Hydrogenics fuel cell buses for German transit operator

Hydrogenics fuel cell buses for German transit operator

NEWS levels and overall driving refinement of its new sibling as powered by petrol or diesel. For more on the Kia Borrego FCEV, go to: www.kiamedia.co...

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NEWS levels and overall driving refinement of its new sibling as powered by petrol or diesel. For more on the Kia Borrego FCEV, go to: www.kiamedia.com/secure/kia_borregofcev.php

Hydrogenics fuel cell buses for German transit operator

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anadian-based Hydrogenics has been awarded a contract to deliver two hydrogen-powered fuel cell buses to Vestische Strassenbahnen GmbH, a public transit operator in the Nordrhein-Westfalen region of Germany. The buses are scheduled to enter service during 2009, and will provide a daily service in the cities of Herten and Bottrop. Once delivered, Hydrogenics will have placed a total of nine hydrogen-powered fuel cell buses in Europe, including three buses for the HyChain MiniTrans project [FCB, July 2006]. The project is being supported by the German Land of Nordrhein-Westfalen and the European Union through the HyChain Mini-Trans project. ‘Hydrogen-powered fuel cell buses for standard daily transit demonstrate the move of hydrogen into the energy mainstream,’ comments Daryl Wilson, president/CEO of Hydrogenics. ‘When deployed with a hydrogenpowered fuel cell, the buses enjoy greater operating distance over a battery-only bus, enhanced operating performance and faster refill time compared with a battery-only propulsion vehicle.’

Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com

mobile applications

Protonex shows vehicle power system at RVIA show

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assachusetts-based Protonex Technology Corporation, a provider of fuel cell power systems for portable, remote and mobile applications, used the recent Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) trade show in Louisville, Kentucky to preview its new 250 W fuel cell hybrid power system. The company says that its M250-B system will be the first 4

Fuel Cells Bulletin

250 W power system based on fuel cell technology to be introduced into the consumer recreational vehicle (RV) market place. (SFC Smart Fuel Cell in Germany already supplies higherpower DMFC units for this promising early market.) The M250-B system is designed to provide power for RV enthusiasts without the noise, odor, vibration and carbon footprint associated with conventional generators. It is expected to offer RV owners freedom from noise, generator curfews and independence from RV ‘shore’ power connection – benefits not previously available to RV owners. The system takes advantage of fuel cell and hybrid power technology developed by Protonex. The proprietary technology blends the advantages of a fuel cell power generator with conventional hybrid batteries, eliminating the many disadvantages associated with petrol or diesel generators. To power the system, the M250-B will run on safe, clean, biodegradable methanol, and is configured to seamlessly integrate with existing power components typically found in an RV, including deep-cycle batteries, inverters, generators, chargers, solar panels and alternators. The firm’s PEM fuel cell systems are combined with its advanced reformer-based fuel processing technology. According to Protonex, the M250-B product it previewed at the RVIA show represents an important milestone for the firm, as it gears up to expand into key commercial markets. The system is expected to be commercially available during the first half of 2009. Protonex develops and manufactures compact, lightweight and high-performance PEM and solid oxide fuel cell systems for portable power applications in the 10–1000 W range. Its systems are designed to meet the needs of military and OEM customers for off-grid applications that are under-served by existing technologies, by providing stand-alone portable power units and systems that may be hybridized with existing power technologies. Contact: Protonex Technology Corporation, Southborough, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 490 9960, www.protonex.com

AMI, student team set new record fuel-cell aircraft flight

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n the US, the longest flight so far of a fuel-cell powered, radio-controlled aerial vehicle has been achieved by students at the University of Michigan

and engineers at fuel cell manufacturer Adaptive Materials Inc, based in Ann Arbor. Their plane, named Endurance, flew for 10 hours, 15 minutes and 4 seconds in a flight that lasted from sunrise to sunset on 30 October at Field of Dreams Park in Milan, Michigan. The previous record, held by California-based AeroVironment, was just over 9 h [FCB, May 2008]. The SolarBubbles student team built the airframe, which has a 2.4 m (8 ft) wingspan. Adaptive Materials funded the project and built the aerial vehicle’s propane-powered solid oxide fuel cell, which forms part of the aerial vehicle’s hybrid battery system. Adaptive Materials has worked extensively on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and says that it will work with SolarBubbles to achieve a 20 h test flight. ‘It is critical for unmanned aerial vehicles to have extended flight times, to provide the functionality needed for military missions,’ notes Michelle Crumm, chief business officer at Adaptive Materials. ‘The flight time achieved with the SolarBubbles team surpassed any of Adaptive Materials’ previous work with aerial vehicles, and shows that we are just scratching the surface for what is possible with a lightweight, reliable fuel cell.’ Endurance had enough fuel to fly for five more hours, but it had to land at dusk because it was not made to fly at night. The plane flew almost 159 km (99 miles) over the course of the day, as students took turns flying it in a holding pattern. The SolarBubbles team designs, builds and tests unmanned aircraft. In addition to this fuel cell project, students are working to build a solar-powered unmanned aircraft with a wingspan smaller than 4.6 m (15 ft) that can fly for more than 36 h. Contact: Adaptive Materials Inc, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Tel: +1 734 302 7632, www.adaptivematerials.com

small stationary

Plug Power, National Grid trial micro-CHP system

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n the US, Plug Power is working with international natural gas and electric utility National Grid and the Department of Energy to conduct the first field trial of its new combined heat and power (micro-CHP) GenSys® PEM fuel cell system. Fueled by natural gas, the 5 kW GenSys unit will provide

January 2009