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UQM wins first order for its new fuel cell compressor system
NEWS COMMERCIALISATION
UQM wins first order for its new fuel cell compressor system
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olorado-based UQM Technologies has received its first fuel cell compressor module purchase order, from PEM fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems in Canada. These compressor modules are an integral component of hydrogen powered fuel cell electric vehicles. The UQM R410 fuel cell compressor system is designed for medium-duty automotive and commercial bus applications for up to 150 kW fuel cell stacks. The purchase order calls for shipments of product to Ballard over the next four months, and will generate revenue in excess of US$600 000, with follow-on orders expected from Ballard. ‘We are excited to be working directly with Ballard on their fuel cell bus programmes,’ says Eric R. Ridenour, president and CEO of UQM Technologies. ‘Our expansion directly into the fuel cell compressor business is already paying off for UQM, and we believe that the advantages our system offers will allow further growth with Ballard and additional customers.’ UQM Technologies is a developer and manufacturer of power-dense, high-efficiency electric motors, generators, and power electronic controllers for the commercial truck, bus, automotive, marine, military, and industrial markets. A major emphasis for UQM is developing propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and fuel cell electric vehicles.
UQM Technologies, Longmont, Colorado, USA. Tel: +1 303 682 4900, www.uqm.com Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Greenlight using robot for automated fuel cell component production
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anadian-based Greenlight Innovation has taken delivery of an integrated robotic assembly system specific to fuel cell manufacturing, which it will use in the automated hydrogen fuel cell component production systems it offers. The automated system was developed for a leading automotive manufacturer, to support its
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
advance into PEM fuel cell mass production. The custom Greenlight solution features a turntable with three stations: operator load/ unload, robotic applicator, and infrared curing. The robotic station can be programmed to apply sealant, primer, adhesive, or gasket material in a rapid and precise manner. For this task, Greenlight selected a KUKA sixaxis Agilus robot with a 700 mm reach, and integrated a Nordson piezoelectric metering head for precision dispensing. The robotic solution has proven to be much more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective than alternative material application methods. The end result is a more repeatable process that virtually eliminates component rejects. In addition to fuel cell manufacturing, this automated solution can be configured for a wide variety of applications, such as electronics manufacturing, product assembly etc. The robotic arm can also be easily reprogrammed to accommodate new parts as designs evolve. Greenlight’s Industrial Automation division specialises in robotics and custom automation machinery for the hydrogen fuel cell, battery, solar, chemical, and automotive industries. Last summer Greenlight supplied its 200th PEM fuel cell test station to an automotive OEM [FCB, July 2014, p5], and before that it acquired Commonwealth Automation, a leading supplier of automated equipment for fuel cell manufacturing [FCB, April 2014, p11]. Greenlight Innovation, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 676 4000, www.greenlightinnovation.com KUKA Robotics: www.kuka-robotics.com
JCB takes strategic stake in ITM Power
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n the UK, ITM Power reports that JCB Research and Valebond Consultants Ltd – which is wholly owned by Jo Bamford, director of the JCB excavators manufacturer – have together acquired a strategic shareholding in ITM Power through a subscription for new ordinary shares, making them ITM’s largest shareholder. The new investors paid nearly £4.9 million (US$7.3 million) for 16.1 million new shares, representing 9.1% of ITM Power’s enlarged share capital. ITM will use the proceeds as additional working capital as it continues to scale up its business. JCB Research also has the right to appoint a person it nominates to the board of ITM Power. ‘In addition to the new funds that this investment brings to ITM Power, we are
delighted to have on board a strategic investor who can potentially add significant value to our business,’ says Dr Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power. ‘I look forward to working with JCB as we scale up our business and seek to enter new markets with our product offering.’ ‘We are excited by the prospects of hydrogen technology,’ adds Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB Research. ‘We expect to be an actively supportive shareholder in ITM Power, and look forward to working with the board and management team and to sharing some of our expertise in manufacturing and engineering.’ Sheffield-based ITM Power has just been awarded funding to build new hydrogen vehicle fueling stations in London, and upgrade four existing stations in Sheffield and London [see page 9]. The company is also commercialising PEM electrolysers for applications such as Power-to-Gas (P2G) [FCB, March 2015, p9], and developing its hydrocarbon membrane technology for fuel cell applications [see the ITM Power features in FCB, January and June 2012]. ITM Power, Sheffield, UK. Tel: +44 114 244 5111, www.itm-power.com
RESEARCH
US DOE awards for hydrogen production and FCEV systems
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he US Department of Energy has announced the 2015 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase 2 Release 1 Awards, which include three projects focusing on hydrogen production from electrolysis and hydrogen systems supporting fuel cell electric vehicles. DOE’s key hydrogen objectives are to reduce the cost of producing and delivering hydrogen to less than $4 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (gge), to enable FCEVs to be competitive with gasoline vehicles. Key fuel cell objectives are to reduce fuel cell system cost to $40/kW and improve durability to 5000 h (equivalent to 150 000 miles, 240 000 km of driving) for automotive fuel cell systems by 2020. The SBIR/STTR projects selected for negotiation build on Phase 1 awards last year [FCB, March 2014, p11], and include: UÊ Tetramer Technologies (www.tetramer.com) in Pendleton, South Carolina will improve PEM electrolyser ion-exchange membranes to develop a lower-cost, higher-performance method of commercially generating onsite hydrogen by water electrolysis.
April 2015
UQM wins first order for its new fuel cell compressor system
C
olorado-based UQM Technologies has received its first fuel cell compressor module purchase order, from PEM fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems in Canada. These compressor modules are an integral component of hydrogen powered fuel cell electric vehicles. The UQM R410 fuel cell compressor system is designed for medium-duty automotive and commercial bus applications for up to 150 kW fuel cell stacks. The purchase order calls for shipments of product to Ballard over the next four months, and will generate revenue in excess of US$600 000, with follow-on orders expected from Ballard. ‘We are excited to be working directly with Ballard on their fuel cell bus programmes,’ says Eric R. Ridenour, president and CEO of UQM Technologies. ‘Our expansion directly into the fuel cell compressor business is already paying off for UQM, and we believe that the advantages our system offers will allow further growth with Ballard and additional customers.’ UQM Technologies is a developer and manufacturer of power-dense, high-efficiency electric motors, generators, and power electronic controllers for the commercial truck, bus, automotive, marine, military, and industrial markets. A major emphasis for UQM is developing propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and fuel cell electric vehicles.
UQM Technologies, Longmont, Colorado, USA. Tel: +1 303 682 4900, www.uqm.com Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Greenlight using robot for automated fuel cell component production
C
anadian-based Greenlight Innovation has taken delivery of an integrated robotic assembly system specific to fuel cell manufacturing, which it will use in the automated hydrogen fuel cell component production systems it offers. The automated system was developed for a leading automotive manufacturer, to support its
12
Fuel Cells Bulletin
advance into PEM fuel cell mass production. The custom Greenlight solution features a turntable with three stations: operator load/ unload, robotic applicator, and infrared curing. The robotic station can be programmed to apply sealant, primer, adhesive, or gasket material in a rapid and precise manner. For this task, Greenlight selected a KUKA sixaxis Agilus robot with a 700 mm reach, and integrated a Nordson piezoelectric metering head for precision dispensing. The robotic solution has proven to be much more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective than alternative material application methods. The end result is a more repeatable process that virtually eliminates component rejects. In addition to fuel cell manufacturing, this automated solution can be configured for a wide variety of applications, such as electronics manufacturing, product assembly etc. The robotic arm can also be easily reprogrammed to accommodate new parts as designs evolve. Greenlight’s Industrial Automation division specialises in robotics and custom automation machinery for the hydrogen fuel cell, battery, solar, chemical, and automotive industries. Last summer Greenlight supplied its 200th PEM fuel cell test station to an automotive OEM [FCB, July 2014, p5], and before that it acquired Commonwealth Automation, a leading supplier of automated equipment for fuel cell manufacturing [FCB, April 2014, p11]. Greenlight Innovation, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 676 4000, www.greenlightinnovation.com KUKA Robotics: www.kuka-robotics.com
JCB takes strategic stake in ITM Power
I
n the UK, ITM Power reports that JCB Research and Valebond Consultants Ltd – which is wholly owned by Jo Bamford, director of the JCB excavators manufacturer – have together acquired a strategic shareholding in ITM Power through a subscription for new ordinary shares, making them ITM’s largest shareholder. The new investors paid nearly £4.9 million (US$7.3 million) for 16.1 million new shares, representing 9.1% of ITM Power’s enlarged share capital. ITM will use the proceeds as additional working capital as it continues to scale up its business. JCB Research also has the right to appoint a person it nominates to the board of ITM Power. ‘In addition to the new funds that this investment brings to ITM Power, we are
delighted to have on board a strategic investor who can potentially add significant value to our business,’ says Dr Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power. ‘I look forward to working with JCB as we scale up our business and seek to enter new markets with our product offering.’ ‘We are excited by the prospects of hydrogen technology,’ adds Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB Research. ‘We expect to be an actively supportive shareholder in ITM Power, and look forward to working with the board and management team and to sharing some of our expertise in manufacturing and engineering.’ Sheffield-based ITM Power has just been awarded funding to build new hydrogen vehicle fueling stations in London, and upgrade four existing stations in Sheffield and London [see page 9]. The company is also commercialising PEM electrolysers for applications such as Power-to-Gas (P2G) [FCB, March 2015, p9], and developing its hydrocarbon membrane technology for fuel cell applications [see the ITM Power features in FCB, January and June 2012]. ITM Power, Sheffield, UK. Tel: +44 114 244 5111, www.itm-power.com
RESEARCH
US DOE awards for hydrogen production and FCEV systems
T
he US Department of Energy has announced the 2015 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase 2 Release 1 Awards, which include three projects focusing on hydrogen production from electrolysis and hydrogen systems supporting fuel cell electric vehicles. DOE’s key hydrogen objectives are to reduce the cost of producing and delivering hydrogen to less than $4 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (gge), to enable FCEVs to be competitive with gasoline vehicles. Key fuel cell objectives are to reduce fuel cell system cost to $40/kW and improve durability to 5000 h (equivalent to 150 000 miles, 240 000 km of driving) for automotive fuel cell systems by 2020. The SBIR/STTR projects selected for negotiation build on Phase 1 awards last year [FCB, March 2014, p11], and include: UÊ Tetramer Technologies (www.tetramer.com) in Pendleton, South Carolina will improve PEM electrolyser ion-exchange membranes to develop a lower-cost, higher-performance method of commercially generating onsite hydrogen by water electrolysis.
April 2015