- Email: [email protected]
Canadian Tire to deploy Nuvera fuel cell powered forklifts
NEWS So far, air-cooled fuel cells have generally only been suitable for low-power applications, because of the challenges in heat dissipation and heat management. But Horizon has developed technologies to remove this limitation on air-cooled PEM stack power output, providing simpler, more cost-effective fuel cell based power units capable of serving higher power needs. Horizon – which now operates as H3 Dynamics group – has already delivered systems reaching 60 kW with multiple modules, sufficient for most automotive applications. The company is continuing to increase power output, making possible much higher power systems while keeping the balance-of-plant design simple and costs low. Last year Horizon supplied fuel cell systems to the Coppe/UFRJ engineering research institute at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which has been working for several years on a hydrogen transport initiative. The Rio Olympics provided the perfect environment to showcase the hydrogen fuel cell bus designed and integrated by Coppe/UFRJ, transporting athletes in a zero-emissions bus [also see the News Feature on page 14]. Horizon has long experience in commercialising hydrogen PEM fuel cells in applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) [FCB, September 2016, p5], portable personal power [August 2012, p7], OEM stacks/systems, along with research and education [April 2012, p9]. It has also developed MFC (methanol fuel cell) products, from 100 W to 10 kW, to replace diesel generators for critical infrastructure backup and off-grid power generation [June 2016, p5].
year was the world’s first fuel cell powered scooter to achieve EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval, which qualifies the design as safe to use on public roads across the European Union [April 2011, p2]. In 2012 Intelligent Energy and Suzuki Motor Corporation established a joint venture company, SMILE FC System Corporation, to develop and manufacture air-cooled PEM fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors, in particular for the next generation of fuel cell electric vehicles [February 2012, p2]. ‘We are pleased this initiative involves one of our closest partners, Suzuki, with whom we have a 10-year relationship,’ says Martin Bloom, CEO of Intelligent Energy. ‘The scooters will use our 4 kW air-cooled fuel cells, a compact lightweight package designed to meet automotive requirements, standards and safety criteria.’ Intelligent Energy is developing a wide range of applications for its PEM fuel cell technology, including power for telecom towers in India [October 2015, p1, and see the News Feature in February 2016], automotive [November 2015, p10], and aerospace including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) [October 2016, p4]. The company has just signed a deal with US-based Luxfer-GTM Technologies to develop a line of integrated fuel cell products, starting with integrating IE’s 1 kW Fuel Cell Modules into Luxfer-GTM’s Zero-Set Lite portable, zeroemission light towers [see page 10]. Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, UK. Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com Suzuki Motor Corporation: www.globalsuzuki.com
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, Singapore. Tel: +65 6250 3949, www.horizonfuelcell.com H3 Dynamics: www.h3dynamics.com Holthausen Waterstof-Centrum: www.waterstof-centrum.nl [in Dutch]
Intelligent Energy stacks to be trialed in Met Police scooters
I
n the UK, Intelligent Energy’s PEM fuel cell technology will be at the heart of a fleet of scooters to be used on London’s roads this summer, as part of a hydrogen fuel cell technology fleet trial with the city’s Metropolitan Police. The Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter – featuring stacks supplied by Intelligent Energy – first appeared in London in 2010 [FCB, February 2010, p1], and the following 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Plug Power ships first ProGen engines to FedEx, powers USPS
U
S-based Plug Power has shipped the first production ProGen fuel cell engines for use in electric delivery vehicles, which will be used as range-extenders in FedEx Freight electric delivery vans in the Greater Los Angeles area. Plug Power has also completed a contract with the United States Postal Service, deploying GenDrive hydrogen fuel cell units in the USPS materials handling fleet. The first deliveries of production ProGen engines will function as range-extenders in FedEx Freight electric delivery vans in the Los Angeles region, doubling the vehicles’
range. The ProGen hydrogen PEM fuel cell engine solution greatly enhances electric vehicle range, making them a viable solution for a wide range of applications, including parcel delivery and service trucks, municipal and government fleets, taxis and port vehicles [FCB, December 2016, p11]. This first deployment sees Plug Power extend its reach into the on-road electric vehicle market, increasing its market for fuel cell products and hydrogen refueling stations. ProGen engine shipments for delivery vans in the Chinese market will begin in Q2 [November 2016, p1]. These shipments will be utilised for on-road trials and certification. China is an important market for this technology, as it is actively driving fuel cell and hydrogen adoption within the country. Plug Power has also executed on an awarded contract from the United States Postal Service, deploying 36 GenDrive hydrogen fuel cell units for Class 1 sit-down counterbalance trucks and 49 GenDrive units for Class 3 pallet jacks in the USPS materials handling fleet in Capital Heights, Maryland, which is now operational. Plug Power is also providing all maintenance for the products under a five-year GenCare service contract. ProGen engines are designed, engineered and manufactured in Plug Power’s facilities in Latham, New York and Spokane, Washington. The company also manufactures its GenDrive, GenFuel and ProGen stack products in these facilities [see the Plug Power feature in December 2011, and see page 10]. Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Canadian Tire to deploy Nuvera fuel cell powered forklifts
C
anadian Tire Corporation has chosen hydrogen fuel cell technology supplied by Massachusetts-based Nuvera Fuel Cells, to replace lead-acid batteries for powering forklifts in two Ontario distribution centres. Wajax Equipment, the exclusive dealer for Hyster® products across Canada, will deploy the PEM fuel cells manufactured by Nuvera, and provide comprehensive repair and maintenance services for these zero-emissions, hydrogen-fueled systems. Hyster-Yale Materials Handling acquired Nuvera at the end of 2014 [FCB, January 2015, p3], which allows it to offer its Hyster and Yale® customers an integrated, factory-fitted fuel cell solution as well as associated hydrogen generation and delivery capability.
March 2017
NEWS / IN BRIEF Canadian Tire has been testing and evaluating hydrogen fuel cells for five years, in an effort to increase productivity and operational efficiency through this sustainable, zero-emissions technology [see the forklifts features in September and October 2010]. Hyster’s expertise in mobile equipment and the direct involvement in supporting its sister company Nuvera were key factors in CTC’s decision to select Nuvera’s fuel cell technology. Nuvera offers unique capabilities to integrate fuel cells with lift trucks based on its hybrid fuel cell power packs [March 2011, p3], and it also provides small- and large-scale hydrogen fuel supply for fuel cell-powered industrial vehicles [October 2014, p8]. Last autumn the company demonstrated fueling of a fuel cell electric vehicle with hydrogen that had been compressed electrochemically [November 2016, p7]. Nuvera Fuel Cells, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 617 245 7500, www.nuvera.com Hyster Company: www.hyster.com Canadian Tire Corporation: www.canadiantire.ca
MMC next-gen fuel cell powered drone with telecom upgrade
C
hinese drone manufacturer MMC has successfully trialed its hydrogen fuel cell powered drone series in combination with a newly developed telecom network at the company’s R&D centre in Shenzhen. The aim is to develop innovative industrial drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) offering up to 8 h of flight time and a potential range of hundreds of km. While commercial drone development has progressed rapidly in recent years, the effective signal and transmission range – still less than 10 km (6 miles) – and the flight time endurance of many drones have remained technical bottlenecks. Industrial applications are often constrained by the limitations of available equipment, since most battery-powered drones offer flight times of less than 30 minutes. UAV telecom solutions enable unrestricted coverage of signals and transmissions. Combining the two technologies could allow a drone operator to design a long-range flight plan, allowing autonomous drones to perform a wide variety of commercial, security, and industrial applications. MMC’s HyDrone 1550 hydrogen fuel cell drone offers a lightweight but rugged industrial
March 2017
solution with flight times of more than 3 h, along with easy operation and a high degree of safety that make it well suited for industrial aerial inspections. The HyDrone 1550 can take off from the ‘command centre’ and land automatically at the same spot after finishing the task. The UAV is used in surveying, power-line inspection, oil inspection, forestry firefighting and monitoring etc. The soon-tobe-released next generation of hydrogen drones, with innovative telecom technology, is expected to increase flight time to more than 8 h. Meanwhile, MMC launched the HyDrone 1800 hydrogen fuel cell powered drone for military applications at the recent IDEX 2017 International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. The carbon-fibre HyDrone 1800 is designed for use in the toughest conditions – it is fire-, rain- and dust-resistant – yet is still very lightweight. Its hydrogen fuel cell technology provides a flight endurance of 4 h [FCB, June 2016, p4], or an amazing 50+ h when combined with MMC tethered drone technology. There are plenty of companies developing fuel cell power plants for UAVs, including Neah Power [November 2014, p6] and Protonex [May 2016, p3] in the US, EnergyOr in Canada [January 2017, p4], Cella Energy [March 2016, p4] and Intelligent Energy [October 2016, p4] in the UK, Horizon in Singapore [March 2016, p15], and FlyH2 Aerospace in South Africa [November 2015, p5]. Micro Multi Copter Aero Technology, Shenzhen, China. Tel: +86 755 8607 4603, www.mmcuav.com
SMALL STATIONARY
GenCell picks agent to target North American utilities market
T
he Israeli fuel cell developer and manufacturer GenCell has appointed Pacific Power Reps (PPR), a leading North American utilities specialist based in southern California, to develop opportunities with energy companies and drive sales of GenCell’s alkaline fuel cell products within the sector. The agreement with PPR follows GenCell’s recent partnership with Californian energy company San Diego Gas & Electric [FCB, February 2017, p4], and further strengthens the company’s sales network in the North American utilities market. PPR’s customers include Southern California Edison, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power,
IN BRIEF ISES and Elsevier launch Renewable Transformation Challenge for E20k prize The International Solar Energy Society (ISES, www.ises.org) has joined with Elsevier to launch the Renewable Transformation Challenge, which will honour outstanding work that contributes to a world powered by renewable energy and with accessible energy for all. The winning entry will be awarded E20 000 (US$21 000), and a free registration to the Solar World Congress 2017 in Abu Dhabi, where the award will be presented. The Renewable Transformation Challenge is open for submissions until 30 April, for individuals and organisations in both the notfor-profit and commercial sectors worldwide. Applications may present ongoing projects, product ideas, innovative technologies, policy initiatives, programmes, research, analyses, or complete solutions targeting either the supply side (energy generation for end-use energy consumption) or demand side (energy efficiency), or both. Innovative ideas will be given preference over incremental improvement projects. The winning proposal will be the one that best demonstrates the transformation to a world powered by renewable energy and that has potential to widen access to energy, particularly in developing countries. Submissions will be assessed in terms of applicability, impact, sustainability, and scalability. Renewable Transformation Challenge: http://tinyurl.com/renewable-transformation
Tata Motors has first fuel cell bus in India Indian automotive giant Tata Motors (www. tatamotors.com) recently showcased several new alternative fuel buses, including the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered bus. The 12 m (40 ft) Starbus Fuel Cell – a mass transport solution for inter-city commuting – has been developed in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation, as the commercial version of a bus first demonstrated in 2013 [FCB, August 2013, p7]. McPhy Energy moves ahead as McPhy French-based McPhy Energy (www.mcphy. com) has demonstrated the commercial potential of its hydrogen equipment in the burgeoning zero-emission mobility and renewable energy storage markets [FCB, January 2017, p9 and February 2017, p8]. To set the stage for its next phase of sustainable accelerated growth, the company has rebranded itself as simply McPhy, and adopted a new visual identity. ‘We strongly believe that the hydrogen sector occupies a decisive position for the deployment of clean energies and meeting the challenges of the modern world,' says Pascal Mauberger, chairman and CEO.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5
year was the world’s first fuel cell powered scooter to achieve EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval, which qualifies the design as safe to use on public roads across the European Union [April 2011, p2]. In 2012 Intelligent Energy and Suzuki Motor Corporation established a joint venture company, SMILE FC System Corporation, to develop and manufacture air-cooled PEM fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors, in particular for the next generation of fuel cell electric vehicles [February 2012, p2]. ‘We are pleased this initiative involves one of our closest partners, Suzuki, with whom we have a 10-year relationship,’ says Martin Bloom, CEO of Intelligent Energy. ‘The scooters will use our 4 kW air-cooled fuel cells, a compact lightweight package designed to meet automotive requirements, standards and safety criteria.’ Intelligent Energy is developing a wide range of applications for its PEM fuel cell technology, including power for telecom towers in India [October 2015, p1, and see the News Feature in February 2016], automotive [November 2015, p10], and aerospace including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) [October 2016, p4]. The company has just signed a deal with US-based Luxfer-GTM Technologies to develop a line of integrated fuel cell products, starting with integrating IE’s 1 kW Fuel Cell Modules into Luxfer-GTM’s Zero-Set Lite portable, zeroemission light towers [see page 10]. Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, UK. Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com Suzuki Motor Corporation: www.globalsuzuki.com
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, Singapore. Tel: +65 6250 3949, www.horizonfuelcell.com H3 Dynamics: www.h3dynamics.com Holthausen Waterstof-Centrum: www.waterstof-centrum.nl [in Dutch]
Intelligent Energy stacks to be trialed in Met Police scooters
I
n the UK, Intelligent Energy’s PEM fuel cell technology will be at the heart of a fleet of scooters to be used on London’s roads this summer, as part of a hydrogen fuel cell technology fleet trial with the city’s Metropolitan Police. The Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter – featuring stacks supplied by Intelligent Energy – first appeared in London in 2010 [FCB, February 2010, p1], and the following 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Plug Power ships first ProGen engines to FedEx, powers USPS
U
S-based Plug Power has shipped the first production ProGen fuel cell engines for use in electric delivery vehicles, which will be used as range-extenders in FedEx Freight electric delivery vans in the Greater Los Angeles area. Plug Power has also completed a contract with the United States Postal Service, deploying GenDrive hydrogen fuel cell units in the USPS materials handling fleet. The first deliveries of production ProGen engines will function as range-extenders in FedEx Freight electric delivery vans in the Los Angeles region, doubling the vehicles’
range. The ProGen hydrogen PEM fuel cell engine solution greatly enhances electric vehicle range, making them a viable solution for a wide range of applications, including parcel delivery and service trucks, municipal and government fleets, taxis and port vehicles [FCB, December 2016, p11]. This first deployment sees Plug Power extend its reach into the on-road electric vehicle market, increasing its market for fuel cell products and hydrogen refueling stations. ProGen engine shipments for delivery vans in the Chinese market will begin in Q2 [November 2016, p1]. These shipments will be utilised for on-road trials and certification. China is an important market for this technology, as it is actively driving fuel cell and hydrogen adoption within the country. Plug Power has also executed on an awarded contract from the United States Postal Service, deploying 36 GenDrive hydrogen fuel cell units for Class 1 sit-down counterbalance trucks and 49 GenDrive units for Class 3 pallet jacks in the USPS materials handling fleet in Capital Heights, Maryland, which is now operational. Plug Power is also providing all maintenance for the products under a five-year GenCare service contract. ProGen engines are designed, engineered and manufactured in Plug Power’s facilities in Latham, New York and Spokane, Washington. The company also manufactures its GenDrive, GenFuel and ProGen stack products in these facilities [see the Plug Power feature in December 2011, and see page 10]. Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Canadian Tire to deploy Nuvera fuel cell powered forklifts
C
anadian Tire Corporation has chosen hydrogen fuel cell technology supplied by Massachusetts-based Nuvera Fuel Cells, to replace lead-acid batteries for powering forklifts in two Ontario distribution centres. Wajax Equipment, the exclusive dealer for Hyster® products across Canada, will deploy the PEM fuel cells manufactured by Nuvera, and provide comprehensive repair and maintenance services for these zero-emissions, hydrogen-fueled systems. Hyster-Yale Materials Handling acquired Nuvera at the end of 2014 [FCB, January 2015, p3], which allows it to offer its Hyster and Yale® customers an integrated, factory-fitted fuel cell solution as well as associated hydrogen generation and delivery capability.
March 2017
NEWS / IN BRIEF Canadian Tire has been testing and evaluating hydrogen fuel cells for five years, in an effort to increase productivity and operational efficiency through this sustainable, zero-emissions technology [see the forklifts features in September and October 2010]. Hyster’s expertise in mobile equipment and the direct involvement in supporting its sister company Nuvera were key factors in CTC’s decision to select Nuvera’s fuel cell technology. Nuvera offers unique capabilities to integrate fuel cells with lift trucks based on its hybrid fuel cell power packs [March 2011, p3], and it also provides small- and large-scale hydrogen fuel supply for fuel cell-powered industrial vehicles [October 2014, p8]. Last autumn the company demonstrated fueling of a fuel cell electric vehicle with hydrogen that had been compressed electrochemically [November 2016, p7]. Nuvera Fuel Cells, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 617 245 7500, www.nuvera.com Hyster Company: www.hyster.com Canadian Tire Corporation: www.canadiantire.ca
MMC next-gen fuel cell powered drone with telecom upgrade
C
hinese drone manufacturer MMC has successfully trialed its hydrogen fuel cell powered drone series in combination with a newly developed telecom network at the company’s R&D centre in Shenzhen. The aim is to develop innovative industrial drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) offering up to 8 h of flight time and a potential range of hundreds of km. While commercial drone development has progressed rapidly in recent years, the effective signal and transmission range – still less than 10 km (6 miles) – and the flight time endurance of many drones have remained technical bottlenecks. Industrial applications are often constrained by the limitations of available equipment, since most battery-powered drones offer flight times of less than 30 minutes. UAV telecom solutions enable unrestricted coverage of signals and transmissions. Combining the two technologies could allow a drone operator to design a long-range flight plan, allowing autonomous drones to perform a wide variety of commercial, security, and industrial applications. MMC’s HyDrone 1550 hydrogen fuel cell drone offers a lightweight but rugged industrial
March 2017
solution with flight times of more than 3 h, along with easy operation and a high degree of safety that make it well suited for industrial aerial inspections. The HyDrone 1550 can take off from the ‘command centre’ and land automatically at the same spot after finishing the task. The UAV is used in surveying, power-line inspection, oil inspection, forestry firefighting and monitoring etc. The soon-tobe-released next generation of hydrogen drones, with innovative telecom technology, is expected to increase flight time to more than 8 h. Meanwhile, MMC launched the HyDrone 1800 hydrogen fuel cell powered drone for military applications at the recent IDEX 2017 International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. The carbon-fibre HyDrone 1800 is designed for use in the toughest conditions – it is fire-, rain- and dust-resistant – yet is still very lightweight. Its hydrogen fuel cell technology provides a flight endurance of 4 h [FCB, June 2016, p4], or an amazing 50+ h when combined with MMC tethered drone technology. There are plenty of companies developing fuel cell power plants for UAVs, including Neah Power [November 2014, p6] and Protonex [May 2016, p3] in the US, EnergyOr in Canada [January 2017, p4], Cella Energy [March 2016, p4] and Intelligent Energy [October 2016, p4] in the UK, Horizon in Singapore [March 2016, p15], and FlyH2 Aerospace in South Africa [November 2015, p5]. Micro Multi Copter Aero Technology, Shenzhen, China. Tel: +86 755 8607 4603, www.mmcuav.com
SMALL STATIONARY
GenCell picks agent to target North American utilities market
T
he Israeli fuel cell developer and manufacturer GenCell has appointed Pacific Power Reps (PPR), a leading North American utilities specialist based in southern California, to develop opportunities with energy companies and drive sales of GenCell’s alkaline fuel cell products within the sector. The agreement with PPR follows GenCell’s recent partnership with Californian energy company San Diego Gas & Electric [FCB, February 2017, p4], and further strengthens the company’s sales network in the North American utilities market. PPR’s customers include Southern California Edison, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power,
IN BRIEF ISES and Elsevier launch Renewable Transformation Challenge for E20k prize The International Solar Energy Society (ISES, www.ises.org) has joined with Elsevier to launch the Renewable Transformation Challenge, which will honour outstanding work that contributes to a world powered by renewable energy and with accessible energy for all. The winning entry will be awarded E20 000 (US$21 000), and a free registration to the Solar World Congress 2017 in Abu Dhabi, where the award will be presented. The Renewable Transformation Challenge is open for submissions until 30 April, for individuals and organisations in both the notfor-profit and commercial sectors worldwide. Applications may present ongoing projects, product ideas, innovative technologies, policy initiatives, programmes, research, analyses, or complete solutions targeting either the supply side (energy generation for end-use energy consumption) or demand side (energy efficiency), or both. Innovative ideas will be given preference over incremental improvement projects. The winning proposal will be the one that best demonstrates the transformation to a world powered by renewable energy and that has potential to widen access to energy, particularly in developing countries. Submissions will be assessed in terms of applicability, impact, sustainability, and scalability. Renewable Transformation Challenge: http://tinyurl.com/renewable-transformation
Tata Motors has first fuel cell bus in India Indian automotive giant Tata Motors (www. tatamotors.com) recently showcased several new alternative fuel buses, including the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered bus. The 12 m (40 ft) Starbus Fuel Cell – a mass transport solution for inter-city commuting – has been developed in partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation, as the commercial version of a bus first demonstrated in 2013 [FCB, August 2013, p7]. McPhy Energy moves ahead as McPhy French-based McPhy Energy (www.mcphy. com) has demonstrated the commercial potential of its hydrogen equipment in the burgeoning zero-emission mobility and renewable energy storage markets [FCB, January 2017, p9 and February 2017, p8]. To set the stage for its next phase of sustainable accelerated growth, the company has rebranded itself as simply McPhy, and adopted a new visual identity. ‘We strongly believe that the hydrogen sector occupies a decisive position for the deployment of clean energies and meeting the challenges of the modern world,' says Pascal Mauberger, chairman and CEO.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5