A company that made its name in camping lanterns hopes a portable generator it has begun manufacturing here will help shine the way to a future powered by clean energy.

 The Coleman Powermate generators combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce up to 1,000 watts of electricity. Pure water is the only waste product of this fuel cell technology, giving it tremendous appeal to promoters of clean energy.

According to the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Toshiba International Fuel Cells Corporation (TIFCC) intends to start mass producing a 5kW PEM fuel cell at Toshiba’s manufacturing plant in Kamo-City. 

The unit aims to target the commercial market in Japan and the residential market in Europe and the USA. Powered by city gas or LPG, the fuel cell system will use a partial oxidation reformer which was developed by Hydrogen Sources, a joint-venture of UTC and Shell Hydrogen. 

The start-up time of the unit will be around nine minutes, the weight about 550kg and the overall efficiency will be higher than 32 per cent. Toshiba plans to sell its PEM FC for 3 million yen (US$ 25,000).

A pair of Toyota FCHV market-ready hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, are receiving good grades in on-road use at two major California universities.
The two zero emission vehicles were delivered December 2, 2002 to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the University of California, Davis(UCD) as the first step towards establishing a California fuel-cell
"community" partnership of government, business and higher education that will tackle product, infrastructure and consumer-acceptance challenges.  Additional Toyota FCHV models will be delivered before the end of 2003 and each vehicle will be leased for a total of 30 months.

Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRTN), a leader in hydrogen generation and fuel cell technology and products, announced today that it has supplied a HOGEN 380 hydrogen generator for a hydrogen and renewable energy project in Barth, Germany. The system, delivered last November, was commissioned and successfully passed acceptance testing earlier this month.

The HOGEN 380 hydrogen generator will be used to compress and store hydrogen at high-pressure to provide fuel for a fuel cell-powered bus. The oxygen byproduct from the unit will be used to increase Barth's wastewater treatment capacity by adding oxygen to its biological wastewater treatment system. The Barth environmental site will also incorporate solar panels for zero emission electricity generation.

The HOGEN 380 is capable of generating 380 standard cubic feet of hydrogen per hour. Other features of the generator include a self-contained weatherized design and a remote monitoring package.

Ballard Power Systems Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Dennis Campbell comments on plans by President George W. Bush and the U.S. Department of Energy to increase funding for hydrogen fuel- cell research. Campbell spoke in an interview.

On Bush plan to lift government spending for fuel-cell- related research to $1.2 billion over five years:

``It's very encouraging, and great news for the industry.

``It's a huge step in the right direction. Specifically, this is appears to be focused on developing the hydrogen infrastructure.''

On the Energy Department's new Freedom Fuel program aimed at lowering the cost of creating and storing hydrogen:

``By recognizing hydrogen as the best fuel, it simplifies our process going forward.''

``This accelerates the prospect of moving toward a hydrogen economy.''

On expectations for full-year results for 2002:

``Our stated guidance for 2002 is that we'll report revenue in the $110 million to $120 million range.''

Fledgling companies are being forced to pay a financial price these days to survive. In mid-2000, start-up company PolyFuel Inc. had raised all it needed to start work on developing fuel cells to power portable electronic devices. Less than a year later, the company had burned through nearly all its initial cash. After nine months of tense negotiations and with just $17,000 remaining in its bank account, PolyFuel managed to arrange a second lifeline, but PolyFuel employees and its seed investors had to give up equity and the company's valuation was cut. 

YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) Nippon Oil Corp. began testing fuel cells for residential use in a model house in Nishi Ward here Tuesday, the world's first practical application of this kind of power generation system.

 The Tokyo-based oil company said it also plans to begin testing the fuel cells in March at the official residence of Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi Nakada, who attended Tuesday's opening ceremony for the experiment.

 The fuel cell generates electricity to power household appliances through the chemical reaction between hydrogen, extracted from propane gas, and oxygen in the atmosphere. The only byproduct of the process is warm water, which will also be utilized in the kitchen and bathroom of the house, according to the company.

 The experiment will last for about a year. Nippon Oil said it plans to begin sales of the system, which will cost about 500,000 yen, by fiscal 2005.

WOODSIDE Petroleum is set to be one of the first Australian companies to commercially demonstrate ceramic fuel cell technology. 

The company has plans to install up to three cells from Melbourne-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited in its new headquarters, under construction on the corner of Milligan Street and St Georges Terrace. 

Woodside will lease 19 of the 23 occupiable floors in the building and the solid oxide fuel cells could supply between 40 and 50 per cent of the company’s power needs. 

Western Power, which has been a 5 per cent shareholder of CFCL since 1994, has confirmed “arrangements are in place” for the building to accept the cells, and for Western Power to back up Woodside’s needs. 

CFCL managing director Bruce Godfrey said CFCL was completing the proving of its first commercial generation and was moving towards commercial development.

A pair of Toyota FCHV market-ready hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, are receiving good grades in on-road use major California universities.
  The two zero emission vehicles were delivered December 2, 2002 to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the University of California, Davis (UCD) as the first step towards establishing a California fuel-cell "community" partnership of government, business and higher education that will tackle product, infrastructure and consumer-acceptance challenges. Additional Toyota FCHV models will be delivered before the end of 2003 and each vehicle will be leased for a total of 30 months. 

"It has only been a couple of months, but we're very encouraged by the initial feedback we've received from the universities," said Jim Press, TMS executive vice president and COO. "There are still many product, operational and logistical issues to address and this is very much a long-term program, but the early response has been promising."

Nissan Motor Co. and UTC Fuel Cells (UTCFC), a part of United Technologies Corporation's (NYSE: UTX) UTC Power unit, today announced the signing of an agreement to jointly develop proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology.
 
Under terms of the agreement, Nissan will obtain rights to UTCFC's technology, and the two companies will continue to jointly develop this technology for automotive applications.  UTCFC will continue its separate development efforts with other auto companies.  Financial terms of the
agreement were not disclosed.
 
UTCFC will also have rights to any intellectual property jointly developed by the two companies for use in non-automotive applications, including commercial stationary power plants.  UTCFC is currently developing commercial power plants based on PEM technology.

Washington, DC and London, England, 5 February 2002 – With Toyota, Honda, GM, Nissan, Ford, Daihatsu, Mazda, and DaimlerChrysler all having hydrogen fuel cell vehicles operating on public roads somewhere in the world and many planning to introduce dozens more this year, people are beginning to stop doubting the validity of fuel cell vehicles and starting to wonder where exactly these hydrogen vehicles will be fueling up. 

Fuel Cells 2000 (www.fuelcells.org), and Fuel Cell Today, (www.fuelcelltoday.com), have responded by providing the most comprehensive guide and information package on hydrogen fueling stations. Fuel Cell Today’s worldwide hydrogen fueling station report, combined with Fuel Cells 2000’s worldwide hydrogen fueling station reference chart creates an impressive informational package and practically dismisses the popular ‘chicken and the egg’ dilemma. 

The traditional "First Day of Summer" holiday in Iceland will hold special significance this year as the world's first commercial hydrogen filling station opens in the nation's capital of Reykjavik on April 24.
 
Iceland is the first country to pledge the future of its society to this newly feasible source of energy.
 
The first hydrogen station, Icelandic New Energy Ltd.'s ECTOS project, will be erected at an existing Shell retail station in Reykjavik, using Norsk Hydro electrolysis technology. Here, the hydrogen for the project will be produced by electrolyzing water, using electricity generated from renewable energy.
 
First to fill up will be a concept car from Mercedes. By late season, three hydrogen-powered city buses manufactured by DaimlerChrysler will also be fueled by compressed hydrogen. Initially the vehicles will be tested for two years in the streets of Reykjavik. Assuming a positive outcome, the goal is to replace a larger number of Reykjavik city buses with hydrogen vehicles. Eventually, hydrogen-powered private vehicles, marine vessels and fishing boats will be introduced.

MTI MicroFuel Cells at Presidential Energy Event 

Remarks by the President on Energy Independence

Plug Power Participates in President Bush's Freedom Fuel Expo Highlighting Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Jadoo Power Systems Presents Fuel Cell Products to President

Honda FCX Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicle Displayed at White House Event

Ztek President Michael S. Hsu Responds to President Bush's Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Initiatives 

Proton Energy Systems Featured at President Bush's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo

Dynetek to Supply Hydrogen Storage System for John Deere Fuel Cell Technology

Dynetek Industries Ltd. (TSX: DNK - News) of Calgary, Alberta, announced today that it has been selected by Deere & Company (John Deere) to supply its 5000psi (350bar) hydrogen storage system as part of a technology demonstrator fuel cell-powered commercial work vehicle (CWV). The demonstrator will be a modified John Deere Pro-Gator(TM) utility vehicle.

"We are excited to partner with John Deere on this demonstrator fuel cell-powered project", said Robb Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dynetek. "The selection of Dynetek confirms our product innovation and market leadership in compressed hydrogen storage and complements our current commercial cylinder storage technology in other compressed gases."

Dynetek Industries Ltd. designs, produces and markets one of the lightest and most advanced fuel storage and refueling systems for compressed natural gas, low emission vehicles and compressed hydrogen, zero-emission fuel cell and internal combustion engine vehicles. Dynetek is recognized around the world for its solutions-of-choice to the alternate fuel vehicle sector, evidenced by strategic relationships with major manufacturers around the globe. 

AXANE, an AIR LIQUIDE company for the development of Fuel Cells Systems successfully operated a fuel cell in the North Pole under harsh conditions.

The 300 W PEM POLAR PAC ^tm Fuel Cell was supplied by AXANE to French explorer Jean-Louis ETIENNE as his power source during his Polar Mission.

The Fuel Cell System was specifically designed for the harsh conditions of the mission requiring high reliability low noise and ease of operation it was designed with special features for ease of maintenance which were successfully tested by the explorer during his mission.

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2003--Powerball International Inc. (OTC BB: PRBL) is pleased to announce that it has achieved all of its initial objectives and goals established for the sodium pilot plant located in West Valley City. Powerball holds two issued patents for a process to convert sodium hydroxide into elemental sodium. The pilot plant successfully demonstrated continuous and consistent production of elemental sodium with the addition of engineered sodium handling systems for the fully computerized pumping, spraying, metering, temperature control and product filtering of the finished sodium. Powerball will now focus its efforts on the licensing of its technologies to industrial and commercial partners.
 

Delphi to show second-generation solid oxide fuel cell auxiliary power unit at DOE event

Battenberg says continued collaboration between the auto industry and the U.S. government 'vital' to bring alternate energy sources to market
 

SEOUL, Feb 6 (Reuters) - South Korean auto maker Hyundai Motor 05380.KS said on Thursday it has teamed up with its five international rivals including Ford Motor F.N on a project to develop enhanced fuel systems for fuel cell vehicles.

Hyundai said the team, which also includes Toyota Motor 7203.T , DaimlerChrysler DCXGn.DE , Nissan 7201.T and PSA Peugeot-Citroen PEUP.PA , would cooperate in developing high pressure hydrogen fuel systems, capable of storing more compressed gas at vehicles.

"The 700 bar storage pressure will facilitate the design of fuel cell vehicles with a range comparable to the range of petroleum-fuelled vehicles," Hyundai said in a statement.

Hyundai said prototype fuel cell vehicles currently use 350 bar compressed hydrogen fuel systems.

The six auto makers aim to complete development by January 2004 and commercialise the fuel system by 2005, Hyundai added.