Honda and Toyota being Japanese Companies, are they not Asian companies?
>>>>Just a few possible scenarios:
-What if BLD signed with either GM, Honda or Toyota as another partner? They would like an Asian partner though it's not necessary.<<<<
The More the marrier. That should bring prices down more quickly.
IFC currently has a 10 Lbs 150 watt unit. I really want one of these
things. The 600 Watt 5.5 lb unit would be great.
"" IFC has developed a 150 watt hydrogen-oxygen unit for the U.S.
Army. This power pack weighs 10 pounds, and provides 1200
watt-hours of energy. The power pack fits inside a standard
military pack and can run for nearly 9 hours. We are developing
a 150 watt hydrogen-air unit, which will provide 600 watt hours
from a 5.5 pound package.
Until recently, the complex systems required to support the cell
stacks made compact person-portable fuel cell power plants
impractical. Now, IFC has developed a no-moving parts
ambient-pressure PEM cell design, which simplifies the system
and makes fuel cells practical for this application. ""
??!!Ambient pressure is a key feature!!??
ONSI Wins Orders for 185 Fuel Cells Worth $111 Million;
Customers Compete for $15 Million in Federal Subsidies.
Orders call for 8 units for Times Square office tower, plus units for hospitals, a news service, schools and other buildings throughout the world
South Windsor, Connecticut, May 20, 1997 - International Fuel Cells (IFC) today announced that it has received unprecedented orders for 185 commercial fuel cells worth a combined $111 million.
The Fuel Cell market so far seems quite good. Lots of Natural Gas all
over the world is just Flare off since there are no pipelines to market the natural gas. An electrical power line would be easier to put up than a gas pipeline.
>>> -What if Honda signed up as a strategic partner on the portable power side?<<<
Almost here.
DOE-Ford-IFC Team Successfully Runs Automobile-Sized Fuel
Cell Engine (DOE News Release)
Oct. 27, 1997 - A government-industry team announced that for the first time, a proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cell system fueled by hydrogen, produced more than 50 kilowatts of electrical power without an air compressor. that's enough power to propel a lightweight mid-size car.
hamilton-standard.com
>>> -What if we see either Honda, Volvo/Wolkswagen, Nissan or Mazda owned by Ford) come out with fuel cell demo cars this year, using Ballard fuel cells?<<<
I'm still waiting for the FC buses to start running on Ballard's
home turf. They are next in line.
>>> -What if another city/cities start(s) a fuel cell bus demo?<<<
After using IFC fuel cells for over thirty years why change. The
engineering costs would be costly. Also you have to be a certified
NASA supplier just like you have to be Mil-Spec to supply the military.
But then again if Ballard can better IFC then so be it.
" Electrical power for NASA's Space Shuttle Orbiter is
provided by fuel cell power plants designed, developed,
and built through International Fuel Cells. In the Orbiter,
a complement of three 12-kW fuel cells produces all
onboard electrical power; there are no backup batteries,
and a single fuel cell is sufficient to insure safe vehicle
return. In addition, the water produced by the
electrochemical reaction is used for crew drinking and
spacecraft cooling.
Each fuel cell is a self-contained unit 14 x 15 x 45 inches, weighing 260 pounds. They are installed underneath the payload bay, just aft of the crew compartment and are fueled by hydrogen and oxygen from the cryogenic tanks located nearby. Each fuel cell is capable of providing 12 kW continuously, and up to 16 kW for short periods.
Each power plant contains 96 individual cells of alkaline (KOH) electrolyte technology; they are electrically connected to a 28 volt output. At their 200ø F, 4 atm operating conditions, the cells are over 70% efficient (a typical combustion engine is only about 25% efficient); this high efficiency and light weight led NASA to select fuel cells to power the Shuttle Orbiter. "
>>> -What if NASA signs a contract for a space mission?<<<
Ballard already has the contract to develop Fuel Cells for submarines. If they work, of course the CDN goverment will buy a few.
>>> -What if the Canadian Government buys 4 submarines from the UK and retrofits them with Ballard fuel cells?<<<<
With the price of electic vehicles, Buyers need all the help they can
get. But thats putting the cart before the horse. What if you are using a gasoline reformer to provide the hydrogen??
>>> -What if the US and/or the EU passes legislation giving fuel efficient vehicles a tax break and/or puts a carbon tax on gasoline to provide incentives?<<<
>>>-What if we see major progress this year on the gasoline reformer?<<<<
Is that the one with the IFC fuel cells.
<<<< -We should see the Georgetown Methanol bus this year.>>>>>
And an equity issue to raise more cash for operating purposes.
<<<< -We should see the stock split this year.>>>>
OK.
>>> These are the things that in my mind are interesting, not if we see the first profits in 2001 or 2002.<<<
ONSI Fuel Cell Tops 40,000 Hours Of Operation (5 years )
World's First Fuel Cell To Reach Key Performance Mark; Other ONSI Units To Top 40,000 Hours Later This Year
SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn., Oct. 23, 1997 -- ONSI Corporation today announced that one of its first model PC25(tm) fuel cells has surpassed 40,000 hours of cumulative operation.
The unit, owned by Southern
California Gas, provides electricity and
co-generated heat for the Hyatt
Regency Hotel in Irvine, Calif. It was
installed and started operating on
September 11, 1992. This is the world's
first fuel cell to top 40,000 hours of
cumulative operation -- the equivalent
of five years of service, a key
performance mark in the company's
growing marketplace. |
