DOE Program Realizes Milestone in Gasoline to
Electricity Conversion; Operates High-Efficiency,
Low-Emission Automotive Fuel Cell System
BOSTON and LATHAM, N.Y., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In an important development that signals a major shift in future
automotive power generation, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and undertaken by Plug Power
and Epyx Corporation, has achieved high efficiency and near zero emissions on gasoline.
An integrated system was demonstrated using a Plug Power fuel cell stack and Epyx multi-fuel processor. Fuel utilization during
the testing met the expected interim targets on the way to achieving an overall 40 percent system efficiency, significantly better
than that of today's internal combustion engine. As well, the system produced greatly reduced emission levels, well below the
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle classification given to automobiles that generate nearly immeasurable amounts of pollutants and
other particulate matter which cause smog.
''This is an impressive accomplishment,'' states Dan Reicher, DOE's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, ''because obtaining high efficiency while operating on gasoline and other alternative fuels is our biggest challenge.''
Because fuel cells generate energy through an electrochemical process, pollutants such as nitrogen or sulfur oxides are nearly
eliminated, and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by more than 50 percent. ''These results prove that fuel cell-powered
automobiles are the best bet we have for meeting our global environmental initiatives,'' said Gary Mittleman, Plug Power's
President and CEO. Also, because the system requires less fuel to produce an equal amount of power, it is considerably more
efficient. ''People can expect to get more than double their current gas mileage,'' Mittleman added.
''This test demonstrates that fuel cell vehicles can operate on fuels that are available everywhere today while preserving the
option of using renewable fuels such as ethanol,'' said Jeffrey Bentley, Epyx Chief Operating Officer. This program was initiated
through DOE's Page 2, MILESTONE IN GASOLINE TO ELECTRICITY CONVERSION participation in the Partnership
for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). PNGV is a public/private collaboration with the primary goal of developing an
environmentally friendly automobile that can attain up to 80 mpg without sacrificing affordability, performance or safety.
At the end of the program, Plug Power and Epyx will deliver a fully integrated automotive fuel cell system that can power a
full-sized car. Gasoline is considered the most technically challenging fuel to work with. Current testing was performed using
low sulfur gasoline. Over the next few weeks, the team will also demonstrate operation on California Phase II reformulated
gasoline, ethanol, methanol, M-85, and natural gas.
Another noteworthy achievement that resulted from this program was the first successful demonstration of gasoline to
electricity, using fuel cell stack technology developed by Plug Power and fuel reformer technology developed by Epyx, which
occurred in October of 1997. This collaborative effort received a 1998 PNGV medal to acknowledge teamwork and
significant technical achievement in developing clean, highly efficient automotive technologies for the future. |
