Fuel Cells 2000's Fuel Cell Technology Update - April 2003

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LEGISLATION

Hatch, Camp Introduce CLEAR Act.
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Representative Dave Camp (R-MI) have
introduced the CLEAR Act in the 108th Congress. The CLEAR Act (Clean
Efficient Automobiles Resulting from Advanced Car Technologies Act) will
provide tax incentives to encourage consumers to purchase fuel cell-powered
and other advanced technology vehicles and establish the necessary fueling
infrastructure. 
<http://www.ngvc.org/ngv/ngvc.nsf/bytitle/clearact.htm>

TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS

DaimlerChrysler Launches FCV Test Program in Japan.
DaimlerChrysler has joined with energy-supply companies and other
manufacturers in the opening of a new Japanese fuel cell testing facility
under the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project.  The facility
will provide a location for companies to conduct fuel cell vehicle testing
as well as infrastructure development.

UAB Awarded $3 Million to Study Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering has received a $2-million grant from the Federal
Transit Authority (FTA) to study fuel cell technology for mass-transit
buses, as well as a $1-million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) to
study the use of hydrogen in automobiles and in fuel cells for power
generation and portable equipment.  Part of the DOE grant includes
establishing the Southeastern Hydrogen Technology Consortium (SHTC). It will
be made up of energy experts, automobile manufacturers, transit authorities,
fuel cell manufacturers, national laboratories and academic researchers who
will exchange ideas on how to create a hydrogen infrastructure in the
Southeast and improve understanding about hydrogen technology.
<http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=57437>

Palcan Signs Joint Venture With Four Chinese Companies.
Palcan Fuel Cells, Ltd. has signed a joint venture agreement with Shanghai
Ow Bowl Company; Shanghai Giant, Ltd.; Shanghai Shin-Fu Wheelchair Company;
and the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation's Number 711 research
institute (Shanghai 711 CSIC Institute) to provide fuel cell stacks for
electric bicycles, scooters, wheelchairs and ships.  Under the agreement,
Palcan will initially supply two 300-watt
fuel cell stacks for use in bicycles, as well as three 1.5-kilowatt stacks
for use in fuel cell scooters and wheelchairs.
<http://www.palcan.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=54831&_Title=Palcan-signs
-Joint-Venture-with-four-Chinese-Compa>...

Siemens to Supply Fuel Cells to Greek Navy.
Siemens AG will supply the Greek Navy with proton exchange membrane (PEM)
fuel cell modules for integration into the existing propulsion systems of
three class 209 submarines, with the intention of helping increase the
vessels' submersed range to that of new ships.  Under the agreement, Siemens
will supply the fuel cell modules, control and monitoring systems, control
cubicles of the fuel cell system, control gear to integrate the system into
the submarines' existing propulsion system, and material packages to
modernize the existing electrical equipment.  Supply delivery is scheduled
to be between mid-2004 and 2010, and an option has been agreed upon for a
fourth installation.

NAC Unveils Truck with Fuel Cell APU at SAE.
The U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) National
Automotive Center (NAC) recently introduced a class-eight Freightliner truck
fitted with a methanol-fueled fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) at the
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2003 World Congress in Detroit, MI.
The 5-kW APU, which includes a fuel cell stack manufactured by Ballard Power
Systems, will provide electricity for on-board demands and external devices,
including computers, satellite dishes and three-dimensional mapping systems,
in military trucks.

HaveBlue Testing Hydrogen-Powered Sailboats.
HaveBlue is currently developing hydrogen-based technology systems for the
recreational sailboat and powerboat markets.  The company has already begun
testing of systems components aboard the X/V-1, the first test-vessel of its
kind. The X/V-1 is a specially-built 42-ft Catalina model 42 Mk. II
sailboat, provided by sponsor Catalina Yachts, that is being outfitted with
a fully self-contained, on-board, zero or ultra-low emission power system
that may utilize fresh or salt-water and electricity from renewable
technologies (i.e., wind & solar) to produce, store, and consume hydrogen as
fuel.
<http://haveblue.com/news/currentpr/020703.htm>

STATIONARY POWER

Fuel Cell Arrives for Installation at Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station.
FuelCell Energy has delivered and begun installation of a DFC300 fuel cell
power plant at the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod. Operation is
expected to commence this year.
<http://www.uscg.mil/systems/gse/energy/FuelCell/Fuel-Cell-Consolidate-Statu
s-Report-2003.pdf>

HEW Installs Fuel Cell in Private Household.
Hamburg utilities company HEW introduced its first fuel cell for heat and
power supply in a private household. The co-generation system includes a
4.6-kW PEM fuel cell designed by Vaillant and its U.S. partner Plug Power.
By 2005, 50 of these power plants are planned to go into operation at the
utilities company's customers' sites.  The first 15 of these units will be
beta-units; after that, the fuel cells will have the same size and features
as the ones that go into series production. 

PORTABLE/BACKUP POWER

World's First PEM Fuel Cell-Powered Rock Band Plays Fuel Cell Investment
Summit.  
Protium, a band of Ponaganset High School (Glocester, Rhode Island)
 students, performed at Connecticut Clean Energy Fund's first annual Fuel
Cell Investment Summit on March 17th.   The band powers all its electric
guitars, amplifiers, and PA entirely with hydrogen fuel cell electricity.
As part of Ponaganset High School's Fuel Cell Education Initiative, the
school received a 1000-watt Coleman Airgen Fuel Cell through a Perkins
Grant.    For more information about Protium, contact Ross McCurdy at
<mailto:[email protected]>
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.



Toshiba Develops New DMFC for Portable PCs.
Toshiba has developed a direct methanol fuel cell for use with portable
computers.  The new fuel cell currently realizes average output of 12-W and
maximum output of 20W, and can achieve approximately five hours of operation
with a single cartridge of fuel. It provides instant power supply, and
achieves significant advances in operating times with replaceable methanol
cartridges. Toshiba plans to commercialize the technology in 2004.
<http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2003_03/pr0501.htm>


Participate in Fuel Cell Study.
The Fraunhofer ISE, VDI/VDE-IT and Freesen & Partner are conducting
extensive interviews to provide the data for the European Portable Fuel Cell
Study.  Organizations interested can download the questionnaire at
www.freesen.de/h2report/study.htm.  The interviewed parties will be listed
in the appendix; their organizations will be included in the supplier's
directory with full contact details. The order form for the study can also
be downloaded from the website.


FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE

Billion-Dollar FutureGen Project to Yield Hydrogen from Coal.
The United States will lead a $1 billion, public-private effort to construct
FutureGen - the world's first fossil fuel, pollution-free power plant, which
will serve as a "living prototype" of new carbon sequestration technologies
while producing both electricity and hydrogen. The hydrogen would be
extracted for multiple uses, including as fuel for a fuel cell.
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases03/febpr/pr03041_v.htm>

Stuart Energy Sells Hydrogen Energy Station to Sydkraft.
Stuart Energy Systems Corporation has sold a Hydrogen Energy Station to
Malmo, Sweden-based utility Sydkraft, which will generate, compress and
dispense hydrogen fuel, as well as a blend of hydrogen and natural gas fuel,
for the city of Malmo's entire bus fleet.  The station, which will be
installed later this year, is able to generate, compress and dispense
approximately 80 kilograms of high-purity hydrogen each day.  It is also to
blend hydrogen and natural gas at ratios ranging from 100 percent hydrogen
to 100 percent natural gas.
<http://www.stuartenergy.com/news/press_releases/press_march6.html>

GM and Shell to Install Hydrogen Pump in Washington, DC.
General Motors Corp. and Shell Hydrogen are partnering on a demonstration of
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and fueling infrastructure technology in the
Washington, D.C. area.  The demonstration will feature the nation's first
hydrogen pump at a Shell retail gas station to support a General Motors
Corp. fleet of fuel cell vehicles.
<http://www.shell.com/home/hydrogen-en/downloads/SHGM%20Release%20Final2.doc
>

Shell to Fund Hydrogen Refueling Station in Luxemburg.
Shell Hydrogen is providing funding and technological know-how for the
construction of a hydrogen refueling station in Luxemburg. The project is
part of a European Union initiative to demonstrate how fuel cell buses could
provide clean urban transport across the continent.  The hydrogen refueling
station will be built at Luxemburg's main bus station, and will supply fuel
to three fuel cell buses that will run on the city's streets. The refuelling
station is planned to be operational in the third quarter of 2003. 
<http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=hydrogen-en>

Hydrogenics Receives Funding from Canadian Government.
Hydrogenics Corporation has received a $620,000 Canadian (US$419,000) grant
from the Canadian government to proceed with two projects to develop,
demonstrate and commercialize fuel cell refueling technology.  Hydrogenics
will also contribute $540,000 Canadian (US$365,000) for the projects.  The
first project will develop a hydrogen refueling apparatus for a natural gas
reformer that will generate hydrogen for both vehicles and stationary
generators.  Funds for the second project will be used to integrate the
company's electrolysis technology in a mobile hydrogen fueling station. 
<http://www.hydrogenics.com/ir/NewsReleaseDetail-1.asp?RELEASEID=104553>

MTSU Purchases HOGEN® RE Hydrogen Generator.
Middle Tennessee State University's (MTSU) School of Agribusiness and
Agriscience has purchased a HOGEN® RE (Renewable Energy) hydrogen generator
for use in agricultural research and as a fuel input to the school's
experimental internal hydrogen-combustion and electric-hydrogen hybrid
vehicles.  The ultimate goal is to run a car with an electric-H2 hybrid
engine over 500 miles before refueling, from Mountain City, Tenn., to
Memphis in May 2004.

MesoFuel and Jadoo Join Forces.
MesoFuel, Inc. and Jadoo Power Systems, LLC, announced a strategic
partnership arrangement to integrate MesoFuel's hydrogen generator products
with Jadoo's fuel cell products.  MesoFuel, a company that develops on-site,
on-demand hydrogen generators, will jointly develop fuel cell products with
Jadoo, a company currently marketing Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel
cells. 
<http://www.mesofuel.com/news/pr4.asp>

Praxair Offers High-Purity Hydrogen.
Praxair now offers a new high-purity grade of hydrogen for fuel cell
applications. The new product comes in high-pressure cylinders for
industrial customers that use fuel cells to produce electricity for a
variety of uses. The fuel cell grade hydrogen contains extremely low levels
of impurities (e.g. ammonia (NH3), carbon monoxide (CO) and sulfur
compounds) that can harm the membranes inside the fuel cell, helping
maintain their performance and reliability.
<http://www.praxair.com/praxair.nsf/AllContent/68E89586FA6504E185256CE3007AD
950?OpenDocument>

FUEL CELL COMPONENTS

Ube, Toagosei Develop Membrane Material.
Ube Industries, Ltd. and Toagosei Company announced the joint development of
a new polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane material that does not expand
when methanol fuel is circulated in the cell.  The joint development team,
which included University of Tokyo associate professor Takeo Yamaguchi,
created the new material by filling small holes in a chemical-resistant
resin film with a polymer that extracts hydrogen from methanol.  

Inline Hydrogen Regulator Handles 10,000 psi.
Tescom Corporation has just released two highly specialized pressure
regulators designed specifically for use with fuel cell powered vehicles.
The innovative design of these regulators greatly reduces the number of
moving parts found in alternative designs, obviously minimizing the
potential of maintenance problems.  
<http://www.tescom.com>

REPORTS/MARKET STUDIES

DOE Submits Fuel Cell Report to Congress.
The U.S. Department of Energy has submitted a report on the status of fuel
cells in response to a request by Congress. The report covers the technical
and economic barriers to the use of fuel cells in transportation, portable
power, stationary and distributed power generation applications.
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/fc_report_congress_feb
2003.pdf>

BCC to Release Report on Future FCV, Hybrid Markets.
Business Communications Company, Inc. will release an updated report next
month on the U.S. hybrid electric, all-electric and fuel cell vehicle
markets titled "Fuel Cells and Batteries for Transportation: The Next
Generation."  The report predicts that the next generation transportation is
expected to grow at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 11.7 percent to
nearly $6 billion by 2007.
<http://www.bccresearch.com>

New Report Says There's Plenty of Platinum for Fuel Cells.
The International Platinum Association has reported that "enough platinum
resource is available worldwide to meet any foreseeable future demand
spurred by the commercialization of fuel cells."
<http://www.energyinfosource.com/dg/news.cfm?id=18241>
 
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS

Fuel Cell Category Added to State Energy Program Special Topics
Solicitation.
"Fuel Cell Demonstration and Coordinated Public Education Activities" has
been added as a sub-solicitation topic for the DOE 2003 State Energy Program
Special Projects Solicitation. Approximately $300,000 is available for an
estimated 1-3 projects under this topic. Funding is available to support the
purchase of a PEMFC to be used at a college or university, as well as to
support public education activities to showcase the technology to the
community. The deadline for proposals is May 9, 2003.
<http://www.pr.doe.gov/iips/busopor.nsf/8373d2fc6d83b66685256452007963f5/ea1
6eb919ea09b6885256cc5007bb24e?OpenDocument>

MISCELLANEOUS

Ford Rethinks TH!NK's Name.
Ford Motor Company's TH!NK Technologies ha changed its name to Sustainable
Mobility Technologies.  This division of Ford's Research and Advanced
Engineering organization is responsible for Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell
electric vehicle systems engineering.
<http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=14689>

CONFERENCES

Small Fuel Cells 2003.
The 5th Annual Small Fuel Cells conference  - Small Fuel Cells for Portable
Power Applications will be May 7 - 9, 2003, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans
in New Orleans, Louisiana.  For conference details, go to
<http://www.knowledgepress.com/events/10301507.htm>.

Rally Thru The Valley.
"Rally Thru The Valley," the 2003 California Fuel Cell Partnership Road
Rally, will take place May 14-16. Zero-emission fuel cell cars from the
Partnership's eight automakers will depart West Sacramento and conduct
public events in Fresno and Bakersfield before arriving in Los Angeles.
Details can be found at www.cafcp.org.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2003.
Join over 700 delegates to discuss the latest developments in hydrogen, fuel
cell research and product developments in Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada on June 8-11, 2003.  Also available will be an exciting array of
industrial and product demonstrations.  For more information, please visit
www.hydrogenfuelcells2003.com.

Grove Fuel Cell Symposium VIII. 
Join international delegates to discuss developments in fuel cell technology
and commercialization at the Eighth Grove Fuel Cell Symposium in London,
England, on September 24-26, 2003. New for 2003 is a large exhibition area
featuring over 100 exhibitors, vendor presentations and live demonstrations.
Find out more at www.grovefuelcell.com or contact [email protected].


Sustainable Energy Expo.
The Sustainable Energy Expo and Conference will be held October 1-3, 2003,
at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.  For more
information, please visit www.sustainableexpo.com.

H2 Expo.
H2 Expo, the International Trade Fair for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Technologies, will be held October 9-11, 2003, in Hamburg, Germany.  For
information, go to www.h2expo.de.

2004 Future Car Congress.
The Society of Automotive Engineer's Future Car Congress will be held June
27-30, 2004, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington DC.  For
details, go to <http://www.futurecarcongress.org/>.

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