- Email: [email protected]
FuelCon receives repeat test rig order
NEWS committed £45m (US$84m) to the automotive industry. Both centers are receiving DTI funding as part of government business support and innovation activity, but will aim for self-sustainability within three to five years. Technology transfer consultancy Beta Technology has been commissioned by the DTI to project-manage the launch of the two centers. Contact: Professor Geoff Callow, Fuel Cells and Low Carbon Centre of Excellence, Loughborough, UK. Tel: +44 7771 674062, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Beta Technology Ltd, Doncaster, UK. Tel: +44 1302 322633, www.betatechnology.co.uk
DaimlerChrysler purchased common shares worth C$30m (US$24m), while Ford purchased an additional C$25m (US$20m) worth, taking their total stakes in Ballard to 17.9% and 19.6%, respectively. ‘This investment strengthens our financial position, and also shows the commitment of our Alliance partners, DaimlerChrysler and Ford, to Ballard, our fuel cell alliance and automotive fuel cells,’ comments Dennis Campbell, Ballard’s president/CEO. The investment is part of a realignment of Ballard’s alliance with its vehicular partners agreed on last summer [FCB, August]. Contact: Ballard Power Systems Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
FuelCon receives repeat test rig order
G
erman-based FuelCon has received a repeat order for a large number of its Evaluator® C600 test stations from automaker Volkswagen. These test stations will allow VW to test high power density PEM single cells, short stacks and complete stacks. FuelCon’s CEO Mathias Bode says that the repeat VW shipment is an endorsement of the company’s technology, and expands its market position in fuel cell test technologies. The company offers a complete range of fuel cell test stations for PEM, DMFC, SOFC and molten carbonate fuel cell systems in power ranges from a few watts to more than 100 kWe. The products feature FuelCon’s unique ‘Direct Injection Humidification’ technology, integrated dynamic pressure with broad flexibility in purging and dead-end cycling, and FuelWork® software. FuelCon recently launched a new range of Evaluator test rigs for SOFCs [FCB, November]. Contact: FuelCon AG, Magdeburg-Barleben, Germany. Tel: +49 39203 961330, www.fuelcon.com Or contact: FuelCon Systems Inc, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 696 1290.
DaimlerChrysler, Ford invest C$55m in Ballard
B
allard Power Systems’s Vehicular Alliance partners DaimlerChrysler and Ford Motor Company have completed the previously announced purchase of C$55 million (US$44 million) of Ballard common shares in satisfaction of an existing call agreement. 10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
NY state funding boosts H2 vehicle development
N
ew York’s Governor George E. Pataki has announced more than $1.4m in state funding for two hydrogen-powered vehicle demonstration projects, in Buffalo and Albany. The funding, through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), is part of the state’s efforts to develop a sustainable local hydrogen economy. The two projects, with a total value of nearly $5.2m, will help demonstrate hydrogen’s safety and reliability as a fuel for daily use in both FCVs and internal combustion engines (ICEs). Both projects will utilize hydrogen made in New York, and will be managed by NYSERDA in cooperation with the NY Power Authority. American Honda Motor, in partnership with Plug Power, will receive $735 000 for a project developed in cooperation with Air Products & Chemicals and Homeland Energy to construct and operate fueling stations for two Honda FCX cars being leased by the State of New York [FCB, January]. The project will focus on cost and reliability issues, code and siting concerns, and public acceptance of fueling stations. Hydrogen will be generated and dispensed by a Plug Power GenSite generator, with added fueling capability provided by an Air Products HF150 mobile refueler. In addition, American Wind Power & Hydrogen will receive $709 000 to convert the ICEs in several light-duty vehicles owned by the University of Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority to hydrogen fuel, for increased fuel efficiency. NYSERDA will also fund an additional $50 000 feasibility study with Albany
NanoTech – part of the State University of New York (SUNY) – and Plug Power to study the GenSite product’s application potential for the semiconductor industry. Contact: New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, Albany, NY, USA. Tel: +1 518 862 1090, www.nyserda.com Or contact: Plug Power Inc, Latham, NY, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Hydrogenics hydrogen generator for ChevronTexaco bus project
T
oronto-based Hydrogenics has received a contract from ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures (CTTV) to design, build and integrate a fully packaged hydrogen generator. The generator will be based on proprietary natural gas reforming technology being developed by CTTV. It will be installed at a hydrogen station currently being built by CTTV in Oakland, California for Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit). This facility will ultimately have the capacity to produce 150 kg/day of hydrogen, more than sufficient to serve the fueling needs of a demonstration fleet of three 40-foot (12 m) Van Hool/ UTC/ISE fuel cell buses currently under construction for AC Transit. According to CTTV, the hydrogen station is scheduled to begin operation in the fall, in time for the expected delivery of the buses for passenger service. Hydrogenics’s contract is the second under a master services agreement signed with CTTV last summer [FCB, July].
Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Or contact: ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures, Houston, Texas, USA. Tel: +1 713 954 6257, www.chevrontexaco.com/technologyventures
Medis demos products for General Dynamics, opens new facility
P
ower Pack micro fuel cell products from US/Israel-based Medis Technologies showed excellent performance during their first week of functional demonstrations at General Dynamics
February 2005
DaimlerChrysler purchased common shares worth C$30m (US$24m), while Ford purchased an additional C$25m (US$20m) worth, taking their total stakes in Ballard to 17.9% and 19.6%, respectively. ‘This investment strengthens our financial position, and also shows the commitment of our Alliance partners, DaimlerChrysler and Ford, to Ballard, our fuel cell alliance and automotive fuel cells,’ comments Dennis Campbell, Ballard’s president/CEO. The investment is part of a realignment of Ballard’s alliance with its vehicular partners agreed on last summer [FCB, August]. Contact: Ballard Power Systems Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
FuelCon receives repeat test rig order
G
erman-based FuelCon has received a repeat order for a large number of its Evaluator® C600 test stations from automaker Volkswagen. These test stations will allow VW to test high power density PEM single cells, short stacks and complete stacks. FuelCon’s CEO Mathias Bode says that the repeat VW shipment is an endorsement of the company’s technology, and expands its market position in fuel cell test technologies. The company offers a complete range of fuel cell test stations for PEM, DMFC, SOFC and molten carbonate fuel cell systems in power ranges from a few watts to more than 100 kWe. The products feature FuelCon’s unique ‘Direct Injection Humidification’ technology, integrated dynamic pressure with broad flexibility in purging and dead-end cycling, and FuelWork® software. FuelCon recently launched a new range of Evaluator test rigs for SOFCs [FCB, November]. Contact: FuelCon AG, Magdeburg-Barleben, Germany. Tel: +49 39203 961330, www.fuelcon.com Or contact: FuelCon Systems Inc, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 696 1290.
DaimlerChrysler, Ford invest C$55m in Ballard
B
allard Power Systems’s Vehicular Alliance partners DaimlerChrysler and Ford Motor Company have completed the previously announced purchase of C$55 million (US$44 million) of Ballard common shares in satisfaction of an existing call agreement. 10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
NY state funding boosts H2 vehicle development
N
ew York’s Governor George E. Pataki has announced more than $1.4m in state funding for two hydrogen-powered vehicle demonstration projects, in Buffalo and Albany. The funding, through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), is part of the state’s efforts to develop a sustainable local hydrogen economy. The two projects, with a total value of nearly $5.2m, will help demonstrate hydrogen’s safety and reliability as a fuel for daily use in both FCVs and internal combustion engines (ICEs). Both projects will utilize hydrogen made in New York, and will be managed by NYSERDA in cooperation with the NY Power Authority. American Honda Motor, in partnership with Plug Power, will receive $735 000 for a project developed in cooperation with Air Products & Chemicals and Homeland Energy to construct and operate fueling stations for two Honda FCX cars being leased by the State of New York [FCB, January]. The project will focus on cost and reliability issues, code and siting concerns, and public acceptance of fueling stations. Hydrogen will be generated and dispensed by a Plug Power GenSite generator, with added fueling capability provided by an Air Products HF150 mobile refueler. In addition, American Wind Power & Hydrogen will receive $709 000 to convert the ICEs in several light-duty vehicles owned by the University of Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority to hydrogen fuel, for increased fuel efficiency. NYSERDA will also fund an additional $50 000 feasibility study with Albany
NanoTech – part of the State University of New York (SUNY) – and Plug Power to study the GenSite product’s application potential for the semiconductor industry. Contact: New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, Albany, NY, USA. Tel: +1 518 862 1090, www.nyserda.com Or contact: Plug Power Inc, Latham, NY, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Hydrogenics hydrogen generator for ChevronTexaco bus project
T
oronto-based Hydrogenics has received a contract from ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures (CTTV) to design, build and integrate a fully packaged hydrogen generator. The generator will be based on proprietary natural gas reforming technology being developed by CTTV. It will be installed at a hydrogen station currently being built by CTTV in Oakland, California for Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit). This facility will ultimately have the capacity to produce 150 kg/day of hydrogen, more than sufficient to serve the fueling needs of a demonstration fleet of three 40-foot (12 m) Van Hool/ UTC/ISE fuel cell buses currently under construction for AC Transit. According to CTTV, the hydrogen station is scheduled to begin operation in the fall, in time for the expected delivery of the buses for passenger service. Hydrogenics’s contract is the second under a master services agreement signed with CTTV last summer [FCB, July].
Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Or contact: ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures, Houston, Texas, USA. Tel: +1 713 954 6257, www.chevrontexaco.com/technologyventures
Medis demos products for General Dynamics, opens new facility
P
ower Pack micro fuel cell products from US/Israel-based Medis Technologies showed excellent performance during their first week of functional demonstrations at General Dynamics
February 2005