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In Japan
NEWS
Revolve rally to show fuel cell vehicles in UK
R
evolve 2007, which will take place in the UK in early June, will place examples of hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles from major automakers on British roads in real driving and traffic conditions, publicly showing that hydrogen and fuel cell technology is a realistic, practical and effective option for general transport, and is not limited to mass public transport or specialist roles. As part of a three-day event, the cars will travel from Brighton to London on World Environment Day, 5 June. Mayor of London Ken Livingstone will welcome the cars at the finish line in Trafalgar Square, and after the rally the range of zero-emission vehicles will be displayed at Trafalgar Square and at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, when celebrities and the public will get the opportunity to drive the vehicles. The event is supported by the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London (TfL). According to Revolve, there is little awareness of this important technology among the British public, and consequently public support remains underdeveloped. Without support there is little incentive for politicians to help create the climate in which industry can introduce such bold new technologies. The only significant project currently demonstrating fuel cell transportation in the UK runs three DaimlerChrysler fuel cell buses as part of the Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) program, operated in London by TfL and fueled by BP. However, as yet there is no project to demonstrate the relevance of hydrogen and fuel cells in the wider transportation context, although last spring the Mayor of London called for the procurement of 10 buses and 60 other hydrogen vehicles [FCB, April 2006]. For more information on the Revolve 2007 event, go to: www.revolve.ws
Millennium establishes pilot manufacturing line
N
ew Jersey-based Millennium Cell has established a pilot manufacturing line for its Hydrogen on Demand® fuel cartridges – a step which will broaden its business model to include commercial sales of standard products. The pilot line will enable the shipment of fuel cartridges to the State of South
March 2007
Carolina in mid-2007, and to other customers of its partner Jadoo Power later this year. Millennium Cell collaborated with The Dow Chemical Company and the Edison Welding Institute to develop manufacturing techniques and select materials for key fuel cartridge components. This allowed it to construct a pilot manufacturing line to produce fuel cartridges for commercial applications. Within the program, the key components were redesigned to use new materials to achieve high reliability and performance at low cost under military specifications. Over the past few months, Millennium Cell has shipped components for 25 fuel cartridges to Jadoo to support its contract deliverables with the US Department of Defense. The company is also planning to ship over 25 additional units to the NextEnergy Center for independent testing as the final stage of manufacturing process validation. Last fall Millennium Cell agreed to supply up to 250 Hydrogen on Demand fuel cartridges, for delivery in mid-2007 as part of the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge [FCB, December 2006]. The cartridges will provide hydrogen for Jadoo’s line of N-Gen fuel cell power units and XRT Extended Runtime Accessories targeted for use with emergency responders and other off-grid power applications in Columbia. Contact: Millennium Cell Inc, Eatontown, New Jersey, USA. Tel: +1 732 542 4000, www.millenniumcell.com Or contact: The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 1000, www.dow.com Or contact: The Edison Welding Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Tel: +1 614 688 5000, www.ewi.org Or contact: Jadoo Power Systems Inc, Folsom, California, USA. Tel: +1 916 608 9044, www.jadoopower.com
GM’s Concept Chevy Volt could use fuel cells
G
eneral Motors has unveiled the Chevrolet Volt concept sedan, the first vehicle designed around its ‘E-flex’ next-generation electric propulsion system. The Volt is a battery-powered, four-passenger electric vehicle that uses a gasoline engine to create additional electricity to extend its range. The Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110 V outlet for approximately 6 h a day. When the Li-ion battery is fully charged, the Volt offers 40 city miles of pure EV range. When the battery is depleted, a 1 liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed, to efficiently create electricity and replenish the battery. A technological breakthrough required to make this concept a reality is a large Li-ion battery.
IN JAPAN Novel SOFC can operate efficiently at lower temperatures In Japan, a joint research group from the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI, criepi.denken.or.jp) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST, www.aist. go.jp) has developed a solid oxide fuel cell that can operate with high efficiency at relatively low temperatures of around 500–650°C. These lower operating temperatures reduce the need for insulating materials, and enable the periphery to be made from metal instead of ceramic, thereby lowering costs. The research group aims to develop a practical version that can be used as a distributed power source for homes, according to a report in the Nikkei Business Daily. The prototype cell has a cylindrical shape, with an outer diameter of 3 mm and an electricity-generating part that is 3 cm long. Using hydrogen as the fuel, the cell can generate 1.06 W per cm2 of electrode when heated to 500–650°C. In comparison, conventional SOFCs need to be heated to about 800°C to operate with this kind of efficiency. The achievement is attributed to the development of an improved type of air electrode, made from silver nanoparticles attached to a porous ceramic. The new air electrode has greater ability to decompose oxygen into oxygen radicals and electrons, even at these relatively lower temperatures. Kuraray improves output of film used in compact DMFCs Tokyo-based synthetic materials firm Kuraray Company (www.kuraray.co.jp) has developed an electrolyte film for compact direct methanol fuel cells that is claimed to offer 30% greater output than its earlier products. In order to boost the output of these fuel cells, it was necessary to restrain the volume of methanol passing through the electrolyte film, while at the same time increasing the transmission of hydrogen ions. At 30 µm thick, the new film is just 60% of the thickness of earlier films. Methanol crossover has been halved, while the resistance to hydrogen ions has been reduced by around 40%. By selectively passing hydrogen ions alone and curtailing methanol crossover, the company has succeeded in raising the power output. Kuraray is using a thermoplastic resin made of hydrocarbon materials in the electrolyte film. It has twice the output of the more commonly used fluorine-based electrolyte films, according to a Nikkei Business Daily report. The company expects the new product to be utilized in fuel cells for devices such as cellular phones, which are consuming more power as additional functions are added.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
Revolve rally to show fuel cell vehicles in UK
R
evolve 2007, which will take place in the UK in early June, will place examples of hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles from major automakers on British roads in real driving and traffic conditions, publicly showing that hydrogen and fuel cell technology is a realistic, practical and effective option for general transport, and is not limited to mass public transport or specialist roles. As part of a three-day event, the cars will travel from Brighton to London on World Environment Day, 5 June. Mayor of London Ken Livingstone will welcome the cars at the finish line in Trafalgar Square, and after the rally the range of zero-emission vehicles will be displayed at Trafalgar Square and at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, when celebrities and the public will get the opportunity to drive the vehicles. The event is supported by the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London (TfL). According to Revolve, there is little awareness of this important technology among the British public, and consequently public support remains underdeveloped. Without support there is little incentive for politicians to help create the climate in which industry can introduce such bold new technologies. The only significant project currently demonstrating fuel cell transportation in the UK runs three DaimlerChrysler fuel cell buses as part of the Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) program, operated in London by TfL and fueled by BP. However, as yet there is no project to demonstrate the relevance of hydrogen and fuel cells in the wider transportation context, although last spring the Mayor of London called for the procurement of 10 buses and 60 other hydrogen vehicles [FCB, April 2006]. For more information on the Revolve 2007 event, go to: www.revolve.ws
Millennium establishes pilot manufacturing line
N
ew Jersey-based Millennium Cell has established a pilot manufacturing line for its Hydrogen on Demand® fuel cartridges – a step which will broaden its business model to include commercial sales of standard products. The pilot line will enable the shipment of fuel cartridges to the State of South
March 2007
Carolina in mid-2007, and to other customers of its partner Jadoo Power later this year. Millennium Cell collaborated with The Dow Chemical Company and the Edison Welding Institute to develop manufacturing techniques and select materials for key fuel cartridge components. This allowed it to construct a pilot manufacturing line to produce fuel cartridges for commercial applications. Within the program, the key components were redesigned to use new materials to achieve high reliability and performance at low cost under military specifications. Over the past few months, Millennium Cell has shipped components for 25 fuel cartridges to Jadoo to support its contract deliverables with the US Department of Defense. The company is also planning to ship over 25 additional units to the NextEnergy Center for independent testing as the final stage of manufacturing process validation. Last fall Millennium Cell agreed to supply up to 250 Hydrogen on Demand fuel cartridges, for delivery in mid-2007 as part of the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge [FCB, December 2006]. The cartridges will provide hydrogen for Jadoo’s line of N-Gen fuel cell power units and XRT Extended Runtime Accessories targeted for use with emergency responders and other off-grid power applications in Columbia. Contact: Millennium Cell Inc, Eatontown, New Jersey, USA. Tel: +1 732 542 4000, www.millenniumcell.com Or contact: The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan, USA. Tel: +1 989 636 1000, www.dow.com Or contact: The Edison Welding Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Tel: +1 614 688 5000, www.ewi.org Or contact: Jadoo Power Systems Inc, Folsom, California, USA. Tel: +1 916 608 9044, www.jadoopower.com
GM’s Concept Chevy Volt could use fuel cells
G
eneral Motors has unveiled the Chevrolet Volt concept sedan, the first vehicle designed around its ‘E-flex’ next-generation electric propulsion system. The Volt is a battery-powered, four-passenger electric vehicle that uses a gasoline engine to create additional electricity to extend its range. The Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110 V outlet for approximately 6 h a day. When the Li-ion battery is fully charged, the Volt offers 40 city miles of pure EV range. When the battery is depleted, a 1 liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed, to efficiently create electricity and replenish the battery. A technological breakthrough required to make this concept a reality is a large Li-ion battery.
IN JAPAN Novel SOFC can operate efficiently at lower temperatures In Japan, a joint research group from the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI, criepi.denken.or.jp) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST, www.aist. go.jp) has developed a solid oxide fuel cell that can operate with high efficiency at relatively low temperatures of around 500–650°C. These lower operating temperatures reduce the need for insulating materials, and enable the periphery to be made from metal instead of ceramic, thereby lowering costs. The research group aims to develop a practical version that can be used as a distributed power source for homes, according to a report in the Nikkei Business Daily. The prototype cell has a cylindrical shape, with an outer diameter of 3 mm and an electricity-generating part that is 3 cm long. Using hydrogen as the fuel, the cell can generate 1.06 W per cm2 of electrode when heated to 500–650°C. In comparison, conventional SOFCs need to be heated to about 800°C to operate with this kind of efficiency. The achievement is attributed to the development of an improved type of air electrode, made from silver nanoparticles attached to a porous ceramic. The new air electrode has greater ability to decompose oxygen into oxygen radicals and electrons, even at these relatively lower temperatures. Kuraray improves output of film used in compact DMFCs Tokyo-based synthetic materials firm Kuraray Company (www.kuraray.co.jp) has developed an electrolyte film for compact direct methanol fuel cells that is claimed to offer 30% greater output than its earlier products. In order to boost the output of these fuel cells, it was necessary to restrain the volume of methanol passing through the electrolyte film, while at the same time increasing the transmission of hydrogen ions. At 30 µm thick, the new film is just 60% of the thickness of earlier films. Methanol crossover has been halved, while the resistance to hydrogen ions has been reduced by around 40%. By selectively passing hydrogen ions alone and curtailing methanol crossover, the company has succeeded in raising the power output. Kuraray is using a thermoplastic resin made of hydrocarbon materials in the electrolyte film. It has twice the output of the more commonly used fluorine-based electrolyte films, according to a Nikkei Business Daily report. The company expects the new product to be utilized in fuel cells for devices such as cellular phones, which are consuming more power as additional functions are added.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7