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First Ballard fuel cell bus for Olympic fleet passes field trial
NEWS / EDITORIAL (0–62 mph) in less than 11 s. Their top speed is electronically limited to 150 km/h (93 mph) in the interests of optimal range and energy efficiency. For more on Daimler’s fuel cell program, go to: www.daimler.com/technology
First Ballard fuel cell bus for Olympic fleet passes field trial
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C-based Ballard Power Systems says that its pre-production fuel cell bus, manufactured by its consortium with New Flyer Industries Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba and California-based ISE Corporation, has successfully completed its field trial. The ‘Notice to Proceed’ has now been authorized for the manufacture of 20 fuel cell buses for BC Transit’s hydrogen fuel cell demonstration fleet. Ballard began delivery of its HD6 fuel cell bus modules in December, with the remaining modules being delivered through mid-2009. During the evaluation period, the pre-production bus operated up to 16 h per day in Victoria and Whistler, and accumulated more than 575 h of on-road testing. The fuel cell buses have a driving range of approximately 450 km (280 miles), and offer an electrical efficiency of 57% at rated power – more than double the efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The bus powertrain is based on a hybrid fuel cell/battery architecture with an electric drive, which enables higher vehicle efficiency and improved fuel cell durability. This is the first time that Ballard’s bus fuel cell products have been integrated into a hybrid drive. The HD6 fuel cell bus module is designed to be robust and durable in harsh operating conditions. The HD6 module comprises two stack modules connected in series to provide a gross power output of 150 kW. These buses will be delivered to BC Transit by the end of 2009, and will be in use in Whistler during and after the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which take place in February and March 2010, respectively. The BC Transit fleet of 20 buses will be the largest fleet of fuel cell buses in the world. ‘The successful completion of the testing of the pre-production bus and the Notice to Proceed, is a significant milestone on the road towards commercialization of fuel cell buses,’ notes John Sheridan, president/CEO of Ballard.
February 2009
‘The new hybrid architecture results in high efficiency, is expected to meet the lifetime requirements of a transit fleet, and is a platform that enables significant cost reduction of the fuel cell system. We are particularly excited, given that the buses will be in use during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in our home province.’ Contact: Ballard Power Systems Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Chevy Equinox fuel cell cars pass half a million miles in total
C
hevrolet’s Project Driveway fuel cell vehicles program has reached several important milestones. According to Chevrolet vice president and general manager Ed Peper, GM now has more than 100 vehicles on the road, and passed 500 000 miles (800 000 km) of fuel cell driving at Christmas. The Project Driveway program began in October 2007, and will run through the end of 2010 [FCB, December 2007]. The program puts Equinox electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells into the hands of normal drivers to gain real-world experience and learning. More than 3400 individuals have driven the fuel cell Equinox; either in short drives at media programs or special events, or as part of longer loan. ‘The vehicles are performing very well, and we are learning a great deal about fuel cell robustness and how to make this program work for real customers,’ says Marybeth Stanek, GM’s director of fuel cell commercialization. ‘The amount of data we’ve collected over the past year is very valuable to us, and gives us insight into this important automotive technology.’ The program is mainly in the US, although some vehicles have been sent to Europe [FCB, January 2009] and Asia. In the US, the vehicles are being placed with media, public policy leaders, business partners, celebrities and ‘regular’ customers who have raised their hands via the internet. Drivers generally have the vehicles for two months, although some placements, such as those with business partners Disney and Virgin Atlantic, run for the entire program. US television star Jay Leno has been driving a fuel cell Equinox since last April. The vehicles are production Chevrolet Equinoxes, outfitted with GM’s fourth-generation fuel cell propulsion system. They meet
ED ITOR IA L
T
he initiatives to pump vast sums of money into some of the world’s largest economies – in particular President Obama’s $825 billion plan to stimulate the US economy – are attracting pleas from the renewable energy sector. The US Fuel Cell Council is banging on the door of the new boss, making its case to invest $1.2bn in fuel cells, hydrogen and infrastructure – through fully funding existing programs of the 2005 Energy Policy Act at levels Congress has already approved for fiscal 2010, and other authorized funds. Such investment ‘will put hundreds of fuel cell vehicles and up to 100 MW of fuel cell power into customers’ hands.’ The USFCC wants to see $100m invested in wider fuel cell deployment, both via purchases by federal agencies, and through federal policies and funds to support public and private-sector purchases and leases of fuel cells and infrastructure. This deployment would need an enhanced supporting fueling infrastructure, through a further $65m in federal grants and tax credits. In addition, two major application areas for investment would be learning demonstrations ($375m) and fuel cell transit ($180m). In the former, early commercial and advanced experimental systems would be put in the hands of government and private-sector users, who would help evaluate the systems while enjoying their real-world benefits. And in transit, fuel cell buses have proved their capability in revenue service operation in several field trials, so any stimulus should include the purchase of at least 100 fuel cell buses, and funds for relevant infrastructure. The manufacturing industries are in particular need of economic stimulus, and the USFCC is calling for $100m to build American fuel cell manufacturing capacity. Fuel cell companies and suppliers need to invest in manufacturing capacity, but money is difficult to find. Federal grants and tax credits for investment in manufacturing infrastructure would maintain jobs and industrial capability, stimulate the supply chain, and reduce unit costs. Significant support would allow manufacturers to begin upgrading and expanding their capacity immediately. The USFCC also wants $350m to accelerate research in partnership with industry. Fuel cell and hydrogen research would retain and expand jobs at universities and national labs and in the private sector, and accelerate commercialization. Basic research is needed in advanced materials, catalysis and the like, while applied research should focus on improved performance and reduced costs, and improved availability, storage and utility of hydrogen and other fuels. Time will tell whether any of this is taken on board by the Obama administration, but such support has the dual benefits of supporting industry and accelerating the development and application of cleaner energy technologies. Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
First Ballard fuel cell bus for Olympic fleet passes field trial
B
C-based Ballard Power Systems says that its pre-production fuel cell bus, manufactured by its consortium with New Flyer Industries Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba and California-based ISE Corporation, has successfully completed its field trial. The ‘Notice to Proceed’ has now been authorized for the manufacture of 20 fuel cell buses for BC Transit’s hydrogen fuel cell demonstration fleet. Ballard began delivery of its HD6 fuel cell bus modules in December, with the remaining modules being delivered through mid-2009. During the evaluation period, the pre-production bus operated up to 16 h per day in Victoria and Whistler, and accumulated more than 575 h of on-road testing. The fuel cell buses have a driving range of approximately 450 km (280 miles), and offer an electrical efficiency of 57% at rated power – more than double the efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The bus powertrain is based on a hybrid fuel cell/battery architecture with an electric drive, which enables higher vehicle efficiency and improved fuel cell durability. This is the first time that Ballard’s bus fuel cell products have been integrated into a hybrid drive. The HD6 fuel cell bus module is designed to be robust and durable in harsh operating conditions. The HD6 module comprises two stack modules connected in series to provide a gross power output of 150 kW. These buses will be delivered to BC Transit by the end of 2009, and will be in use in Whistler during and after the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which take place in February and March 2010, respectively. The BC Transit fleet of 20 buses will be the largest fleet of fuel cell buses in the world. ‘The successful completion of the testing of the pre-production bus and the Notice to Proceed, is a significant milestone on the road towards commercialization of fuel cell buses,’ notes John Sheridan, president/CEO of Ballard.
February 2009
‘The new hybrid architecture results in high efficiency, is expected to meet the lifetime requirements of a transit fleet, and is a platform that enables significant cost reduction of the fuel cell system. We are particularly excited, given that the buses will be in use during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in our home province.’ Contact: Ballard Power Systems Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Chevy Equinox fuel cell cars pass half a million miles in total
C
hevrolet’s Project Driveway fuel cell vehicles program has reached several important milestones. According to Chevrolet vice president and general manager Ed Peper, GM now has more than 100 vehicles on the road, and passed 500 000 miles (800 000 km) of fuel cell driving at Christmas. The Project Driveway program began in October 2007, and will run through the end of 2010 [FCB, December 2007]. The program puts Equinox electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells into the hands of normal drivers to gain real-world experience and learning. More than 3400 individuals have driven the fuel cell Equinox; either in short drives at media programs or special events, or as part of longer loan. ‘The vehicles are performing very well, and we are learning a great deal about fuel cell robustness and how to make this program work for real customers,’ says Marybeth Stanek, GM’s director of fuel cell commercialization. ‘The amount of data we’ve collected over the past year is very valuable to us, and gives us insight into this important automotive technology.’ The program is mainly in the US, although some vehicles have been sent to Europe [FCB, January 2009] and Asia. In the US, the vehicles are being placed with media, public policy leaders, business partners, celebrities and ‘regular’ customers who have raised their hands via the internet. Drivers generally have the vehicles for two months, although some placements, such as those with business partners Disney and Virgin Atlantic, run for the entire program. US television star Jay Leno has been driving a fuel cell Equinox since last April. The vehicles are production Chevrolet Equinoxes, outfitted with GM’s fourth-generation fuel cell propulsion system. They meet
ED ITOR IA L
T
he initiatives to pump vast sums of money into some of the world’s largest economies – in particular President Obama’s $825 billion plan to stimulate the US economy – are attracting pleas from the renewable energy sector. The US Fuel Cell Council is banging on the door of the new boss, making its case to invest $1.2bn in fuel cells, hydrogen and infrastructure – through fully funding existing programs of the 2005 Energy Policy Act at levels Congress has already approved for fiscal 2010, and other authorized funds. Such investment ‘will put hundreds of fuel cell vehicles and up to 100 MW of fuel cell power into customers’ hands.’ The USFCC wants to see $100m invested in wider fuel cell deployment, both via purchases by federal agencies, and through federal policies and funds to support public and private-sector purchases and leases of fuel cells and infrastructure. This deployment would need an enhanced supporting fueling infrastructure, through a further $65m in federal grants and tax credits. In addition, two major application areas for investment would be learning demonstrations ($375m) and fuel cell transit ($180m). In the former, early commercial and advanced experimental systems would be put in the hands of government and private-sector users, who would help evaluate the systems while enjoying their real-world benefits. And in transit, fuel cell buses have proved their capability in revenue service operation in several field trials, so any stimulus should include the purchase of at least 100 fuel cell buses, and funds for relevant infrastructure. The manufacturing industries are in particular need of economic stimulus, and the USFCC is calling for $100m to build American fuel cell manufacturing capacity. Fuel cell companies and suppliers need to invest in manufacturing capacity, but money is difficult to find. Federal grants and tax credits for investment in manufacturing infrastructure would maintain jobs and industrial capability, stimulate the supply chain, and reduce unit costs. Significant support would allow manufacturers to begin upgrading and expanding their capacity immediately. The USFCC also wants $350m to accelerate research in partnership with industry. Fuel cell and hydrogen research would retain and expand jobs at universities and national labs and in the private sector, and accelerate commercialization. Basic research is needed in advanced materials, catalysis and the like, while applied research should focus on improved performance and reduced costs, and improved availability, storage and utility of hydrogen and other fuels. Time will tell whether any of this is taken on board by the Obama administration, but such support has the dual benefits of supporting industry and accelerating the development and application of cleaner energy technologies. Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3