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GreenGT H2 fuel cell racing car continues development in France
NEWS has led to that objective being met two years early. Improved stack design and manufacturing helped enable the increased stack life. AC Transit’s demonstration over the past five years indicates that the commercial lifetime target of 25 000 h is within reach. Conventional diesel buses operate on a similar timeline, about six years in service or half the lifetime of the bus, at which point diesel engines used in transit operations require a major overhaul. Under a contract managed by Calstart, the FTA’s NFCBP accelerated testing of upgraded fuel cells in AC Transit’s original three-bus fleet. AC Transit installed these units in three of their fleet of 12 second-generation fuel cell transit buses, to continue testing. The agency’s 40 ft (12 m) hybrid-electric fuel cell buses were made by Belgian bus builder Van Hool, and are powered by a PureMotion® 120 kW PEM fuel cell system from what was UTC Power in Connecticut. Early last year, Torrance-based US Hybrid executed a global licensing agreement with United Technologies Corporation to commercialise UTC Power’s proven PEM fuel cell technologies [FCB, February 2014, p10]. US Hybrid provides technical support to maintain the AC Transit fuel cell bus fleet, and is also working to develop a next-generation fuel cell, to lower the cost and further increase lifetime in transit operations. Non-profit Calstart has a successful longterm track record of working with the FTA to develop and commercialise hybrid, fuel cell, and battery electric transit buses [see the News Feature on hydrogen refueling at AC Transit in FCB, May 2012, p13]. Calstart, Pasadena, California, USA. Tel: +1 626 744 5600, www.calstart.org National Fuel Cell Bus Program (Calstart): http://tinyurl.com/calstart-fcbuses National Fuel Cell Bus Program (FTA): www.fta.dot.gov/about/14617.html AC Transit, Fuel Cell Buses: www.actransit.org/environment/the-hyroad US Hybrid, Torrance, California, USA. Tel: +1 310 212 1200, www.ushybrid.com
mobile applications
GreenGT H2 fuel cell racing car continues development in France
T
he GreenGT H2 electric/hydrogen racing car made an appearance at the Paul Ricard circuit near Marseille, during the recent French leg of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
The GreenGT H2 car, powered by 400 kW of high-temperature PEM fuel cells supplied by French-based Symbio FCell, now achieves the performance of a GT-class race car, and has a range comparable with competition cars powered by an internal combustion engine. ‘Following its 35 days of tests, our development programme has given the technical team invaluable experience in the dynamic use of a high-powered hydrogen fuel cell,’ says Jean-François Weber, managing director and head of R&D at Swiss-based GreenGT. ‘We have focused our work on understanding the complex phenomena linked to this new technology, and on building in the consequent technical solutions. By optimising the components and programs, we have significantly improved the output and reliability of all the GreenGT H2’s systems.’ In 2012, GreenGT was selected by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to enter the GreenGT H2 racing hydrogen-electric prototype in the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours [FCB, July 2012, p11]. But the team withdrew as the epic endurance race approached, because it was unable to complete sufficient preparation of the car in time [FCB, June 2013, p5]. GreenGT SA, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. Tel: +41 21 869 7666, www.greengt.com Symbio FCell: www.symbiofcell.com
Plug Power expands fuel cell lift truck fleet with Walmart Canada
U
S-based Plug Power has announced an expansion contract with Walmart Canada, to provide 124 GenDrive fuel cells for the latter’s new High Velocity Distribution Center building in Balzac, Alberta. This expansion to the fleet, in operation since 2010, makes it more than 230 GenDrive units at the site. Walmart Canada will also add a GenFuel infrastructure – the first GenFuel installation in Canada – to support the new High Velocity Distribution Center, as well as the existing Perishable Distribution Center. The GenFuel system provides advanced diagnostics to help customers monitor fleet fueling and operational metrics. Plug Power has an extensive tenure with Walmart. In the US, more than 1800 GenDrive units have been deployed since the relationship began in 2007 [FCB, December 2007, p3]. By the end of Q2 of 2015, Walmart will be using Plug Power hydrogen fuel cells in eight
distribution centres, all utilising the GenFuel system [FCB, August 2014, p2]. Plug Power has supported Walmart Canada with fuel cells since 2010 [FCB, March 2010, p3]. Plug Power has also announced – but not named – a ‘Big Box’ retailer as the latest new customer to deploy a comprehensive GenKey hydrogen and fuel cell system [FCB, January 2014, p1], to power the materials handling fleet in a new distribution warehouse in Troy Township near Toledo, Ohio. (It’s worth noting that Home Depot has just opened a distribution warehouse in Troy Township.) The fully deployed installation includes 177 GenDrive units that are powering a mix of Class 2 and Class 3 lift and reach trucks, a GenFuel hydrogen fuel supply and storage infrastructure, and a GenCare maintenance contract. This site is the first to deploy the newest GenFuel enhancement, an outdoor skid, which gives Plug Power greater quality control and boosts profitability. Plug Power is currently in discussions with this partner – which has more than 100 distribution centres in North America – for future deployments across its network. Plug Power has more than 6500 GenDrive units deployed with materials handling customers [see the Plug Power feature in FCB, December 2011]. It recently announced a GenDrive deployment for lift trucks at Dietz & Watson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a GenKey agreement with a large, unnamed North American footwear manufacturer [FCB, June 2015, p3], as well as contracts with Wisconsin-based Uline [FCB, May 2015, p1] and for the FreezPak Logistics cold storage distribution centre in Carteret, New Jersey [FCB, April 2015, p4]. Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Ballard signs Chinese deal to develop fuel cell modules for trams
C
anadian-based Ballard Power Systems has signed a framework agreement with Tangshan Railway Vehicle Company Ltd (TRC) in China, for the development of a new fuel cell module that will be designed to meet the requirements of tram or ground transport vehicle (GTV) applications. The agreement contemplates that TRC trams will use next-generation Ballard PEM fuel cell power modules designed specifically for this application. Initial work is expected to involve Technology Solutions provided by Ballard to assist in the design and integration of a fuel cell
July 2015
mobile applications
GreenGT H2 fuel cell racing car continues development in France
T
he GreenGT H2 electric/hydrogen racing car made an appearance at the Paul Ricard circuit near Marseille, during the recent French leg of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
The GreenGT H2 car, powered by 400 kW of high-temperature PEM fuel cells supplied by French-based Symbio FCell, now achieves the performance of a GT-class race car, and has a range comparable with competition cars powered by an internal combustion engine. ‘Following its 35 days of tests, our development programme has given the technical team invaluable experience in the dynamic use of a high-powered hydrogen fuel cell,’ says Jean-François Weber, managing director and head of R&D at Swiss-based GreenGT. ‘We have focused our work on understanding the complex phenomena linked to this new technology, and on building in the consequent technical solutions. By optimising the components and programs, we have significantly improved the output and reliability of all the GreenGT H2’s systems.’ In 2012, GreenGT was selected by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to enter the GreenGT H2 racing hydrogen-electric prototype in the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours [FCB, July 2012, p11]. But the team withdrew as the epic endurance race approached, because it was unable to complete sufficient preparation of the car in time [FCB, June 2013, p5]. GreenGT SA, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. Tel: +41 21 869 7666, www.greengt.com Symbio FCell: www.symbiofcell.com
Plug Power expands fuel cell lift truck fleet with Walmart Canada
U
S-based Plug Power has announced an expansion contract with Walmart Canada, to provide 124 GenDrive fuel cells for the latter’s new High Velocity Distribution Center building in Balzac, Alberta. This expansion to the fleet, in operation since 2010, makes it more than 230 GenDrive units at the site. Walmart Canada will also add a GenFuel infrastructure – the first GenFuel installation in Canada – to support the new High Velocity Distribution Center, as well as the existing Perishable Distribution Center. The GenFuel system provides advanced diagnostics to help customers monitor fleet fueling and operational metrics. Plug Power has an extensive tenure with Walmart. In the US, more than 1800 GenDrive units have been deployed since the relationship began in 2007 [FCB, December 2007, p3]. By the end of Q2 of 2015, Walmart will be using Plug Power hydrogen fuel cells in eight
distribution centres, all utilising the GenFuel system [FCB, August 2014, p2]. Plug Power has supported Walmart Canada with fuel cells since 2010 [FCB, March 2010, p3]. Plug Power has also announced – but not named – a ‘Big Box’ retailer as the latest new customer to deploy a comprehensive GenKey hydrogen and fuel cell system [FCB, January 2014, p1], to power the materials handling fleet in a new distribution warehouse in Troy Township near Toledo, Ohio. (It’s worth noting that Home Depot has just opened a distribution warehouse in Troy Township.) The fully deployed installation includes 177 GenDrive units that are powering a mix of Class 2 and Class 3 lift and reach trucks, a GenFuel hydrogen fuel supply and storage infrastructure, and a GenCare maintenance contract. This site is the first to deploy the newest GenFuel enhancement, an outdoor skid, which gives Plug Power greater quality control and boosts profitability. Plug Power is currently in discussions with this partner – which has more than 100 distribution centres in North America – for future deployments across its network. Plug Power has more than 6500 GenDrive units deployed with materials handling customers [see the Plug Power feature in FCB, December 2011]. It recently announced a GenDrive deployment for lift trucks at Dietz & Watson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a GenKey agreement with a large, unnamed North American footwear manufacturer [FCB, June 2015, p3], as well as contracts with Wisconsin-based Uline [FCB, May 2015, p1] and for the FreezPak Logistics cold storage distribution centre in Carteret, New Jersey [FCB, April 2015, p4]. Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Ballard signs Chinese deal to develop fuel cell modules for trams
C
anadian-based Ballard Power Systems has signed a framework agreement with Tangshan Railway Vehicle Company Ltd (TRC) in China, for the development of a new fuel cell module that will be designed to meet the requirements of tram or ground transport vehicle (GTV) applications. The agreement contemplates that TRC trams will use next-generation Ballard PEM fuel cell power modules designed specifically for this application. Initial work is expected to involve Technology Solutions provided by Ballard to assist in the design and integration of a fuel cell
July 2015