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Technology Stocks : Fuel Cell Investments -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bradpalm1 who wrote (85)	9/21/2000 4:46:47 PM
From: Bradpalm1	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 280

Richardson announces integrated IFC FC Source: Department of Energy, 21st Septmeber, 2000 Secretary Richardson Announces New Fuel Cell System For Cars System Powerful Enough to Operate a Passenger Vehicle on Gasoline Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson today announced that International Fuel Cells (IFC), in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE), has developed for the first time a gasoline powered fuel cell system powerful enough to operate an automobile. The further development of the highly efficient fuel cell system will eventually allow consumers to fill up fuel cell-powered vehicles at their local gasoline stations, while increasing their gas mileage. "The successful operation of this fuel cell system on gasoline clearly demonstrates the viability of fuel cell power systems for automobiles using readily available gasoline," Secretary Richardson said. "This development is part of the government-industry effort to triple the mileage -- eighty miles per gallon -- of conventional automobiles, reducing our reliance on imported oil." Fuel cells were developed to land man on the moon. The goal of building a fuel cell that runs on gasoline while increasing gas mileage has long eluded researchers. The development of the gasoline fuel cell power system is an important milestone in the Energy Department's automotive fuel cell research and development program. The breakthrough means California grade gasoline containing sulfur (30 pans per million average sulfur) can be successfully converted into a hydrogen-rich fuel to power a fuel cell. Since sulfur degrades the fuel cell, the new process includes a step which removes sulfur. The collaboration between the Department of Energy and IFC will result in the delivery of the fully integrated 50-kilowatt IFC Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant which incorporates both a fuel processor and cell stack assembly. This power plant is currently undergoing testing at IFC and has achieved over 80 percent of rated power. It is scheduled for delivery to DOE next month. "The development of a complete fuel cell power plant system that runs on gasoline purchased at a local filling station is a significant step forward for IFC and for the overall effort to employ fuel cell technology for automobiles," said William T. Miller, president of IFC. IFC is a unit of United Technologies Corporation. The system also demonstrates how fuel cells can operate Eke the internal combustion engines in use today. Previous systems were complicated to operate, requiring multiple technicians and computers, The break-through in fuel cell technology simplifies the process. Now, with the push of one button, the system operates automatically. It also demonstrates transient response, meaning it operates on demand as the automobile requires different levels of power. This technology will enable the nation to utilize existing energy resources more efficiently, Since the fuel processing technology is inherently fuel flexible - meaning it can operate on fuels other than gasoline -- consumers will be able to also utilize domestic fuel resources and ultimately transition to renewable fuels. DOE is testing other fosM9 and renewable fuels in the fuel call application, including natural gas~ methanol, ethanol and hydrogen. This development is part of a multi-year contract between DOE and IFC focusing on advancing PEM fuel cell technology for automobile applications, This fuel cell research project is being conducted in support of the Partnership for a Now Generation of Vehicles Initiative. The goal of the partnership is to develop technology that leads to a passenger vehicle with a fuel economy of up to 80 miles per gallon.