- Email: [email protected]
Riversimple fuel cell cars set for Leicester
NEWS ROAD VEHICLES Editorial office: Elsevier Ltd The Boulevard, Langford Lane Kidlington Oxford OX5 1GB United Kingdom Tel:+44 (0)1865 843239 Fax: +44 (0)1865 843971 Website: www.fuelcellsbulletin.com Editor: Steve Barrett E-mail: [email protected] Publisher: Greg Valero E-mail: [email protected] Production Support Manager: Lin Lucas E-mail: [email protected] Subscription Information An annual subscription to Fuel Cells Bulletin includes 12 printed issues and online access for up to 5 users. Prices: 1157 for all European countries & Iran US$1297 for all countries except Europe and Japan ¥153 700 for Japan (Prices valid until 31 December 2010) To subscribe send payment to the address above. Tel: +44 (0)1865 843687, Fax: +44 (0)1865 834971 Email: [email protected] or via www.fuelcellsbulletin.com. Subscriptions run for 12 months, from the date payment is received. Periodicals postage is paid at Rahway, NJ 07065, USA. Postmaster send all USA address corrections to: Fuel Cells Bulletin, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001, USA 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.
02233 Pre-press/Printed by Mayfield Press (Oxford) LImited
2
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Fuel cell hybrid taxi unveiled in London
Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK. Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com Lotus Engineering: www.grouplotus.com/engineering London Taxis International: www.lti.co.uk TRW Conekt: www.conekt.net
I
n the UK, a consortium including PEM fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy has unveiled a full performance, zeroemissions fuel cell hybrid London taxi. The vehicle – developed with Lotus Engineering, LTI Vehicles and TRW Conekt, with funding from the government’s Technology Strategy Board – is the first of a small fleet of ‘green’ London black cabs being readied for the 2012 Olympic Games. The Fuel Cell Black Cab is powered by an Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell system hybridized with lithium polymer batteries. This allows the vehicle to operate for a full day without refueling. Capable of achieving a top speed of over 80 mph (130 km/h), it has a range of more than 250 miles (400 km) on a full tank of hydrogen, and can be refueled in about five minutes. ‘The black cab is a much loved London icon, but it is also a significant source of pollution, especially in the center of the city,’ says Kit Malthouse, London’s deputy mayor for policing and also chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership. ‘This prototype Fuel Cell Black Cab, which emits only water from its tailpipe, is an exciting glimpse of how hydrogen technology could soon play a vital role in cleaning up air quality for urban dwellers.’ The Fuel Cell Hybrid Taxi is presently undergoing track and road-testing prior to wider deployment. The Technology Strategy Board provided just under £5.5 million (US$8.2m) towards a program to develop and embed fuel cell hybrid technology into the London black cab, as the consortium takes the first steps towards applying this technology in new markets. Later this year, Transport for London will start operating five hydrogen fuel cell hybrid buses [FCB, June 2010]. For the Fuel Cell Black Cab unveiled at City Hall, Lotus Engineering has packaged the full propulsion system, including the fuel cell engine, and has designed control systems to optimize the performance of both the fuel cell and electric drive system. TRW Conekt led the safety analysis program, including braking and steering systems, and LTI has provided donor vehicles to assist with the structural modifications to the taxi chassis. The Intelligent Energy PEM fuel cell system has been integrated into the most recent LTI TX4 design, and fits in to the vehicle without intrusion into its internal or luggage space.
Technology Strategy Board: www.innovateuk.org London Hydrogen Partnership: www.london.gov.uk/lhp
Riversimple fuel cell cars set for Leicester
U
K-based sustainable car developer Riversimple has signed an agreement with Leicester City Council that will see 30 highly energy efficient, hydrogen fuel cell powered cars on the streets of Leicester. The council and Riversimple will cooperate to find both private citizens and organizations to test-drive the vehicles, and locate and staff a suitable hydrogen refueling point. The 12-month pilot will be up and running by spring 2012. If the pilot is a success, Leicester and Riversimple will also discuss the potential for Leicester being the site for a factory producing 5000 city cars per annum. Riversimple plans to run a second UK pilot in parallel, and is in serious discussion with another city; an announcement is expected shortly. The two-seater vehicle was designed by a small team of British motorsport engineers, and is presently being built at Silverstone. It has a maximum cruising speed of 50 mph (80 km/h), and a range of at least 200 miles (320 km). The lightweight composite body means it weighs only 350 kg (770 lb), and its novel design principles suggest it can achieve the equivalent of 300 miles per gallon (0.94 liters per 100 km). The road test ‘customers’ will not buy the cars outright, but will pay a fixed monthly and all-inclusive per-mile charge to use the vehicles. The estimated monthly cost will be around £200 (US$300), plus 15p per mile, including fuel. Customers will provide feedback both to improve the car and the driving experience. The Riversimple car – unveiled last summer [FCB, August 2009] – has four motors powered by a PEM fuel cell rated at just 6 kW, supplied by Singapore-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies. Ultracapacitors are used for additional power, as they can release their charge nearly instantly to provide the power needed for acceleration. The ultracapacitors are recharged by regenerative braking. Riversimple is in the process of second-round fundraising, targeting £20 million ($30m) from
July 2010
NEWS / EDITORIAL investors. The principal backer so far, the family of Ernst Piëch, a member of the Porsche dynasty, is committed to participating in the new round. Riversimple: www.riversimple.com Leicester City Council: www.leicester.gov.uk Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies: www.horizonfuelcell.com
Heliocentris develops energy manager for electric vehicles
I
n Germany, Heliocentris Fuel Cells is developing an innovative energy management system for electric vehicles, which will enable energy storage solutions with a significantly increased range. The project is being support by a grant from the federal ministry of economics. The project aims to develop an energy management system, with which it will be possible to hybridize modern lithium-ion batteries with fuel cells, to create energy storage solutions offering a significantly higher range for electric vehicles. Energy management systems control and optimize energy flows within the storage solution, and constitute a central component of future electric mobility solutions. Electric vehicles are currently the center of attention, both in Germany and around the world. The German government has set a target of having at least one million electric vehicles and 500 000 fuel cell vehicles on German roads by 2020. However, the limited energy density of batteries, even with lithium-ion technology, means that electric vehicles running on batteries alone do not have the range offered by today’s normal motor vehicles. Fuel cell/battery hybrid vehicles are therefore widely regarded as a better solution. ‘The energy management system is a central component of our technology strategy for the development of innovative energy storage solutions with a higher storage capacity and range,’ says Dr Henrik Colell, CEO of Heliocentris. ‘As such, we are coming closer to our goal of positioning ourselves as a provider of fully electric hybrid solutions in the attractive market for special vehicles.’ Heliocentris’ project partner is Berlin-based Embeddeers GmbH, which provides automotive development services. Its expertise lies in the planning and implementation of control software for ‘comfort’ electronics and drivetrains in passenger and commercial vehicles. In this project, Embeddeers is responsible for the generic and project specific control of the
July 2010
energy management. Forchert-Consulting (also in Berlin) is responsible for project coordination. Heliocentris will develop the entire energy manager, including the necessary power electronics, and will provide production as well as global marketing and sales. Development is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. It is being financially supported by the federal ministry for economics, with Heliocentris receiving E175 000 (US$220 000) through the Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM, Central Innovation Program for SMEs). Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 30 6392 6325, www.heliocentris.com Embeddeers GmbH: www.embeddeers.com Forchert-Consulting: www.forchert-consulting.com
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Plug Power fuel cells for lift trucks at Sysco, Walmart Canada
N
ew York-based Plug Power reports that two more food distribution giants will be utilizing its GenDrive™ PEM fuel cell units to power electric lift trucks. Sysco has deployed 98 hydrogenfueled GenDrive systems to power a fleet of Raymond electric lift trucks at its new distribution center in Houston, Texas, while Walmart Canada will integrate GenDrive fuel cells in the fleet of electric lift trucks at its sustainable refrigerated distribution center in Alberta. For the Sysco operation in Houston, GenDrive systems have been installed in 72 Raymond Model 8400 pallet trucks and 26 Raymond Model 7400 Reach-Fork® trucks, supplied by The Raymond Corporation in upstate New York. The fuel cell lift trucks are already moving both dry and freezer goods throughout the 585 000 square foot (54 000 m2) facility. The cold-storage areas of the distribution center can reach temperatures down to –22°C (–8°F). Unlike lead-acid batteries, which do not work well under cold temperatures, fuel cells continue to meet or exceed customer requirements despite the subzero temperatures. Indoor hydrogen fueling dispensers, provided by Pennsylvania-based Air Products, are strategically located throughout the distribution center. Truck operators can refuel the GenDrive units within two minutes, eliminating the need to change, store, charge, and maintain multiple lead-acid batteries per truck.
EDITORIAL
E
uropean efforts to focus research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities on the priority areas in fuel cells and hydrogen energy continue to make steady progress. This month’s feature article, on the 2010 action plan of the European Commissionsupported Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, summarizes the main topics to be targeted in this year’s funding round. In the article I’ve extracted the key points from the FCH JU’s Annual Implementation Plan 2010, which outlines how E89.1 million (US$113 million) in funding will be distributed for research, technological development, and demonstration projects under the plan’s five main areas. These are transportation and refueling infrastructure, hydrogen production and distribution, stationary power generation and CHP, early markets, and cross-cutting issues. The latter include topics such as socioeconomic modeling and planning, technology monitoring and assessment, and lifecycle analysis, as well as the strategic coordination of regulations, codes & standards (RCS) activities. There’s no indication that the ongoing economic slowdown will affect the funding for these activities, although the fact that industry is expected to at least match the EC funding commitment must be testing the nerve of participating companies. One of the key aspects of EC programs is the determination to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which it sees as the lifeblood of a strong industrial sector. In Europe and North America, in particular, such companies form the very broad base of a substantial industry pyramid. The fuel cell industry is no different in this respect, with many of the leading companies counting as SMEs. There is some international variation in how an SME is defined. In Europe ‘small’ is now generally taken to mean fewer than 50 employees, and ‘medium’ less than 250. But in the US these are defined slightly higher, at less than 100 and 500 employees, respectively. (I see from Wikipedia that Industry Canada defines a small business as one with fewer than 100 employees if it produces goods, or fewer than 50 if it provides services; a firm with more than these but fewer than 500 staff is classified as a medium-sized business. Presumably fuel cells count as goods, even at this early stage in their ongoing commercialization.) One last thing: I’d like to wish Jonathan Butler of Fuel Cell Today all the best in his new role as publications manager at Johnson Matthey. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the fuel cell industry – specializing most recently in tracking developments in Asia – will be missed, but apparently the precious metals industry has a more attractive glint… Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
02233 Pre-press/Printed by Mayfield Press (Oxford) LImited
2
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Fuel cell hybrid taxi unveiled in London
Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK. Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com Lotus Engineering: www.grouplotus.com/engineering London Taxis International: www.lti.co.uk TRW Conekt: www.conekt.net
I
n the UK, a consortium including PEM fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy has unveiled a full performance, zeroemissions fuel cell hybrid London taxi. The vehicle – developed with Lotus Engineering, LTI Vehicles and TRW Conekt, with funding from the government’s Technology Strategy Board – is the first of a small fleet of ‘green’ London black cabs being readied for the 2012 Olympic Games. The Fuel Cell Black Cab is powered by an Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell system hybridized with lithium polymer batteries. This allows the vehicle to operate for a full day without refueling. Capable of achieving a top speed of over 80 mph (130 km/h), it has a range of more than 250 miles (400 km) on a full tank of hydrogen, and can be refueled in about five minutes. ‘The black cab is a much loved London icon, but it is also a significant source of pollution, especially in the center of the city,’ says Kit Malthouse, London’s deputy mayor for policing and also chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership. ‘This prototype Fuel Cell Black Cab, which emits only water from its tailpipe, is an exciting glimpse of how hydrogen technology could soon play a vital role in cleaning up air quality for urban dwellers.’ The Fuel Cell Hybrid Taxi is presently undergoing track and road-testing prior to wider deployment. The Technology Strategy Board provided just under £5.5 million (US$8.2m) towards a program to develop and embed fuel cell hybrid technology into the London black cab, as the consortium takes the first steps towards applying this technology in new markets. Later this year, Transport for London will start operating five hydrogen fuel cell hybrid buses [FCB, June 2010]. For the Fuel Cell Black Cab unveiled at City Hall, Lotus Engineering has packaged the full propulsion system, including the fuel cell engine, and has designed control systems to optimize the performance of both the fuel cell and electric drive system. TRW Conekt led the safety analysis program, including braking and steering systems, and LTI has provided donor vehicles to assist with the structural modifications to the taxi chassis. The Intelligent Energy PEM fuel cell system has been integrated into the most recent LTI TX4 design, and fits in to the vehicle without intrusion into its internal or luggage space.
Technology Strategy Board: www.innovateuk.org London Hydrogen Partnership: www.london.gov.uk/lhp
Riversimple fuel cell cars set for Leicester
U
K-based sustainable car developer Riversimple has signed an agreement with Leicester City Council that will see 30 highly energy efficient, hydrogen fuel cell powered cars on the streets of Leicester. The council and Riversimple will cooperate to find both private citizens and organizations to test-drive the vehicles, and locate and staff a suitable hydrogen refueling point. The 12-month pilot will be up and running by spring 2012. If the pilot is a success, Leicester and Riversimple will also discuss the potential for Leicester being the site for a factory producing 5000 city cars per annum. Riversimple plans to run a second UK pilot in parallel, and is in serious discussion with another city; an announcement is expected shortly. The two-seater vehicle was designed by a small team of British motorsport engineers, and is presently being built at Silverstone. It has a maximum cruising speed of 50 mph (80 km/h), and a range of at least 200 miles (320 km). The lightweight composite body means it weighs only 350 kg (770 lb), and its novel design principles suggest it can achieve the equivalent of 300 miles per gallon (0.94 liters per 100 km). The road test ‘customers’ will not buy the cars outright, but will pay a fixed monthly and all-inclusive per-mile charge to use the vehicles. The estimated monthly cost will be around £200 (US$300), plus 15p per mile, including fuel. Customers will provide feedback both to improve the car and the driving experience. The Riversimple car – unveiled last summer [FCB, August 2009] – has four motors powered by a PEM fuel cell rated at just 6 kW, supplied by Singapore-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies. Ultracapacitors are used for additional power, as they can release their charge nearly instantly to provide the power needed for acceleration. The ultracapacitors are recharged by regenerative braking. Riversimple is in the process of second-round fundraising, targeting £20 million ($30m) from
July 2010
NEWS / EDITORIAL investors. The principal backer so far, the family of Ernst Piëch, a member of the Porsche dynasty, is committed to participating in the new round. Riversimple: www.riversimple.com Leicester City Council: www.leicester.gov.uk Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies: www.horizonfuelcell.com
Heliocentris develops energy manager for electric vehicles
I
n Germany, Heliocentris Fuel Cells is developing an innovative energy management system for electric vehicles, which will enable energy storage solutions with a significantly increased range. The project is being support by a grant from the federal ministry of economics. The project aims to develop an energy management system, with which it will be possible to hybridize modern lithium-ion batteries with fuel cells, to create energy storage solutions offering a significantly higher range for electric vehicles. Energy management systems control and optimize energy flows within the storage solution, and constitute a central component of future electric mobility solutions. Electric vehicles are currently the center of attention, both in Germany and around the world. The German government has set a target of having at least one million electric vehicles and 500 000 fuel cell vehicles on German roads by 2020. However, the limited energy density of batteries, even with lithium-ion technology, means that electric vehicles running on batteries alone do not have the range offered by today’s normal motor vehicles. Fuel cell/battery hybrid vehicles are therefore widely regarded as a better solution. ‘The energy management system is a central component of our technology strategy for the development of innovative energy storage solutions with a higher storage capacity and range,’ says Dr Henrik Colell, CEO of Heliocentris. ‘As such, we are coming closer to our goal of positioning ourselves as a provider of fully electric hybrid solutions in the attractive market for special vehicles.’ Heliocentris’ project partner is Berlin-based Embeddeers GmbH, which provides automotive development services. Its expertise lies in the planning and implementation of control software for ‘comfort’ electronics and drivetrains in passenger and commercial vehicles. In this project, Embeddeers is responsible for the generic and project specific control of the
July 2010
energy management. Forchert-Consulting (also in Berlin) is responsible for project coordination. Heliocentris will develop the entire energy manager, including the necessary power electronics, and will provide production as well as global marketing and sales. Development is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. It is being financially supported by the federal ministry for economics, with Heliocentris receiving E175 000 (US$220 000) through the Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM, Central Innovation Program for SMEs). Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 30 6392 6325, www.heliocentris.com Embeddeers GmbH: www.embeddeers.com Forchert-Consulting: www.forchert-consulting.com
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Plug Power fuel cells for lift trucks at Sysco, Walmart Canada
N
ew York-based Plug Power reports that two more food distribution giants will be utilizing its GenDrive™ PEM fuel cell units to power electric lift trucks. Sysco has deployed 98 hydrogenfueled GenDrive systems to power a fleet of Raymond electric lift trucks at its new distribution center in Houston, Texas, while Walmart Canada will integrate GenDrive fuel cells in the fleet of electric lift trucks at its sustainable refrigerated distribution center in Alberta. For the Sysco operation in Houston, GenDrive systems have been installed in 72 Raymond Model 8400 pallet trucks and 26 Raymond Model 7400 Reach-Fork® trucks, supplied by The Raymond Corporation in upstate New York. The fuel cell lift trucks are already moving both dry and freezer goods throughout the 585 000 square foot (54 000 m2) facility. The cold-storage areas of the distribution center can reach temperatures down to –22°C (–8°F). Unlike lead-acid batteries, which do not work well under cold temperatures, fuel cells continue to meet or exceed customer requirements despite the subzero temperatures. Indoor hydrogen fueling dispensers, provided by Pennsylvania-based Air Products, are strategically located throughout the distribution center. Truck operators can refuel the GenDrive units within two minutes, eliminating the need to change, store, charge, and maintain multiple lead-acid batteries per truck.
EDITORIAL
E
uropean efforts to focus research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities on the priority areas in fuel cells and hydrogen energy continue to make steady progress. This month’s feature article, on the 2010 action plan of the European Commissionsupported Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, summarizes the main topics to be targeted in this year’s funding round. In the article I’ve extracted the key points from the FCH JU’s Annual Implementation Plan 2010, which outlines how E89.1 million (US$113 million) in funding will be distributed for research, technological development, and demonstration projects under the plan’s five main areas. These are transportation and refueling infrastructure, hydrogen production and distribution, stationary power generation and CHP, early markets, and cross-cutting issues. The latter include topics such as socioeconomic modeling and planning, technology monitoring and assessment, and lifecycle analysis, as well as the strategic coordination of regulations, codes & standards (RCS) activities. There’s no indication that the ongoing economic slowdown will affect the funding for these activities, although the fact that industry is expected to at least match the EC funding commitment must be testing the nerve of participating companies. One of the key aspects of EC programs is the determination to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which it sees as the lifeblood of a strong industrial sector. In Europe and North America, in particular, such companies form the very broad base of a substantial industry pyramid. The fuel cell industry is no different in this respect, with many of the leading companies counting as SMEs. There is some international variation in how an SME is defined. In Europe ‘small’ is now generally taken to mean fewer than 50 employees, and ‘medium’ less than 250. But in the US these are defined slightly higher, at less than 100 and 500 employees, respectively. (I see from Wikipedia that Industry Canada defines a small business as one with fewer than 100 employees if it produces goods, or fewer than 50 if it provides services; a firm with more than these but fewer than 500 staff is classified as a medium-sized business. Presumably fuel cells count as goods, even at this early stage in their ongoing commercialization.) One last thing: I’d like to wish Jonathan Butler of Fuel Cell Today all the best in his new role as publications manager at Johnson Matthey. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the fuel cell industry – specializing most recently in tracking developments in Asia – will be missed, but apparently the precious metals industry has a more attractive glint… Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3