International Conference and Trade Fair on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
from 31 August to 1 September 2005

When is the hydrogen vehicle coming? Following unduly optimistic announcements of the vehicle manufacturers, who had predicted widespread use of these environment friendly cars for 2003/2004, the timing of market launch seems to have shifted a little into the future. The vehicles with hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine or fuel cell and electric motor are ready for the road, and are being tried out in a number of test fleets under everyday operating conditions. The H2Expo, 5th International Conference and Trade Fair on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, to be held in Hamburg from 31 August to 1 September, will take stock of the situation and give an overview based on a survey by the industry service Fuel Cell Today, showcasing current activities by the automobile manufacturers.

Buses and passenger cars
A small fleet of three fuel cell buses has been operating in Hamburg since 2003. Experience there is so good that the EU funded "CUTE" project (Clean Urban Transport for Europe) has been extended, initially by a year, and buses from other CUTE cities are to be taken over in addition. From 2009 onwards, the next generation of hydrogen-powered buses built by the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary EvoBus will be used on scheduled routes. A survey conducted by the public transport operator Hochbahn with some 200 passengers shows that the buses are well received. 95% of respondents assess the vehicles, which are based on the Citaro model, as very good or good; they feel it is right for fuel cell technology to be tested in buses, and would welcome increased use. 90% described comfort of ride as very good or good. The only criticism they had was the reduced space compared with the usual Hochbahn buses – installation of the future technology meant fewer seats and standing spaces. Nevertheless, 70% said they would rather travel on the hydrogen bus than on a conventional bus. Visitors will have an opportunity at this year’s H2Expo to take a ride on one of these innovative buses.

On the passenger car front, too, DaimlerChrysler has long been active with fuel cell vehicles, and currently has the world’s largest fleet with 60 F-Cell vehicles based on the A class, in Germany, the US, Japan and Singapore. Delivery was completed at the end of 2004. The new fuel cell vehicle based on the B class was presented recently; it has an extended range of 400km and is electric powered with more than 100kW/136hp.

By the end of 2006, Ford intends to get 40 fuel cell vehicles onto the roads. The main focus of testing will be California, and further vehicles are to be delivered to Vancouver and Berlin. General Motors (GM) plans to produce the same number of fuel cell cars, but in a time frame extending up to 2008. Both of these car makers together with BMW, DaimlerChrysler, the public transport company BVG and a number of power companies are participating in the CEP project (Clean Energy Partnership). The purpose of this project is to test operation of hydrogen vehicles and different ways of fuel production and distribution, and is funded by the German government.

Honda has so far put 18 vehicles into testing. The first leasing customer for their FCX was the City of Los Angeles. It has been announced that the FCX compact car will also be made available to private individuals in the US at the end of 2005. The leasing price is to be the same as that for the companies and government agencies. Due to the existing filling facilities there, the main focus of this campaign will probably also be in California.

California as a test circuit
All vehicle manufacturers are testing their fuel cell cars in California, where environmental legislation is very tough. Vehicles that prove viable under these strict conditions are regarded as viable (almost) anywhere. The only aspect that cannot be tested there is behaviour at temperatures below zero. The efforts by the manufacturers are led by the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), a grouping of car companies, power companies and fuel cell manufacturers.

They include Toyota, whose worldwide test fleet comprises more than 20 vehicles. The current model FCHV-5 is the fifth generation of a development series that was launched in 1996. For the past four years, Toyota has been using this model to test public acceptance, reliability and starting behaviour. Volkswagen has kept a very low profile up to now. Last year the company announced that it would deliver 15 units of the Touran HyMotion for tests and demonstrations in California. So far, no announcements have been made on the details of operation there. Likewise in the USA, five Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage will be tested this year with fuel cell propulsion. Nissan has started leasing its X-Trail FCV model to a limited range of customers at about 10,000 dollars a month, but has given no information about the size of this test fleet.

The total number of fuel cell cars has exceeded 500 globally, and is likely to be more than 600 by the end of 2005. The dominant technology is a combination of PEM fuel cells with a high-pressure hydrogen tank, whereby 700 bar storage seems to be establishing itself as the standard. In the period from 2000 to 2003, market observers saw the main focus of development as Japan. In 2004 developments in Europe were dominant, even though operation with the vehicles was mainly in North America. More than 55% of the models in 2004 were driven on US and Canadian roads. Major contributions were made by deliveries of the models F-Cell, Ford Focus FCV and GM HydroGen3. Eight of the US States have now adopted regulations on the use of zero-emission vehicles.

Hydrogen combustion engine and fuel cell
BMW is taking a different approach with development for series production of the hydrogen combustion engine powered vehicle based on the 7 series. These vehicles have been in service on the airport site at Munich Airport in the framework of the ARGEMUC project. BMW has opted for the proven technology of the reciprocating engine, and see the fuel cell more as the supplier for the vehicle’s electronic systems. And the environment friendly energy converter can be used for example in the hot summer months in California to operate the air-conditioning system while the engine is switched off. The company recently confirmed its announcement that the new model expected at the beginning of 2006, which is to be filled with liquid hydrogen at a temperature of ?253°C, is to be put on the market within the model cycle of the current 7 series.

There is no longer any doubt that a changeover to this clean source of energy will come. And the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) announced its agreement with the view that hydrogen is the only way forward. But the timing of that development has not yet been settled. There are still different scenarios under consideration for the start of mass production of vehicles powered by hydrogen, and the construction of a nationwide fuel infrastructure.

The H2Expo 2005, 5th International Conference and Trade Fair on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, will present vehicles with fuel cell propulsion, including the new development of a minibus and a vehicle built by a team of students. The scientific conference on “Fuel Cell Systems for Transportation: Maritime, Aerospace and General Transportation” will focus on the synergy effects which the maritime and aerospace sectors can provide for the transport sector. Aspects of market launch will be covered by the conference on “Introducing Hydrogen Energy Technologies in a Global Market”. The H2Expo 2005 will be held at the CCH-Congress Center Hamburg on 31 August and 1 September, from 9am to 5pm on both days.