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PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE
ZEVCO LAUNCHES CLEAN
TRANSPORT FOR THE
PEOPLE
Hot on the heels of the Government's Integrated Public
Transport White Paper, ZEVCO (The Zero Emission Vehicle
Company) is unveiling the world's first zero emission taxi on
Thursday 30 July. This revolutionary 'green' black cab is the
beginning of a new era in transport technology, which, with government
support, will lead the way to a healthier environment for the whole
community.
The new technology being introduced is literally space-age - it was first
used on rockets to the moon - and has been developed by the British
company ZEVCO, at the only fuel cell technology plant in Europe,
based in Belgium.
ZEVCO's electrochemical engine (ECE) combines hydrogen and the
oxygen from air to produce electricity and water. The engine uses a
fuel cell, which generates power by reversing the process of
electrolysis, it then stores the electricity in batteries for use by a
powerful electric motor, giving the taxi the same, if not better,
performance than traditional taxis.
When it comes to being kind to the environment, ZEVCO's fuel cell
technology is unrivalled, but how does it rate in the other all-important
categories such as noise levels, performance, reliability, convenience
and cost? Zevco's fuel cell boasts minimal noise and vibration levels -
it is virtually silent - and an equivalent performance to a conventional
combustion engine. In addition, it is economical to run - hydrogen is
cheaper than conventional fuel (œ6 per day with hydrogen compared to
œ15 for diesel).
As a result, even though the capital cost is currently a little higher than
that of a conventional vehicle - the new taxi costs around œ2,500 more
to produce than its diesel equivalent - the ZEVCO Millenium taxi is
already an economically viable proposition.
Among the commercial markets ZEVCO is targeting are defined route
vehicles such as buses, post office and light rail and commercial
delivery vehicles. ZEVCO is currently working with Britain's biggest
bus manufacturer, which aims to produce an operational bus using the
hydrogen fuel cell engine by the end of this year, while a postal vehicle
has already been built for the Italian Post Office using the system.
Another area where the engine could easily be used is captive fleet
vehicles which operate within a set area such as an airport, railway
station port facility or closed commercial premises. Work is already
underway with one of the world's largest constructors of airport service
vehicles and a leading multi-national constructor of fork lift and service
vehicles to bring the ZEVCO concept to their own systems.
Following the London launch of the ZEVCO Millenium taxi, plans are
afoot for it to tour Europe. It will be visiting cities in France, Germany,
Belgium and Italy where it will promote the taxi's environmental
credentials and demonstrate the reliability and desirability of this
unique technology.
With automotive companies beginning to develop their own
alternatives to conventional petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles, what
gives Zevco's offering the edge? "We can honestly say that our
technology is the only technology to have been truly tried and tested.
Fuel cells like ours have been powering vital systems manned space
missions for the past 30 years" comments Nick Abson, Chief
Executive, Zevco. "What we have developed is the world's first
commercially viable alternative to diesel power, which we believe will
set the standard for a cleaner Europe." |
