- Email: [email protected]
More Plug Power units for Newark Farmers Market forklift fleet
NEWS ROAD VEHICLES Editorial office: Elsevier Ltd The Boulevard, Langford Lane Kidlington Oxford OX5 1GB United Kingdom Tel:+44 (0)1865 843239 Website: www.fuelcellsbulletin.com Publishing Director: Deborah Logan Editor: Steve Barrett E-mail: [email protected] Production Support Manager: Lin Lucas E-mail: [email protected] Subscription Information An annual subscription to Fuel Cells Bulletin includes 12 issues and online access for up to 5 users. Prices: 1557 for all European countries & Iran US$1744 for all countries except Europe and Japan ¥206 700 for Japan Subscriptions run for 12 months, from the date payment is received. More information: http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=14642859 Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier Global Rights Department, PO Box 800, Oxford OX5 1DX, UK; phone: +44 1865 843830, fax: +44 1865 853333, email: [email protected]. You may also contact Global Rights directly through Elsevier’s home page (www.elsevier.com), selecting first ‘Support & contact’, then ‘Copyright & permission’. In the USA, users may clear permissions and make payments through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA; phone: +1 978 750 8400, fax: +1 978 750 4744, and in the UK through the Copyright Licensing Agency Rapid Clearance Service (CLARCS), 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 0LP, UK; phone: +44 (0)20 7631 5555; fax: +44 (0)20 7631 5500. Other countries may have a local reprographic rights agency for payments. Derivative Works Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles including abstracts for internal circulation within their institutions. Permission of the Publisher is required for resale or distribution outside the institution. Permission of the Publisher is required for all other derivative works, including compilations and translations. Electronic Storage or Usage Permission of the Publisher is required to store or use electronically any material contained in this journal, including any article or part of an article. Except as outlined above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the Publisher. Address permissions requests to: Elsevier Science Global Rights Department, at the mail, fax and email addresses noted above. Notice No responsibility is assumed by the Publisher for any injury and/ or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. Because of rapid advances in the medical sciences, in particular, independent verification of diagnoses and drug dosages should be made. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical (medical) standards, inclusion in this publication does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement of the quality or value of such product or of the claims made of it by its manufacturer.
12977 Digitally Produced by Mayfield Press (Oxford) LImited
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
Ballard follow-on tech solutions deal with key automotive OEM
C
anadian-based Ballard Power Systems has signed a follow-on Technology Solutions contract with an unnamed leading global automotive OEM. Under the contract Ballard will provide expertise in PEM fuel cell technology to advance the customer’s membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) development programme related to future versions of its engine for fuel cell electric vehicles. The mandate of Ballard’s Technology Solutions group is to help customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their PEM fuel cell programmes. Ballard delivers this through customised, bundled technology solutions, including specialised engineering services, access to the company’s deep intellectual property (IP) portfolio and know-how, as well as the supply of technology components. This follow-on contract involves Technology Solutions work that began with this customer in 2014, including technology transfer. MEAs are a key component of each PEM fuel cell, and the MEA-related work in this customer programme is being undertaken by Ballard engineers and test technicians in conjunction with the OEM’s in-house fuel cell technical team. The programme is expected to be completed later in 2016. Ballard has also recently signed deals with Guangdong Nation Synergy Hydrogen Power Technology Co Ltd in China for local manufacturing of stacks for heavy-duty vehicles (in a strategic collaboration with Broad-Ocean) as well as hydrogen fuel cell backup power systems [see pages 8 and 9].
Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Hyundai, US DOE extend FCEV loan partnership to 2017
K
orean automaker Hyundai and the US Department of Energy are extending their fuel cell electric vehicle confirmation programme, originally set to run from 2013 through 2015, to its second phase through 2017. This phase
of the programme will make significant use of a newly opened hydrogen refueling station in Washington, DC. The programme involves Hyundai providing a number of Tucson Fuel Cell cars (known elsewhere as the ix35 Fuel Cell) for daily use and confirmation by the DOE, using existing hydrogen infrastructure. This phase of the programme will make significant use of a newly opened hydrogen refueling station in the Washington, DC region, at a National Park Service facility [see the News Feature on page 13]. The Hyundai/DOE partnership effectively continues preparation for the rollout of FCEVs across the US in the near future. The first phase of the Hyundai/DOE programme focused exclusively on southern California, where the earliest hydrogen infrastructure was rolled out. The second phase further expands the programme’s reach to northern California, Washington DC, Michigan, and Denver. Phase 2 commenced in July, in conjunction with the opening of the National Park Service hydrogen station. Tucson Fuel Cell cars will use this newest DOE-developed hydrogen station extensively. The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell has been commercially available since 2013 [FCB, March 2013, p2]. Its practicality and reliability have been demonstrated in a number of long-distance journeys, including a recent European road trip from Bergen in Norway to Bolzano in Italy [see the News Feature in July 2016]. Hyundai Motor Europe is opening a new publicly accessible hydrogen station, operated by Air Liquide, at its headquarters in Offenbach, Germany [see page 4]. Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell: www.hyundaiusa.com/tucsonfuelcell Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell: www.fuelcell.eu
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
More Plug Power units for Newark Farmers Market forklift fleet
N
ewark Farmers Market in New Jersey has placed an order with Plug Power for 96 next-generation GenDrive® PEM fuel cell units, to operate its electric industrial truck fleet. Newark Farmers Market has utilised GenDrive systems as the sole power source for its electric industrial truck fleet since 2011, and has reinvested in the benefits of Plug Power’s GenDrive fuel cells by adopting the next-generation product.
August 2016
NEWS / EDITORIAL In addition, the food distributor has completed an expansion of its business in 2016, engaging Plug Power for a full-service GenKey system, adding 110 new GenDrive fuel cells and a GenFuel hydrogen fueling system to its new state-of-the-art food distribution centre. In 2014, Newark Farmers Market integrated a full GenKey solution from Plug Power to support materials handling operations for a new food distribution building in Newark [FCB, December 2014, p3]. Newark Farmers Market now operates more than 240 GenDrive units, making it the largest fuel cell-powered electric industrial truck fleet in New Jersey, and its truck operators have performed more than 183 000 hydrogen refuelings. ‘Using a GenDrive-powered lift truck fleet has allowed us to increase productivity and continue to grow our operations in New Jersey,’ says David Forem, CEO of Newark Farmer’s Market. ‘Increased operational efficiency, coupled with improved safety and sustainability impacts, made it easy to reinvest in Plug Power’s hydrogen and fuel cell solutions as we cement our leadership position in the market.’ Plug Power has a history of customers who have reinvested in the GenDrive solution, including Central Grocers [FCB, June 2014, p3], Walmart [August 2014, p2], Walmart Canada [July 2015, p4], BMW US Manufacturing [March 2013, p1], Wegmans [February 2010, p4], and Bridgestone [May 2008, p4]. Last autumn it launched the next-generation GenDrive 3340 fuel cell unit for pallet jack electric lift trucks [December 2015, p9]. Plug Power has more than 7000 hydrogen fuel cell products deployed in the North American materials handling sector [see the Plug Power feature in FCB, December 2011]. The company is also expanding into the $20 billion European electric lift truck market, including two major contracts in France with Carrefour and existing customer FM Logistic [July 2016, p1]. Its GenKey solution combines all the elements of a deployment to enable simple adoption [January 2014, p1]. Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
PowerCell delivers 100 kW S3 stack for European truck demo
P
owerCell Sweden AB has delivered the first prototype of its 100 kW PowerCell S3 PEM fuel cell stack, for a distribution truck application with an unnamed European transport company.
August 2016
The Nordic fuel cell developer announced this first order for a PowerCell S3 stack earlier this year [FCB, February 2016, p10], and subsequently received an order for two units for another unnamed ‘strategically important global customer’ [March 2016, p10]. The PowerCell S3 stack is based on the platform developed by PowerCell together with partners in the AutoStack-CORE project. PowerCell recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with one of the project partners, Swiss Hydrogen, to market and sell high-performance fuel cell systems worldwide based on its stacks [May 2016, p10]. ‘The customer’s choice of our stack shows that the PowerCell S3 characteristics are unique and the demand for our clean energy solutions increases,’ says CEO Per Wassén. PowerCell has developed a modular system of PEM fuel cell platforms, powered by sustainably produced hydrogen, and able to handle reformed hydrogen from natural gas, biogas, diesel, or biodiesel. The PowerCell S3 stack platform complements the company’s S1 (1–5 kW) and S2 (5–25 kW) stack platforms, as it covers a higher power range from 20 kW to 100 kW, except that this platform is designed to use only pure hydrogen. The company has also combined its fuel cell and reformer technology into the PowerPac generator. It is collaborating in a Norwegian project to reduce diesel consumption for electricity generation during grocery vehicle deliveries [FCB, April 2015, p3], and is operating a PowerPac generator at a telecom base station in Sweden [November 2015, p1]. PowerCell Sweden AB, Gothenburg, Sweden. Tel: +46 31 720 3620, www.powercell.se AutoStack-CORE project: http://autostack.zsw-bw.de
SMALL STATIONARY
BlueGEN power plant fleet passes 10 million operating hours
T
he BlueGEN™ solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) micro combined heat and power (mCHP) technology has achieved another major milestone, with the units in service exceeding a cumulative total of 10 million operating hours. This SOFC technology was originally developed and rolled out by Australian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd (CFCL), but it was taken over last summer by Italian company SOLIDpower after CFCL went bust [FCB, August 2015, p10].
EDITORIAL
D
aimler has finally unveiled its nextgeneration fuel cell electric vehicle, after several years in which its Asian rivals have grabbed the FCEV headlines. And in a unique approach to mitigate the limiting impact of the nascent hydrogen refueling infrastructure, the MercedesBenz GLC F-CELL will feature plug-in technology to extend the vehicle’s range. The Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL was unveiled at Daimler’s recent ‘TecDay Road to the Future – Drive Train’ presentation [see the News Feature on page 12]. Daimler says that the combination of a compact hydrogen PEM fuel cell system with a high-capacity, plug-in battery is ideal given the progressive development of the hydrogen refueling station infrastructure. The system also features a recuperation function, which allows energy to be recovered and stored in the battery during braking and coasting. Mercedes-Benz engineers have collaborated with partners in the Daimler competence network to develop a new, compact hydrogen PEM fuel cell system, which – for the first time, they say – fits into a conventional engine compartment. Meanwhile, the hydrogen fueling infrastructure around the world continues to expand, as we also report on the unveiling of a modular demonstration hydrogen refueling station by the National Park Service in the US – in partnership with the Department of Energy’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office – in Washington, DC [see the News Feature on page 13]. The project also involved the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which has gained a valuable insight into the unique aspects of hydrogen station permitting and construction. NREL is compiling these insights into a report, which will serve as a guide for future installations. The two other News Features in this issue report on advances in the scientific understanding of fuel cells. Italian researchers have found that a thin layer of moisture on the surface of a platinum catalyst can improve fuel cell efficiency, thanks to a reaction that resembles a kind of ‘proton pinball’ [see the News Feature on page 14]. Wet conditions in heterogeneous catalysis can substantially improve the rate of surface reactions, by assisting the diffusion of reaction intermediates between surface reaction sites. And scientists at Washington State University in the US have discovered a key step in enhancing the performance of solid oxide fuel cells, and electrolysis cells, using an applied electric field to reduce carbon build-up and sulfur poisoning [see the News Feature on page 15]. Their modelling work, using density functional theory calculations, determined that the presence of an electric field at the triple-phase boundary can improve system performance. Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
12977 Digitally Produced by Mayfield Press (Oxford) LImited
2
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Ballard follow-on tech solutions deal with key automotive OEM
C
anadian-based Ballard Power Systems has signed a follow-on Technology Solutions contract with an unnamed leading global automotive OEM. Under the contract Ballard will provide expertise in PEM fuel cell technology to advance the customer’s membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) development programme related to future versions of its engine for fuel cell electric vehicles. The mandate of Ballard’s Technology Solutions group is to help customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their PEM fuel cell programmes. Ballard delivers this through customised, bundled technology solutions, including specialised engineering services, access to the company’s deep intellectual property (IP) portfolio and know-how, as well as the supply of technology components. This follow-on contract involves Technology Solutions work that began with this customer in 2014, including technology transfer. MEAs are a key component of each PEM fuel cell, and the MEA-related work in this customer programme is being undertaken by Ballard engineers and test technicians in conjunction with the OEM’s in-house fuel cell technical team. The programme is expected to be completed later in 2016. Ballard has also recently signed deals with Guangdong Nation Synergy Hydrogen Power Technology Co Ltd in China for local manufacturing of stacks for heavy-duty vehicles (in a strategic collaboration with Broad-Ocean) as well as hydrogen fuel cell backup power systems [see pages 8 and 9].
Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Hyundai, US DOE extend FCEV loan partnership to 2017
K
orean automaker Hyundai and the US Department of Energy are extending their fuel cell electric vehicle confirmation programme, originally set to run from 2013 through 2015, to its second phase through 2017. This phase
of the programme will make significant use of a newly opened hydrogen refueling station in Washington, DC. The programme involves Hyundai providing a number of Tucson Fuel Cell cars (known elsewhere as the ix35 Fuel Cell) for daily use and confirmation by the DOE, using existing hydrogen infrastructure. This phase of the programme will make significant use of a newly opened hydrogen refueling station in the Washington, DC region, at a National Park Service facility [see the News Feature on page 13]. The Hyundai/DOE partnership effectively continues preparation for the rollout of FCEVs across the US in the near future. The first phase of the Hyundai/DOE programme focused exclusively on southern California, where the earliest hydrogen infrastructure was rolled out. The second phase further expands the programme’s reach to northern California, Washington DC, Michigan, and Denver. Phase 2 commenced in July, in conjunction with the opening of the National Park Service hydrogen station. Tucson Fuel Cell cars will use this newest DOE-developed hydrogen station extensively. The Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell has been commercially available since 2013 [FCB, March 2013, p2]. Its practicality and reliability have been demonstrated in a number of long-distance journeys, including a recent European road trip from Bergen in Norway to Bolzano in Italy [see the News Feature in July 2016]. Hyundai Motor Europe is opening a new publicly accessible hydrogen station, operated by Air Liquide, at its headquarters in Offenbach, Germany [see page 4]. Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell: www.hyundaiusa.com/tucsonfuelcell Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell: www.fuelcell.eu
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
More Plug Power units for Newark Farmers Market forklift fleet
N
ewark Farmers Market in New Jersey has placed an order with Plug Power for 96 next-generation GenDrive® PEM fuel cell units, to operate its electric industrial truck fleet. Newark Farmers Market has utilised GenDrive systems as the sole power source for its electric industrial truck fleet since 2011, and has reinvested in the benefits of Plug Power’s GenDrive fuel cells by adopting the next-generation product.
August 2016
NEWS / EDITORIAL In addition, the food distributor has completed an expansion of its business in 2016, engaging Plug Power for a full-service GenKey system, adding 110 new GenDrive fuel cells and a GenFuel hydrogen fueling system to its new state-of-the-art food distribution centre. In 2014, Newark Farmers Market integrated a full GenKey solution from Plug Power to support materials handling operations for a new food distribution building in Newark [FCB, December 2014, p3]. Newark Farmers Market now operates more than 240 GenDrive units, making it the largest fuel cell-powered electric industrial truck fleet in New Jersey, and its truck operators have performed more than 183 000 hydrogen refuelings. ‘Using a GenDrive-powered lift truck fleet has allowed us to increase productivity and continue to grow our operations in New Jersey,’ says David Forem, CEO of Newark Farmer’s Market. ‘Increased operational efficiency, coupled with improved safety and sustainability impacts, made it easy to reinvest in Plug Power’s hydrogen and fuel cell solutions as we cement our leadership position in the market.’ Plug Power has a history of customers who have reinvested in the GenDrive solution, including Central Grocers [FCB, June 2014, p3], Walmart [August 2014, p2], Walmart Canada [July 2015, p4], BMW US Manufacturing [March 2013, p1], Wegmans [February 2010, p4], and Bridgestone [May 2008, p4]. Last autumn it launched the next-generation GenDrive 3340 fuel cell unit for pallet jack electric lift trucks [December 2015, p9]. Plug Power has more than 7000 hydrogen fuel cell products deployed in the North American materials handling sector [see the Plug Power feature in FCB, December 2011]. The company is also expanding into the $20 billion European electric lift truck market, including two major contracts in France with Carrefour and existing customer FM Logistic [July 2016, p1]. Its GenKey solution combines all the elements of a deployment to enable simple adoption [January 2014, p1]. Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
PowerCell delivers 100 kW S3 stack for European truck demo
P
owerCell Sweden AB has delivered the first prototype of its 100 kW PowerCell S3 PEM fuel cell stack, for a distribution truck application with an unnamed European transport company.
August 2016
The Nordic fuel cell developer announced this first order for a PowerCell S3 stack earlier this year [FCB, February 2016, p10], and subsequently received an order for two units for another unnamed ‘strategically important global customer’ [March 2016, p10]. The PowerCell S3 stack is based on the platform developed by PowerCell together with partners in the AutoStack-CORE project. PowerCell recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with one of the project partners, Swiss Hydrogen, to market and sell high-performance fuel cell systems worldwide based on its stacks [May 2016, p10]. ‘The customer’s choice of our stack shows that the PowerCell S3 characteristics are unique and the demand for our clean energy solutions increases,’ says CEO Per Wassén. PowerCell has developed a modular system of PEM fuel cell platforms, powered by sustainably produced hydrogen, and able to handle reformed hydrogen from natural gas, biogas, diesel, or biodiesel. The PowerCell S3 stack platform complements the company’s S1 (1–5 kW) and S2 (5–25 kW) stack platforms, as it covers a higher power range from 20 kW to 100 kW, except that this platform is designed to use only pure hydrogen. The company has also combined its fuel cell and reformer technology into the PowerPac generator. It is collaborating in a Norwegian project to reduce diesel consumption for electricity generation during grocery vehicle deliveries [FCB, April 2015, p3], and is operating a PowerPac generator at a telecom base station in Sweden [November 2015, p1]. PowerCell Sweden AB, Gothenburg, Sweden. Tel: +46 31 720 3620, www.powercell.se AutoStack-CORE project: http://autostack.zsw-bw.de
SMALL STATIONARY
BlueGEN power plant fleet passes 10 million operating hours
T
he BlueGEN™ solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) micro combined heat and power (mCHP) technology has achieved another major milestone, with the units in service exceeding a cumulative total of 10 million operating hours. This SOFC technology was originally developed and rolled out by Australian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd (CFCL), but it was taken over last summer by Italian company SOLIDpower after CFCL went bust [FCB, August 2015, p10].
EDITORIAL
D
aimler has finally unveiled its nextgeneration fuel cell electric vehicle, after several years in which its Asian rivals have grabbed the FCEV headlines. And in a unique approach to mitigate the limiting impact of the nascent hydrogen refueling infrastructure, the MercedesBenz GLC F-CELL will feature plug-in technology to extend the vehicle’s range. The Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL was unveiled at Daimler’s recent ‘TecDay Road to the Future – Drive Train’ presentation [see the News Feature on page 12]. Daimler says that the combination of a compact hydrogen PEM fuel cell system with a high-capacity, plug-in battery is ideal given the progressive development of the hydrogen refueling station infrastructure. The system also features a recuperation function, which allows energy to be recovered and stored in the battery during braking and coasting. Mercedes-Benz engineers have collaborated with partners in the Daimler competence network to develop a new, compact hydrogen PEM fuel cell system, which – for the first time, they say – fits into a conventional engine compartment. Meanwhile, the hydrogen fueling infrastructure around the world continues to expand, as we also report on the unveiling of a modular demonstration hydrogen refueling station by the National Park Service in the US – in partnership with the Department of Energy’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office – in Washington, DC [see the News Feature on page 13]. The project also involved the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which has gained a valuable insight into the unique aspects of hydrogen station permitting and construction. NREL is compiling these insights into a report, which will serve as a guide for future installations. The two other News Features in this issue report on advances in the scientific understanding of fuel cells. Italian researchers have found that a thin layer of moisture on the surface of a platinum catalyst can improve fuel cell efficiency, thanks to a reaction that resembles a kind of ‘proton pinball’ [see the News Feature on page 14]. Wet conditions in heterogeneous catalysis can substantially improve the rate of surface reactions, by assisting the diffusion of reaction intermediates between surface reaction sites. And scientists at Washington State University in the US have discovered a key step in enhancing the performance of solid oxide fuel cells, and electrolysis cells, using an applied electric field to reduce carbon build-up and sulfur poisoning [see the News Feature on page 15]. Their modelling work, using density functional theory calculations, determined that the presence of an electric field at the triple-phase boundary can improve system performance. Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3