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JPL reports that hydrogen storage capacity in a laboratory unit, based on fuel alone, has increased from 4.7 percent to between 8 and 9 percent; the storage capacity is dependent on the mode of operation. This is expected to exceed the Department of Energy's (DOE) 2010 goal of 6 percent hydrogen storage by weight for an entire system including tanks and plumbing.
Critical results from the advancement of Hydratus to Phase II are expected to include:
* Hydrogen storage,
and output, increase of 70 to 90 percent
* Meet or exceed
DOE 2010 goals for hydrogen storage and weight
* Reduced temperature
results in ability to use reduced cost materials
* Reduced system
complexity results in reduced cost and size
* Regeneration
efficiency increased by approximately 400 percent
As a result of these performance breakthroughs, ECOtality also intends to develop a 7kW prototype to power various commercial applications. This is in addition of a 65kW Hydratus system, suitable for a bus application that the company previously announced.
"ECOtality believes JPL's breakthroughs support the commercial viability of the Hydratus and we are moving forward more aggressively with this new technology," said Jonathan Read CEO, ECOtality. "The ECOtality technology team has agreed to focus their effort on the Phase II system, and the company anticipates this technology will be implemented in a proof of concept vehicle in the second half of 2007."
Hydratus addresses the commercialization issues facing hydrogen fuel cell technologies by producing hydrogen on-demand -- using magnesium and water -- in a sysstem that emits no exhaust other than pure water.
"The new performance breakthroughs are a key step forward in the development of hydrogen as a commercial renewable energy," said Dr. Andrew Kindler of JPL. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
The official letter from JPL outlining these positive breakthroughs is available as a part of ECOtality's 8k filing today.
About ECOtality, Inc.
ECOtality, Inc. (OTC BB: ETL), headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a technology innovator that leverages global R&D resources to develop and commercialize renewable energy technologies, specifically aimed at addressing today's global energy challenges. Through strategic partnerships, ECOtality applies scientific knowledge and creates proprietary green energy technologies.
ECOtality is focused on bringing
innovative eco-friendly concepts to practical commercialization through
the acquisition, partnership and development of early stage renewable energy
technologies. With strategic partnerships and an aggressive developmental
model, the company strives to accelerate the market applicability of clean
technologies to become accepted alternatives to carbon-based fuel technologies.
For more information about ECOtality, Inc. please visit http://www.ecotality.com.
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