Fuel Cell Technology Update
March 1999
BMW to Introduce Fuel Cell/Hydrogen-Combustion Hybrid in 2000. BMW AG says it
will be the first automaker to put a small fleet of cars on the road utilizing hydrogen fuel
cell technology. The company is fitting an unspecified number of 7 Series sedans with fuel
cells from International Fuel Cells. The configuration is an unusual hybrid. The vehicle will
run on a hydrogen combustion engine; the fuel cell will power the car's on-board electrical
system. BMW AG will have the sedans ready for display at next year's global EXPO 2000
"Clean Energy" project in Hanover, Germany. After that, it "could be launched on the
market for the public."
H Power Introduces Commercial Fuel Cell Backup Power System. Just in time for the
much-feared Y2K bug, H Power Enterprises of Canada has unveiled a commercially
available backup power system featuring a fuel cell running on hydrogen stored in metal
hydride tanks. The system is available in several models -- from 100 watts to 1000 watts,
and will be marketed for residential use in Canada and the United States. The EPAC system
was unveiled March 2 at the Montreal Home Show.
GM/Opel Predicts Big Market for Fuel Cell Cars. General Motors' German-based
subsidiary, Opel, says that by 2010, fuel cell cars could make up ten percent of vehicle
sales in Europe. According to a story on Australia's AutoWeb, the manufacture of fuel cell
vehicles will help Opel comply with the European Automobile Industry Association's
voluntary goal of reducing total fleet emissions of CO2 by 25% by 2008.
Iceland "Hot" For Hydrogen Fuel Cells. The Icelandic Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Company
Ltd. has been formed as a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler, Royal Dutch/Shell
Group, Norsk Hydro and EcoEnergy Ltd. The new venture aims to make Iceland the world's
first "hydrogen economy" by testing applications using hydrogen (or fuels containing
hydrogen) and fuel cells. One of the first projects could be a hydrogen/fuel cell-powered
bus service in Reykjavik.
Consortium to Commercialize SOFC for Decentralized Power. Commercialization of
solid oxide fuel cells for decentralized power is the focus of a new consortium formed by
Gas Research Institute and Electric Power Research Institute. Material and Systems
Research Inc. (MSRI), another consortium member, will develop the solid oxide fuel cell
technology, which the consortium believes will achieve a total system cost of less than
$700/kW, with fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiencies between 47-65%.
Southern States Power Becomes Fuel Cell Player. Following last month's announcement
of a joint venture to develop fuel cell vehicles, Southern States Power Company (SSPC), a
subsidiary of BAT International, is launching a Stationary Source Fuel Cell Generation
Program. SSPC is currently in negotiations to install a fuel cell and natural gas cogeneration
facility at the BF Goodrich Aerospace facilities in Chula Vista, California.
Honda Will Use Its Own Fuel Cell in Vehicle. Honda has announced that it will use a fuel
cell stack designed in-house to power a prototype fuel cell vehicle by next year. According
to Nikkei America, Honda is hoping to have fuel cell vehicles ready for commercialization
by 2003. Three days after the Nikkei story, however, Ballard announced that it received a
Can$2.1 million order from Honda for fuel cells.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car to Race in Tour de Sol. Project NJ Venturer was launched last
week with the goal of developing a fuel cell/hybrid vehicle to race in the American Tour de
Sol Road Rally in May 1999. The partnership of government, private industry and
education includes H Power Corporation, which will supply a 5-kilowatt hydrogen fuel
cell "range extender" for a 1996 Solectria Force electric vehicle. The NJ vehicle will also
be retrofitted with a complement of NiCad batteries for primary power. The consortium
expects the vehicle to have a range of 400 miles at 45 MPH.
Report Projects Fuel Cell Vehicles Will Total 3% of Worldwide EV Sales in 2007. A
new report by The Freedonia Group, "World Electric Vehicles", projects worldwide
electric vehicle sales could total more than 1 million vehicles by 2007, with fuel cell
vehicles representing 3% of that total. The report anticipates fuel cells will eventually
become "the dominant power source for electric vehicles," but doesn't expect the
technology to emerge until "some time beyond the forecast period of this study."
Canadian Government Invests Can$5.8 Million to Improve Hydrogen Refueling
System. The Canadian Government is investing Can$5.8 million to support development of
an improved system to refuelling hydrogen fuel cell buses and other vehicles. The new
system, to be developed by Stuart Energy Systems, Inc., will allow more vehicles to be
refuelled overnight, and allow bus companies to take advantage of off-peak electricity
rates.
GE/Plug Power Agreement Finalized. General Electric Power Systems and Plug Power,
LLC announced a final agreement to form GE Fuel Cell Systems for marketing, sales,
installation and servicing of the systems on a worldwide basis. Field testing of commercial
units should begin later this year, with commercial sales expected to begin in January 2001.
Initial cost of the fuel cells is projected to be $7,500-$10,000, but the companies expect a
mass-produced system to retail for approximately $3,500.
Study Finds Low Capital Cost for Methanol Refueling Stations. A study by EA
Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc., found that the capital costs needed to develop a
methanol fueling infrastructure are "moderate." The primary reason for this finding is that
methanol refueling stations are very similar to current gasoline fueling stations. Of the five
options studied for adding methanol capacity to existing gasoline stations, the lowest cost
option -- converting an existing gasoline storage tank to methanol and installing new piping
and a dispenser -- would cost slightly less than $20,000.
Nissan and Suzuki Partner on Fuel Cells. A brief story in EV Currents News February 12
reported that Nissan and Suzuki would join a government-sponsored project to develop
direct methanol fuel cells for vehicles. The joint project would result in a prototype vehicle
by 2003.
Catalyst Improvement Research Funded at NexTech. NexTech Materials, Ltd. has
announced recent awards in support of its research and development of catalysts for use in
fuel cell systems. One program, supported by Ohio's Edison Materials Technology Center,
focuses on development of catalysts for fuel cells and fuel processors. The second,
supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Cooperative Automotive Research for
Advanced Technology (CARAT) Program, is focused on improving the catalyst used in a
vehicle fuel reforming system.
Fuel Cell Technology Update
February 1999
Fuel Cell Taxis to be Mass-Produced in New York City. This week, a fuel cell powered
"Millenium Taxi" was demonstrated in Manhattan, the result of a joint venture between the
British/Belgian company Zevco and two U.S. companies, EVX Inc., and PTC Group, Inc..
The companies announced plans to begin manufacturing the cars at a pilot plant in New
York City in six months, with a full-production facility expected to go on-line in the year
2002. The taxis, which will be retrofitted with fuel cell engines featuring Zevco alkaline
fuel cells, will have the same performance as traditional taxis, but with zero emissions.
Fuel Cell Developed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. With funding from the Wright
Patterson Air Force's Propulsion Direcotrate, Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has
demonstrated a micro-PEM fuel cell for potential use in unmanned aerial vehicles. PSI is
developing a closed-loop energy storage system combining a micro-PEM fuel cell and
electrolyzer to allow unmanned aircraft to operate at high altitudes and for mission
durations over a year. The aeronautics community is interested in the fuel cell energy
storage system -- which provides higher power and specific energy densities than are
attainable with batteries -- for missions including military reconnaissance, weather
monitoring, border patrol, and civil communication applications.
Load-Responsive Fuel Cell Demonstrated to Ford. Plug Power has demonstrated to Ford
a fuel cell which is built to respond to actual vehicle power requirements. The PEM system
also attained 75 percent of its power in less than one-tenth of one second of operation,
simulating the "cold start" capability of a combustion engine. In its tests, the Plug Power
system was able to closely replicate acceleration and deceleration conditions with
sub-second responsiveness. The Ford/Plug Power program is being funded through the
federal Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles.
Nissan Orders Ballard Stacks, May Consider Link With DaimlerChrysler on Fuel
Cells. Nissan Motor Company has placed an order with Ballard Power Systems for
Can$3.5 million in fuel cells, related equipment and support services. In 1997, Nissan
contracted with Ballard for Can$2.2 million in fuel cells. A January 15, 1999 Financial
Times article said Nissan's president recently publicly recognized the potential benefits of
linking with DaimlerChrysler on fuel cell technology. DaimlerChrysler and Ballard are
already closely linked through joint ventures in fuel cells for vehicles.
Global Fuel Cell Corporation Formed to Develop Fuel Cells for Vehicles. Fuel cell
developer Anuvu, Inc., and BAT International's subsidiary, Southern States Power Co.
(SSPC), have created a joint venture company, Global Fuel Cell Corporation. The new
company will combine Anuvu's fuel cell technology with SSPC's electric vehicle
production capabilities. According to a press release from BAT International, Anuvu fuel
cells "require less than half the volume yet deliver the same amount of electricity" due to
use of a process manufacturing fuel cell plates one-third the size of most plates. Global
Fuel Cell Corporation is looking to quickly enter into production after a series of vehicle
runs over the next few months, demonstrating the fuel cell on a variety of fuels including
hydrogen, natural gas, propane, methanol and gasoline.
Alliance to Create 'Single Point Development' for Builders/Developers. Fuel cell
developer Avista Labs has allied with Black & Veatch Corp., an
engineering-procurement-construction firm, to pursue joint marketing/installation
opportunities for fuel cell generators. The alliance, a "Single Point Development" concept,
offers developers installation and use of Avista PEM fuel cell generators, along with other
energy and asset management services from Avista Lab's sister companies.
Fuel Cell Markets Worth Several Billion Dollars Annually Within Ten Years. A new
report by Allied Business Intelligence says that fuel cell developers are "readying
production lines to satisfy fuel cell markets worth several billion dollars annually within
ten years." The report, "Distributed Generation: The Evolving Markets for Energy
Production Technologies", examines how global warming is opening markets to new energy
generation technologies. The report will be released in February.
Northwest Power Demonstrates Residential Fuel Cell. Northwest Power Systems has
demonstrated operation of its residential fuel cell at a home in Eugene, Oregon. The
three-bedroom house was disconnected from the grid for the test, and reconnected
afterwards. The 5kW fuel cell unit, under contract to Bonneville Power Administration,
operated on a fuel of methanol and water. The unit was demonstrated on a home in Bend,
Oregon, in late-1998.
Methanol Fuel News. An executive from Chemical Market Associates Inc. has told natural
gas resource producers that they need to more actively look for new markets for methanol.
Due to oversupplies, only about 76.6% of the methanol produced worldwide was used in
1998. A new report by Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., for the American Methanol Institute, found
methanol to be safer for the environment than gasoline, and is neither mutagenic nor
carcinogenic. The American Methanol Institute estimates that "by 2010, a fleet of two
million fuel cell vehicles could demand over 880 million gallons of methanol per year." An
SAE Congress paper by AMI states, however, that neighborhood filling stations now face
the challenge of providing convenient refueling for methanol- powered vehicles.
Mitsubishi to Push Fuel Cell Vehicle Development. Mitsubishi Motors in 1999 will
devote more employees and resources to the development of fuel cell vehicles. Through the
company's existing joint development with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Oil,
the latter two entities will be asked to come up with a liquid fuel to replace gasoline. The
automaker expects to release a prototype vehicle in 2000, with commercialization set for
2003.
Nano-News. Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has received a contract from the National
Science Foundation to develop a carbon nanotube membrane for direct methanol fuel cells
(DMFC) that may increase power densitiy of the fuel cell by as much as 20 percent. PSI
will collaborate with Colorado State University to create a composite membrane structure,
using carbon nanotubes, to inhibit methanol crossover. Scientists at the University of
Freiburg in Switzerland say they have demonstrated use of carbon nanotube pellets for
storing hydrogen, packing the pellets with up to 1.95 percent hydrogen by weight.
Researchers at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab say nanotubes would have to store
hydrogen at 6.5 percent in order for the technology to be preactical for hydrogen fuel cell
vehicles.
New Canadian Fuel Cell Lab to Market Small Fuel Cells by End of 1999. Energy
Ventures Inc. is setting up a Fuel Cell Laboratory that may begin marketing small fuel cells
for use in golf carts and electric motorbikes by the end of 1999. The lab -- leased from
Astris Energi -- is being moved to the Ottawa campus of the National Research Council of
Canada. Dr. Karl Kordesch and the staff of the Institute for Chemical Process and
Environmental Technology will establish an expanded fuel cell research program at the lab.
Fuel Cell Vehicle Research Projects Receive Funding. The U.S. Department of Energy
awarded $20 million in funding to SatCon Technology Corporation and Silicon Power
Corporation for development of a family of electric power modules that will manage the
generation, storage and use of electrical power in hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicles.
CALSTART and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have
launched five new advanced transportation technology projects, two of which are fuel cell
vehicle-related. One of the projects will result in a simpler, lighter and less expensive
controller for brushless DC motors, which can be used in fuel cell air compression motors.
Another will develop a new membrane material to allow for direct use of methanol in a
fuel cell engine.
BASF Strengthens Commitment to Fuel Cells. BASF AG has signed an agreement with
DBB fuel cell engines GmbH to work more closely on the development and marketing of
methanol-powered fuel cell engines. Under the agreement, the two companies will
cooperate on development of a steam-reforming system for conversion of methanol to
hydrogen for use in a fuel cell engine.
Propane Marketers Look to Fuel Cells. The chairman of the Propane Education and
Research Council says that propane-powered fuel cells will be attractive to fast-growing
rural areas with high electricity costs and no natural gas service. According to a PERC
press release, Milford Therrell, who is also president of Squibb-Taylor, Inc., said he "will
continue to urge the propane industry to invest in research to help position the industry to
make the most of fuel cell technology."
U.S. Oil Imports Reach New High in 1998. U.S. imports of crude oil in 1998 reached a
new high of 55.7 percent, according to the American Petroleum Institute's Year-End
Statistical Report. This represents a 4.2 percent increase over 1997 imports.
Fuel Cell Technology Update
January 1999
Ford Unveils Sedan Running on Fuel Cell Power. Last week marked the first unveiling of
a fully- engineered fuel cell vehicle in North America. On Wednesday, Ford unveiled a fuel
cell powered sedan, the P2000, running on pure hydrogen that is stored on-board the
vehicle. The vehicle's power system is the first produced by DBB Fuel Cell Engines, the
company created out of last year's joint venture between Ballard Power Systems,
DaimlerChrysler and Ford. The P2000 is designed to achieve the same performance as
Ford's Taurus, which goes from 0 to 60 mph in 12 seconds, with a fuel cell engine that
achieves the equivalent of 90 horsepower. Ford is developing its advanced vehicles
through the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). Ford also introduced a
P2000 SUV Concept, a sport utility vehicle that will feature a fuel cell engine with a
methanol reformer.
DaimlerChrysler Unveils Fuel Cell Jeep. DaimlerChrysler unveiled a new concept
vehicle, based on the Jeep Commander. The engine is a fuel cell/battery hybrid designed to
utilize gasoline as fuel. Due to problems in conversion of gasoline to hydrogen for the fuel
cell, DaimlerChrysler says it has switched its fuel focus to methanol. The company plans to
have a working methanol hybrid fuel cell system in the Commander by the end of 1999.
Demonstration of Residential Fuel Cell on Natural Gas a Success. Plug Power has
announced that it successfully completed demonstration of a residential sized fuel cell using
natural gas as the fuel. Plug Power last year demonstrated its residential fuel cells running
on both pure hydrogen and methanol. Plug Power's CEO & President, Gary Mittleman, says
the company intends "to become the first company to make and profitably sell one million
fuel cell systems."
Renault Runs a FEVER. Through a joint French-Italian-Swedish research venture called
FEVER (Fuel cell Electric Vehicle for Efficiency and Range), Renault has announced that it
successfully designed, built and tested a fuel cell powered Laguna Estate. Renault built its
own fuel cell, which generates 30kW of energy, runs on stored hydrogen, and gives the car
a range of 250 miles. The company says the size of its fuel cell needs to be reduced, and
that commercialization is still years away.
Public Hydrogen Filling Station to Open in Hamburg. January 12, 1999, will mark the
opening of the world's first public hydrogen filling station, in Hamburg, Germany. The
station is part of the Hamburg- Icelandic project which will also convert six vans to
combustion engines running on hydrogen.
Commission Set to Develop International Standards for Fuel Cells. According to a
Hydrogen-Gazette news story, the International Electrotechnical Commission is founding a
Technical Committee 105 to cover "Fuel Cell Power Plants." The committee will create
uniform standards for the approval of both mobile and stationary fuel cells, in cooperation
with the Hydrogen and Vehicles Technical Committees.
Weight of Hydrogen Storage Tank Cut by Half. A new alloy developed by a professor
at Kogakuin University in Tokyo may dramatically cut the weight of hydrogen storage tanks.
Seijiro Suda developed an alloy that can absorb hydrogen fluoride in two minutes under
normal temperatures. According to Nikkei, Suda plans to supply the alloy to automakers
through Materials and Energy Research Institute Tokyo Ltd.
GM, Toyota May Link on Advanced Vehicle Technologies. Following on reports that
Toyota is joining with Exxon on fuels for advanced vehicles, the company may be teaming
up with GM on the vehicle technologies, including electric vehicles and fuel cells. The
Wall Street Journal on December 21 reported that talks were underway between the two
automakers.
Fuel Cell Unit Completes Demo Tour of Northwest U.S. A 5kW fuel cell demo unit
developed by Northwest Power Systems and owned by the Bonneville Power
Administration completed a two week "road show demonstration." The fully-integrated
system was demonstrated for personnel from about two dozen utilities in eight cities in
Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. The same unit successfully powered an Oregon
home that had been disconnected from the utility grid for the demonstration.
Graduate Fellowships to be Funded by DOE. The Department of Energy has announced
the launch of a new Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) program to
provide graduate fellowships for students involved in automotive engineering programs at
nine U.S. universities. The University of California- Davis and Virginia Tech will host the
GATE centers for fuel cell research. Each GATE center will receive $200,000 from DOE
to develop an interdisciplinary graduate study curriculum, and $100,000 annually for
fellowships. Each fellowship will fund five or more students each year.
Fuel Cell Buses in Chicago Given Upgrade. The three Ballard fuel cell buses being tested
in Chicago have been removed from service for upgrading, according to the company's
Third Quarter 1998 Report. The report notes that the test program is providing valuable
information that is being incorporated through the upgrades. As of January 6, 1999, one bus
had been upgraded and may soon return to service.
Hydrogen-Producing Enzyme Discovered. An enzyme found in a microorganism in soil
may become an inexpensive and stable catalyst to produce hydrogen. Scientists at Utah
State University discovered the iron- laden bacterial enzyme in a microorganism known as
Clostridium pasteurianum. The enzyme uses iron atoms to convert protons and electrons
into hydrogen.
Nebraska Ethanol Efforts to Include Fuel Cell Study. High Plains Corporation, a
Nebraska-based ethanol producer, will participate in a DOE-funded fuel cell feasibility
study at its York, Nebraska, facility. The program, described by Nebraska Governor Ben
Nelson in early December, will study whether "methane gas, produced from ethanol waste
water, can be used as a source of power for a stationary fuel cell that could reduce the
plant's use of electricity by 30 percent and natural gas by 25 percent."
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