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Samsung shows smallest fuel cell yet for mobile charger, laptop station
NEWS
BASF acquires PEMEAS
I
n Germany, BASF Future Business GmbH has agreed to acquire PEMEAS Fuel Cell Technologies for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was expected to be completed by the end of January. BASF is developing new technologies and materials for energy storage and energy conversion, as well as for alternative energy capture. The chemicals giant sees the acquisition as strengthening its activities in the field of energy management. ‘PEMEAS is an excellent strategic fit, and will speed up our ongoing activities in energy management,’ says Dr Thomas Wehlage, managing director of BASF Future Business and responsible for BASF’s energy management growth cluster. ‘Our developments are currently focusing on new materials for organic solar cells, innovative storage media for hydrogen, and the membraneelectrode assembly for small portable fuel cells.’ PEMEAS was founded in April 2004 as a spinoff of the former Hoechst Group’s fuel cell activities [FCB, June 2004], and subsequently added the fuel cell activities of Gruppo De Nora [FCB, September 2005]. The company has about 50 employees, and operates manufacturing and R&D facilities in Germany and the US. The company is currently working with clients on projects to use fuel cells in, for example, portable electronics, residential applications or backup power systems. The company is pursuing two strategies. Its Celtec division is focusing on developing and commercializing membrane-electrode assemblies for high-temperature PEM fuel cells. These operate at between 120 and 180°C, and are claimed to be more reliable and cost-efficient than conventional PEM fuel cells. The E-TEK division develops and manufactures catalysts, gas diffusion layers and electrodes for low- and high-temperature PEM fuel cells as well as for direct methanol fuel cells. Contact: PEMEAS GmbH, Industriepark Hoechst, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Tel: +49 69 305 4292, www.pemeas.com or www.etek-inc.com
Samsung shows smallest fuel cell yet for mobile charger, laptop station
W
hat is claimed to be the world’s smallest but most powerful mobile fuel cell so far has been developed by Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), working in collaboration with Samsung SDI, with the unveiling of a mobile fuel cell unit that charges batteries using methanol fuel.
February 2007
SAIT says that it has achieved system stability for commercialization after successfully conducting a test that involved around 200 continuous charge cycles. The system can be used to charge batteries that power various portable devices such as cellular phones, MP3 players and digital cameras. It also features a dual function that allows users to talk on their phones while charging them, which increases convenience and usability. The company says that the ‘full passive type’ system, based on a nanomaterial and molecular architecture, does not require an auxiliary device to dilute highly concentrated methanol. It has also managed to successfully engineer a system that is capable of containing an electrochemical reaction in a package only 5 mm thick, and with stable circulation of the water produced by the process. The fuel cell offers a marked improvement in portability compared with systems that are currently available, says SAIT. It has a reduced system volume (150 cm3) and weight (180 g), and produces a power output of 2 W – claimed to be the highest achieved to date. This reduces the time required to charge a device to one-fifth that needed by competitor systems, says SAIT. Meanwhile, Samsung has also unveiled a fuel cell-equipped laptop docking station that could power a laptop for 8 h each day, five days a week, for a month. The technology is expected to be available to the public by the end of 2007, but widespread adoption is likely to take several years, according to a TechNewsWorld.com report. The docking station is designed for Samsung’s Q35 ultraportable laptop, and contains a DMFC offering a maximum output of 20 W. Contact: Dr Hyuk Chang, Principal Researcher, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Suwon, Korea. Tel: +82 31 280 8153, Email: [email protected], www. sait.samsung.co.kr
Neah testing 16-cell stack architecture
U
S-based micro fuel cell developer Neah Power Systems has started initial testing of its 16-cell stack architecture, which is targeted at its fuel cell prototype development program. The company has also shown that porous silicon electrodes can be modified to optimize stack power and reliability. The company says that the new 16-cell architecture will allow it to test the electrical and fluidic interfaces that will be used in its near-term prototype development efforts. In addition to taking advantage of its patented porous silicon electrode architecture, Neah is also seeking to take advantage of the efficiencies of its ‘closed-loop fluid system’ which circulates liquid streams of fuel, oxidant and electrolyte in an enclosed package.
IN BRIEF Hyundai-Kia fuel cell buses for Korean road trials The Korean automotive manufacturer HyundaiKia has developed the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus. The vehicle, which has been developed at a cost of 3 billion won (US$3.2 million), will undergo a series of road and efficiency tests over the next three years. The Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Energy and Hyundai-Kia together plan to spend 48bn won ($51m) by 2008 on a program to run four buses and 30 cars, according to a report in The Korea Herald. The project will test the reliability and durability of the fuel cell system, and lead to product development and the establishment of the necessary infrastructure for commercialization. ‘Through the monitoring project, the (Korean) government will support early commercialization of domestic hydrogen fuel cell cars and set up necessary infrastructure such as hydrogen fueling stations to induce stable private investment,’ says vice commerce minister Lee Won-gul. When charged with 40 kg of hydrogen, the new bus – equipped with a 160 kW PEM fuel cell stack [presumably supplied by UTC Power, with whom Hyundai has been working for several years] – has a range of 300 km (190 miles) and is twice as fuel-efficient as diesel versions currently under operation, according to Hyundai Motor Co. It still needs to be improved so it can start at temperatures below –20°C. The production cost, presently more than 20 times higher than for ordinary buses, should also be gradually reduced, the ministry said. The project aims to increase the fuel cell system output to 200 kW, with the share of Korean-made components rising to 70%, and the durability increasing to the 5000 h range by 2008. With a step-by-step revision of related regulations, the bus will be operated as public transportation mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area and on Jeju Island. Ballard sells e-drive operations to Siemens VDO Canadian company Ballard Power Systems has signed an agreement to sell its electric drive operations, based in Dearborn, Michigan to Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation. According to Ballard, the electric drive operations are not core to its fuel cell stack strategy, and this technology application has limited revenue potential and high cash consumption. The sale will generate proceeds of approximately US$4 million, including estimated working capital adjustments. As a result of the transaction, Ballard expected to incur a non-cash writedown of goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2006 of approximately $105m. With the sale, the company will reduce operating cash consumption by approximately $10m per year.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
BASF acquires PEMEAS
I
n Germany, BASF Future Business GmbH has agreed to acquire PEMEAS Fuel Cell Technologies for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was expected to be completed by the end of January. BASF is developing new technologies and materials for energy storage and energy conversion, as well as for alternative energy capture. The chemicals giant sees the acquisition as strengthening its activities in the field of energy management. ‘PEMEAS is an excellent strategic fit, and will speed up our ongoing activities in energy management,’ says Dr Thomas Wehlage, managing director of BASF Future Business and responsible for BASF’s energy management growth cluster. ‘Our developments are currently focusing on new materials for organic solar cells, innovative storage media for hydrogen, and the membraneelectrode assembly for small portable fuel cells.’ PEMEAS was founded in April 2004 as a spinoff of the former Hoechst Group’s fuel cell activities [FCB, June 2004], and subsequently added the fuel cell activities of Gruppo De Nora [FCB, September 2005]. The company has about 50 employees, and operates manufacturing and R&D facilities in Germany and the US. The company is currently working with clients on projects to use fuel cells in, for example, portable electronics, residential applications or backup power systems. The company is pursuing two strategies. Its Celtec division is focusing on developing and commercializing membrane-electrode assemblies for high-temperature PEM fuel cells. These operate at between 120 and 180°C, and are claimed to be more reliable and cost-efficient than conventional PEM fuel cells. The E-TEK division develops and manufactures catalysts, gas diffusion layers and electrodes for low- and high-temperature PEM fuel cells as well as for direct methanol fuel cells. Contact: PEMEAS GmbH, Industriepark Hoechst, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Tel: +49 69 305 4292, www.pemeas.com or www.etek-inc.com
Samsung shows smallest fuel cell yet for mobile charger, laptop station
W
hat is claimed to be the world’s smallest but most powerful mobile fuel cell so far has been developed by Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT), working in collaboration with Samsung SDI, with the unveiling of a mobile fuel cell unit that charges batteries using methanol fuel.
February 2007
SAIT says that it has achieved system stability for commercialization after successfully conducting a test that involved around 200 continuous charge cycles. The system can be used to charge batteries that power various portable devices such as cellular phones, MP3 players and digital cameras. It also features a dual function that allows users to talk on their phones while charging them, which increases convenience and usability. The company says that the ‘full passive type’ system, based on a nanomaterial and molecular architecture, does not require an auxiliary device to dilute highly concentrated methanol. It has also managed to successfully engineer a system that is capable of containing an electrochemical reaction in a package only 5 mm thick, and with stable circulation of the water produced by the process. The fuel cell offers a marked improvement in portability compared with systems that are currently available, says SAIT. It has a reduced system volume (150 cm3) and weight (180 g), and produces a power output of 2 W – claimed to be the highest achieved to date. This reduces the time required to charge a device to one-fifth that needed by competitor systems, says SAIT. Meanwhile, Samsung has also unveiled a fuel cell-equipped laptop docking station that could power a laptop for 8 h each day, five days a week, for a month. The technology is expected to be available to the public by the end of 2007, but widespread adoption is likely to take several years, according to a TechNewsWorld.com report. The docking station is designed for Samsung’s Q35 ultraportable laptop, and contains a DMFC offering a maximum output of 20 W. Contact: Dr Hyuk Chang, Principal Researcher, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Suwon, Korea. Tel: +82 31 280 8153, Email: [email protected], www. sait.samsung.co.kr
Neah testing 16-cell stack architecture
U
S-based micro fuel cell developer Neah Power Systems has started initial testing of its 16-cell stack architecture, which is targeted at its fuel cell prototype development program. The company has also shown that porous silicon electrodes can be modified to optimize stack power and reliability. The company says that the new 16-cell architecture will allow it to test the electrical and fluidic interfaces that will be used in its near-term prototype development efforts. In addition to taking advantage of its patented porous silicon electrode architecture, Neah is also seeking to take advantage of the efficiencies of its ‘closed-loop fluid system’ which circulates liquid streams of fuel, oxidant and electrolyte in an enclosed package.
IN BRIEF Hyundai-Kia fuel cell buses for Korean road trials The Korean automotive manufacturer HyundaiKia has developed the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus. The vehicle, which has been developed at a cost of 3 billion won (US$3.2 million), will undergo a series of road and efficiency tests over the next three years. The Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Energy and Hyundai-Kia together plan to spend 48bn won ($51m) by 2008 on a program to run four buses and 30 cars, according to a report in The Korea Herald. The project will test the reliability and durability of the fuel cell system, and lead to product development and the establishment of the necessary infrastructure for commercialization. ‘Through the monitoring project, the (Korean) government will support early commercialization of domestic hydrogen fuel cell cars and set up necessary infrastructure such as hydrogen fueling stations to induce stable private investment,’ says vice commerce minister Lee Won-gul. When charged with 40 kg of hydrogen, the new bus – equipped with a 160 kW PEM fuel cell stack [presumably supplied by UTC Power, with whom Hyundai has been working for several years] – has a range of 300 km (190 miles) and is twice as fuel-efficient as diesel versions currently under operation, according to Hyundai Motor Co. It still needs to be improved so it can start at temperatures below –20°C. The production cost, presently more than 20 times higher than for ordinary buses, should also be gradually reduced, the ministry said. The project aims to increase the fuel cell system output to 200 kW, with the share of Korean-made components rising to 70%, and the durability increasing to the 5000 h range by 2008. With a step-by-step revision of related regulations, the bus will be operated as public transportation mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area and on Jeju Island. Ballard sells e-drive operations to Siemens VDO Canadian company Ballard Power Systems has signed an agreement to sell its electric drive operations, based in Dearborn, Michigan to Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation. According to Ballard, the electric drive operations are not core to its fuel cell stack strategy, and this technology application has limited revenue potential and high cash consumption. The sale will generate proceeds of approximately US$4 million, including estimated working capital adjustments. As a result of the transaction, Ballard expected to incur a non-cash writedown of goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2006 of approximately $105m. With the sale, the company will reduce operating cash consumption by approximately $10m per year.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3