

Energy Partners

Energy Partners joined with John Deere Corporation to develop fuel cell utility vehicles based on Deere's "Gator" vehicle. With a 10kW PEM fuel cell engine, the Gator can run for 5.3 hours, and can be refueled with hydrogen in five minutes.

Energy Partners build a fuel cell "Genesis" people mover, similar to a golf cart. The 7.5kW PEM fuel cell engine uses stored hydrogen for a range of 45 miles between fuelings.

FuelCell Propulsion Institute

FuelCell Propulsion Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy are working together, along with contributions from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and more than 20 international partners, has developed a fuel cell powered mining locomotive. The 25-month project converted a 13.3 kW battery-powered mining locomotive to a 14.4 kW fuel cell design. Research at the Institute has shown that using fuel cells coupled with metal-hydride onboard energy storage will provide improved health and safety, enhanced performance, and reduced mine operating costs, since the diesel engine is not well suited for underground operation and becomes extremely costly.

H Power

H Power Corporation has built a fuel cell power system for wheelchair propulsion. The 200-watt PEM fuel cell uses stored hydrogen as fuel, and can be refueled in a matter of minutes.

A three-wheeled recumbent bicycle manufactured by Comfort Cycle of Cleveland used a hybrid system consisting of sealed lead acid batteries and a 200-watt fuel cell built and installed by H Power Corporation of Belleville, New Jersey. The project won the Engineering Excellence Award of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and was the overall team winner in the 1998 Tour de Sol's "one-person" category.

H Power has also formed a joint development agreement with DuPont Fluoroproducts to develop direct methanol fuel cell products in the range of 100 to 1,000 watts, initially targeted to mobile applications such as scooters and bicycles.

JLG Industries, Inc.

JLG Industries, Inc. has developed a fuel cell-powered "cherry picker," a boom lift for elevating workers attempting such endeavors as fixing power lines or trimming trees. JLG designed the fuel cell stack with AlliedSignal, Inc., the Department of Energy and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The company aims to make the lift available commercially by 2005.

Manhattan Scientifics (NoVars)

Manhattan Scientifics' fuel cell bicycle, designed by Italian bike maker Aprilia S.p.A with a fuel cell from the NovArs unit of Manhattan Scientifics, Inc., was named one of Time Magazine's “Inventions of the Year 2001.” The bicycle stores compressed hydrogen in a 2-liter canister in the frame and has a range of about 50 miles, twice as far as electric bikes, and a top speed of 20 miles per hour. The bicycle is expected to be available in 2003 with a price tag of approximately $2,300.

Prior to working with Aprilia, Manhattan Scientifics released the Hydrocycle, a fuel cell-powered concept bicycle, The hydrogen fuel is stored in a two-liter carbon fiber pressure vessel located behind the seat. The bicycle, developed to compete with today's battery-powered bicycles, has a range of 70 to 100 kilometers and a top speed of 30 kilometers per hour. Manhattan Scientifics has also completed initial testing of an environmentally-friendly electric scooter, powered by the company's 3 kW fuel cell. The hydrogen-fueled fuel cell is capable of powering the vehicle for a total of 120 miles before refueling and is able to propel the scooter at a top speed of 35 miles per hour.

Palcan Fuel Cell Company, Ltd.

Palcan Fuel Cell Company, Ltd., has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with both the Chuang Yuan Group Company, Ltd., and Shanghai Forever Company, Ltd., for the manufacture and integration of Palcan's PalPac portable fuel cell system into electric bicycles and motor scooters. The first units are anticipated for the end of 2002, or early 2003, with several working versions out in the public over the next year. Palcan and Shanghai Forever have already unveiled a collaborative fuel cell bicycle at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) TechnoMart, Exhibition of High Technology & Hi-Tech Products in China. Chuang Yuan is the parent company of the Suzhou Small Antelope Bicycle Company that currently produces a popular electric bike.

PowerZinc Electric Inc.

PowerZinc's first generation zinc-air fuel cells (ZAFCs) - DQFC Series are designed specifically for light electric vehicles (LEVs) such as electric scooters. Connecting two or more of these ZAFCs together within a circuit, provides the capacity to power larger EVs such as cars and buses. The DQFC Series have demonstrated high specific energy, enabling a driving distance of more than 130 miles, which is up to five times longer than industry average.

Schatz Energy Research Center

Schatz Energy Research Center (SERC) at Humboldt State University built a fuel cell powered version of the Danish Kewet, a two-seat coupe. This Neighborhood Electric Vehicle runs on a 9kW PEM fuel cell using stored hydrogen.

SERC supported development of a T-1000 Neighborhood Truck, a half-ton pickup built by Coval h3 Partners and powered by a 6.5kW PEM fuel cell.

Three hydrogen fuel cell golf carts developed by SERC have been in use in Palm Desert, California, since late-1996. Each golf cart is powered by a 4kW PEM fuel cell.

U.S. Office of Naval Research

The U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) has funded research at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center to test a new, high-energy electric power source to propel unmanned undersea vehicles. Researchers have conducted a continuous 37-hour demonstration of a semi-fuel cell, which combines features of a fuel cell and a standard battery, carrying a permanent internal power generator that runs on external liquid hydrogen peroxide tanks.

ZAPWORLD.COM

ZAPWORLD.COM has formed an agreement with Enable™ Fuel Cell Corporation, a subsidiary of DCH Technology, Inc., to develop an electric-assist bicycle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The joint development partnership is scheduled to introduce its first units by 2002.

Europe

BMW

BMW will develop hydrogen fuelled FC forklift trucks, deploying about 2,000 in the company's own facilities prior to marketing them to other users.

Ecole d'ingénieurs du Canton de Vaud

Ecole d'ingénieurs du Canton de Vaud, in Switzerland, has developed the Hydroxy 300, a fuel cell powered boat. The 300 W portable fuel cell system was designed by Paul Scherer Institute.

Siemens/KWU

Siemens/KWU is demonstrating a fuel cell powered forklift. The 10kW PEM fuel cell uses hydrogen, stored in titanium-based hydride tanks. The tanks hold 23 standard cubic meters of gaseous hydrogen, enough to run the forklift for eight hours.

Siemens/KWU is building the components for 300 kW PEM fuel cell systems for two submarines for the Italian navy. The subs are equipped with 8 PEMFC modules rated at 34 kW each, plus one reserve module. Hydrogen is stored in a long tubular hydride container in the rear half just above the keel and a liquid oxygen tank is integrated into the hull near the aft top. The fuel cell system is used mainly for silent slow cruising at speeds of up to 18 knots. For more speed, extra power is provided by lead acid batteries, which are integrated with the fuel cell system.

Asia

Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies

Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd. is involved in research and development in PEM fuel cell stacks and systems from 1 to 10 kW power ranges. They are currently focusing on developing and mass producing PEM fuel cell power generators for electric motor scooters, but have plans for fuel cell gold carts, bicycles, stationary power generators and vehicles.

The ZES (Zero Emission Scooter), is in its fourth stage. The ZES IV powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, was displayed at the 2000 Fuel Cell Seminar in early November at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland Oregon. The Green Scooter has been under development for several years by the Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies, Ltd. in Anaheim CA. The 5.1 KW fuel cell scooter gets it hydrogen from 2 metal hydride storage cylinders, located under the floorboard. Officials from the Kwang Yang Motor Co., LTD. in Taiwan indicated that the Green Scooter would be on the market in about a year. (2000)

Beijing Fuyuan Century Fuel Cell Power Ltd.

Beijing Fuyuan Century Fuel Cell Power Ltd. has joined forces with Suzhou Small Antelope Bicycle Company, a subsidiary of Suzhou Machinery (Group) Holding Corporation, with support from South-North Institute for Sustainable Development (SNISD) to manufacture fuel cell scooters in China. The two companies decided to establish a joint venture to produce 100 watt – 5 kW fuel cell powered scooters or motorcycles.

Scooters India, Ltd.

Government-run Scooters India, Ltd. plans to release three new alternative-fuel scooters by the end of 2002, in addition to a fuel cell-powered model in 2003. Two of the models to be introduced this year are battery-powered, while a third is fueled with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or propane. The new scooters are expected to cost between 125,000 and 160,000 rupees (between $2,600 and $3,300).