The beginning of the Fuel Cell infrastructure, point of interest is the
fact that three states have already mandated zero emission vehicles by
2003; NY, CA, and Mass.
From Reuters: Monday January 18, 10:30 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Society of Automotive Engineers
Getting Methanol to
Neighborhood Pumps is the
Next Challenge, According
to SAE Congress Paper
WARRENDALE, Pa., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- With an estimated two
million
methanol fuel cell vehicles on highways by 2010 and 35 million by
2020, global
automakers are keeping their promise to manufacture affordable zero
or
near-zero emissions vehicles while retaining liquid fuel convenience.
Now, neighborhood ''gas stations'' are faced with the next challenge --
providing
convenient refueling for methanol-powered vehicles.
Two researchers at the American Methanol Institute (AMI) will detail
how U.S.
and foreign service stations can reach this goal in a SAE paper to be
presented at
the 1999 SAE International Congress and Exposition, March 1-4, 1999
in Cobo
Center, Detroit, Michigan.
Raymond A. Lewis and Gregory A. Dolan of AMI will state that for
less than
two U.S. dollars per person, a state or nation the size of California (30
million
people) can install methanol pumps in one of every 10 retail stations.
''California has the largest network of methanol fueling stations,'' said
Lewis.
''About 100 stations serve 15,000 vehicles. With California's
experience in
building methanol fueling stations, an existing gas station can add
methanol for
about $50,000.''
Methanol fuel cell vehicles are likely to be introduced in California,
New York
and Massachusetts -- states requiring Zero-Emission Vehicles sales by
2003.
Germany and Japan, highly populated, pollution-conscious countries,
are also
expected to be first to fuel up with methanol.
To convert 10 percent of existing fueling stations in these five regions,
AMI
estimates costs of $500 million.
Methanol converts 38 percent of its useful energy, compared to
gasoline's 19
percent.
The researchers who wrote ''Looking Beyond the Internal Combustion
Engine:
The Promise of Methanol Fuel Cell Vehicles,'' (SAE paper #
1999-01-0531)
will discuss their findings at the SAE International Congress &
Exposition, 10
a.m., March 2, Room W2-65, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan.
The SAE Congress is the world's largest showcase of automotive
engineering
technologies.
For further information or to register for SAE Congress, call
1-877-SAECONG
(723-2664); outside U.S./Canada, 1-724-772-4027; or visit
www.sae.org.
SOURCE: Society of Automotive Engineers
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