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APFCT fuel cell scooter completes ‘record’ 1000 km test drive
NEWS / EDITORIAL Transport for London is a member of the Hydrogen Bus Alliance, an international partnership whose members are committed to supporting the continued and rapid development and commercialization of hydrogen technology in the transport sector. Between December 2003 and January 2007, TfL took part in the EU-funded Cleaner Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) project, and its extension HyFLEET:CUTE, trialing three first-generation hydrogen fuel cell buses on the RV1 route. Transport for London: www.tfl.gov.uk Wrightbus: www.wrightbus.com London Hydrogen Partnership: www.london.gov.uk/lhp Hydrogen Bus Alliance: www.hydrogenbusalliance.org
APFCT fuel cell scooter completes ‘record’ 1000 km test drive
I
n Taiwan, Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies recently road-tested its latest fuel cell scooter in differing weather and road conditions on a four-day trip around Taiwan. The total distance was more than 1000 km (625 miles), and is thought to establish a long-distance world record for an onroad test drive of a fuel cell scooter. The fuel cell scooter encountered many different severe weather conditions during the trip, including strong sun with high heat for many hours, and showers and heavy rain. Even so, the fuel cell system operated smoothly, and the scooter performance was stable throughout. This fully demonstrates the maturity, durability, and stability of APFCT’s PEM fuel cell system and integration technology. The test drive was conducted with a brandnew fuel cell scooter, built using mass production methods. Apart from the fuel cell and electric control systems, designed and produced by APFCT, all the other components – including the frame, motor, transmission etc. – came from Taiwanese suppliers. The scooter uses APFCT’s unique lowpressure metal hydride hydrogen canisters. The hydrogen refueling and canister exchange business model is similar to the exchange of gas cylinders used by many Taiwan households. All hydrogen canisters will be manufactured and refueled in a central facility before delivery to ‘exchange points’, which can be regular gas stations, convenience stores, or other retail networks. Changing a canister takes less than a
June 2010
minute, and once a new canister is plugged in, users can immediately ride away. The company unveiled its next-generation ZES fuel cell scooter – powered by a fuel cell/ battery hybrid system – at the Motorcycle Taiwan 2010 show in April. ‘ZES is positioned as a short-range transport for inner-city commute, with a maximum speed of up to 46 km/h (29 mph),’ explains APFCT’s technology manager, Rick Hsiao. ‘The main difference between ZES and APFCT’s previous scooters is that the structure design of its fuel cell powertrain is more compact. The fuel cell powertrain is smaller and lighter, about 15% of reduction in weight.’ Earlier this year, APFCT’s scooters were selected by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology & Inspection (BSMI) in Taiwan to participate in a national project, ‘Program for Research the Techniques, Standards Verification & Validation of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Scooter’. The results will provide crucial information to BSMI to establish codes and standards for the use of fuel cell scooters in Taiwan. APFCT is also developing fuel cell micro cars and other light electric vehicles. Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd, Chunan, Miaoli, Taiwan. Tel: +886 37 584019, www.apfct.com
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
EFOY powers mobile offices in German government vehicles For several months the German federal office for goods transport (BAG) has been operating almost 400 official vehicles equipped with EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cells for onboard power, supplied by SFC Smart Fuel Cell. The special vehicles have been used as mobile offices for road and toll control services. It is a significant challenge to provide reliable power in special purpose vehicles with no access to the public grid – especially when the vehicle is not moving – because battery capacity is very limited. Vehicles have to drive back to the electrical grid access point and plug in, or recharge the battery while standing with the engine idling, which results in high noise impact and environmental pollution. But now, with a fuel cell installed in the trunk or in a cabinet system, the battery can be recharged automatically and without any user intervention, whenever needed, quietly and without emissions. There is no need for recharging at an electrical outlet. This offers
EDITORIAL
B
y a fortunate historical coincidence, the small New England state of Connecticut has a long record of leadership in the fuel cell industry, both within the US and indeed on the global stage. For many years UTC Power (in its various forms, including International Fuel Cells) and FuelCell Energy (originally known as Energy Research Corporation) have provided a significant foundation for the expansion of the state’s industrial and research prominence in fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. Companies like Proton Energy Systems and Avalence are now picking up the baton and keeping Connecticut at the forefront as these zero- or low-carbon clean energy technologies finally break through into the commercial mass market. So it is timely to report on what Connecticut is doing to support this nascent industry. This issue carries a feature article on the role that the Connecticut Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Coalition (www.chfcc.org) is playing in enhancing economic growth through the development, manufacture, and deployment of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and associated fueling systems in the state. The CT Coalition currently has more than 40 member companies and organizations, with representatives from Connecticut’s fuel cell and hydrogen industry, labor organizations, academia, government, and other stakeholders. Its activities build on the recommendations of the Connecticut Fuel Cell Economic Development Plan, published in 2008, which provided a market assessment of the industry, identified barriers, market drivers, and opportunities, and created a strategy to advance the industry in Connecticut and globally. Building a fuel cell industry creates jobs – both directly and indirectly, for example in the supply chain – and also creates a significant amount of local, state and national tax revenue. In a recent report, State of the States: Fuel Cells in America, the respected Fuel Cells 2000 information portal (www.fuelcells.org) analyzed fuel cell activities at the state level across the US [FCB, May 2010, page 11]. The report identified five states with the highest level of activity in terms of supportive fuel cell and hydrogen policies, installations and demonstrations, Road Maps, and the overall level of activism. It’s a coincidence that four of these ‘Top 5 Fuel Cell States’ have been the focus of features here in recent months: California [FCB, November 2009], South Carolina [FCB, March 2010], Ohio [FCB, April 2010], and now Connecticut. But these states stand out as the leading fuel cell regions by pretty much any yardstick. (In case you’re wondering, the other ‘Top 5’ state is New York, which we will cover later this year.)
Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
APFCT fuel cell scooter completes ‘record’ 1000 km test drive
I
n Taiwan, Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies recently road-tested its latest fuel cell scooter in differing weather and road conditions on a four-day trip around Taiwan. The total distance was more than 1000 km (625 miles), and is thought to establish a long-distance world record for an onroad test drive of a fuel cell scooter. The fuel cell scooter encountered many different severe weather conditions during the trip, including strong sun with high heat for many hours, and showers and heavy rain. Even so, the fuel cell system operated smoothly, and the scooter performance was stable throughout. This fully demonstrates the maturity, durability, and stability of APFCT’s PEM fuel cell system and integration technology. The test drive was conducted with a brandnew fuel cell scooter, built using mass production methods. Apart from the fuel cell and electric control systems, designed and produced by APFCT, all the other components – including the frame, motor, transmission etc. – came from Taiwanese suppliers. The scooter uses APFCT’s unique lowpressure metal hydride hydrogen canisters. The hydrogen refueling and canister exchange business model is similar to the exchange of gas cylinders used by many Taiwan households. All hydrogen canisters will be manufactured and refueled in a central facility before delivery to ‘exchange points’, which can be regular gas stations, convenience stores, or other retail networks. Changing a canister takes less than a
June 2010
minute, and once a new canister is plugged in, users can immediately ride away. The company unveiled its next-generation ZES fuel cell scooter – powered by a fuel cell/ battery hybrid system – at the Motorcycle Taiwan 2010 show in April. ‘ZES is positioned as a short-range transport for inner-city commute, with a maximum speed of up to 46 km/h (29 mph),’ explains APFCT’s technology manager, Rick Hsiao. ‘The main difference between ZES and APFCT’s previous scooters is that the structure design of its fuel cell powertrain is more compact. The fuel cell powertrain is smaller and lighter, about 15% of reduction in weight.’ Earlier this year, APFCT’s scooters were selected by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology & Inspection (BSMI) in Taiwan to participate in a national project, ‘Program for Research the Techniques, Standards Verification & Validation of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Scooter’. The results will provide crucial information to BSMI to establish codes and standards for the use of fuel cell scooters in Taiwan. APFCT is also developing fuel cell micro cars and other light electric vehicles. Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd, Chunan, Miaoli, Taiwan. Tel: +886 37 584019, www.apfct.com
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
EFOY powers mobile offices in German government vehicles For several months the German federal office for goods transport (BAG) has been operating almost 400 official vehicles equipped with EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cells for onboard power, supplied by SFC Smart Fuel Cell. The special vehicles have been used as mobile offices for road and toll control services. It is a significant challenge to provide reliable power in special purpose vehicles with no access to the public grid – especially when the vehicle is not moving – because battery capacity is very limited. Vehicles have to drive back to the electrical grid access point and plug in, or recharge the battery while standing with the engine idling, which results in high noise impact and environmental pollution. But now, with a fuel cell installed in the trunk or in a cabinet system, the battery can be recharged automatically and without any user intervention, whenever needed, quietly and without emissions. There is no need for recharging at an electrical outlet. This offers
EDITORIAL
B
y a fortunate historical coincidence, the small New England state of Connecticut has a long record of leadership in the fuel cell industry, both within the US and indeed on the global stage. For many years UTC Power (in its various forms, including International Fuel Cells) and FuelCell Energy (originally known as Energy Research Corporation) have provided a significant foundation for the expansion of the state’s industrial and research prominence in fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. Companies like Proton Energy Systems and Avalence are now picking up the baton and keeping Connecticut at the forefront as these zero- or low-carbon clean energy technologies finally break through into the commercial mass market. So it is timely to report on what Connecticut is doing to support this nascent industry. This issue carries a feature article on the role that the Connecticut Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Coalition (www.chfcc.org) is playing in enhancing economic growth through the development, manufacture, and deployment of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and associated fueling systems in the state. The CT Coalition currently has more than 40 member companies and organizations, with representatives from Connecticut’s fuel cell and hydrogen industry, labor organizations, academia, government, and other stakeholders. Its activities build on the recommendations of the Connecticut Fuel Cell Economic Development Plan, published in 2008, which provided a market assessment of the industry, identified barriers, market drivers, and opportunities, and created a strategy to advance the industry in Connecticut and globally. Building a fuel cell industry creates jobs – both directly and indirectly, for example in the supply chain – and also creates a significant amount of local, state and national tax revenue. In a recent report, State of the States: Fuel Cells in America, the respected Fuel Cells 2000 information portal (www.fuelcells.org) analyzed fuel cell activities at the state level across the US [FCB, May 2010, page 11]. The report identified five states with the highest level of activity in terms of supportive fuel cell and hydrogen policies, installations and demonstrations, Road Maps, and the overall level of activism. It’s a coincidence that four of these ‘Top 5 Fuel Cell States’ have been the focus of features here in recent months: California [FCB, November 2009], South Carolina [FCB, March 2010], Ohio [FCB, April 2010], and now Connecticut. But these states stand out as the leading fuel cell regions by pretty much any yardstick. (In case you’re wondering, the other ‘Top 5’ state is New York, which we will cover later this year.)
Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3