FuelCellsWorks

A hydrogen-fueled bus has successfully been developed. The bus is capable of running about 200 km on a single charge of hydrogen.

Tokyo city university and the Hino Motors have announced that they have successfully developed a small-sized bus which utilizes hydrogen as fuel.

?By the fact that engineering evaluation of the Japanese automobile laboratory is passed, for the first time public road travelling became possible as a hydrogen fuel bus.

The bus is capable of travelling 205.2 kilometers on a single fueling of hydrogen.

Volvo has unveiled its vision for the future of road building in the shape of its ‘Fenix’ concept. This futuristic paver is powered by hydrogen fuel cells and rather than relying on trucks, has its asphalt delivered in a series of insulated ‘pods’.

Rather than having to wait for a string of trucks to deliver asphalt exactly when required, Volvo has conceived of a system whereby asphalt could be delivered to site in insulated boxes – ‘pods’ – well ahead of the paver. The Feenix system would then simply drive along, picking up the pods via a self-loading front ramp to access the asphalt inside.

Other features in this visionary machine include an elevating and tilting cab to give the operator the best view possible, and a digital heads-up display to report the machine’s condition and the progress of the job.

With a series of solar powered pods filled with asphalt heated to the perfect temperature, Fenix takes the entire paving process into its own hands. And this improves the accuracy of the final pavement.

Pods are filled with up to 25 tonnes of hot mix material and positioned along the road building work site at intervals where they can be self loaded and unloaded by the specially adapted Paver.

The hydraulics system works smoothly and without any interruptions to easily transfer the mix onto the pavement before it cools. This unstoppable process helps to boost productivity and cut costs. There is no waiting for the next truck filled with hot mix to arrive.

Hamburg – The Hanseatic City of Hamburg has started today a major project for the use of fuel cell vehicles together with Daimler, Shell, Total and Vattenfall Europe. The aim of this cooperation is to accelerate the expansion of an emission-free vehicle fleet and create a corresponding infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations. The project is part of the Clean Energy Partnership in Hamburg and Berlin. It is being supported by the federal German government as part of the national innovation programme for hydrogen and fuel cell technology (NIP). In addition, a Fuel Cell Lab is being founded in Hamburg to further research on fuel cell technology.

The Green Capital of Europe
The signatures below the memorandum of understanding signed by the partners today show that the city of Hamburg is resolutely following the path it has taken. Its efforts were recently given official recognition in Brussels, and from 2011 Hamburg will be entitled to call itself the “Green Capital” of Europe. The city is already a member of the Clean Energy Partnership, and in coming years it will be committed to providing even stronger impulses where sustainable mobility is concerned. One of these is its support for various technologies for low-emission vehicles. In addition to its pioneering role in the use of hydrogen powered cars, the city also plans to set an example in the use of battery-powered vehicles.

“Hamburg is already a trailblazer in testing low-emission fuel cell buses. This technology is also an important factor in safeguarding the future of local businesses in the aviation and marine sectors. There are also the benefits in terms of climate protection. Our goal is therefore to continue increasing the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles. We also intend to use battery-powered vehicles, as both drive systems are low in emissions and offer synergies on a common technological development path”, says Ole von Beust, the Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

Emission-free fleet of fuel cell cars and buses
Fuel cell buses from Daimler have already been operated on the roads of Hamburg for the city’s transport authority HOCHBAHN since 2003. This fleet will be expanded in the next years, with the addition of fuel cell powered cars. From 2010 a total of ten latest-generation fuel cell buses will be in operation in Hamburg, plus 20 Mercedes-Benz B-Class fuel cell cars. The company also sees a potential for the use of 500 to 1000 fuel cell powered vehicles by around 2015. A precondition for this is the parallel construction of the necessary infrastructure.
“As the “Green Capital of Europe” of the year 2011, Hamburg is the ideal location for the operation of our fuel cell passenger cars and buses”, says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG. “It is particularly gratifying that we and our partners are all moving in the same direction, and taking important steps towards the creation of the necessary infrastructure. The city of Hamburg will therefore be a major location where the emission-free operation of electrically powered cars will be a day-to-day reality.”

Construction of new hydrogen filling stations
As part of the cooperative venture, Shell and TOTAL will add hydrogen pumps with 700-bar technology to four public filling stations in Hamburg. Fuel cell powered vehicles will be able to refuel within a few minutes at these filling stations, and thanks to the high hydrogen pressure they will have an operating range of more than 400 kilometres on one filling.

Dr. Peter Blauwhoff, Chairman of Deutsche Shell Holding GmbH, sees the benefits of this technology:
“Shell has long been involved in hydrogen technology, and is committed to furthering the Clean City Cars project for Hamburg. We will be contributing our know-how and expertise to the coming discussions and plans.”

TOTAL also intends to increase its involvement in the Hanseatic City of Hamburg: “We are completely convinced by these activities here in Hamburg, therefore it was easy for us to decide in favour of expanding our hydrogen infrastruc­ture. In the mid-term we intend to extend the hydrogen refuelling network in Hamburg and Berlin as part of the Clean Energy Partnership”, says Michel Mallet, General Manager of Total Deutschland GmbH.

Hydrogen from renewable energy sources
The fuel cell buses operated by the city’s transport authority HOCHBAHN since 2003 are fuelled with hydrogen generated from renewable resources. The hydrogen is supplied by Vattenfall Europe. In the next few years the company plans to expand its capacities in Hamburg even further.

“Hydrogen obtained from renewable energy sources, especially wind power, can play an increasingly important role in maintaining our mobility in the future”, says Dr. Rainer Schubach, general representative of Vattenfall Europe, “it is low in emissions and enables us to make sustainable use of our wind energy.”

Research for the energy supply of the future
With the support of the city of Hamburg, Airbus, EADS and DLR will found a Fuel Cell Lab for the applied testing and optimisation of fuel cell systems. The initial aim is to test the use of fuel cells in aircraft, and to accelerate the technical maturity of these systems. Other applications will be added later, for example road traffic. A trust with a professorial chair is also to be created there with the support of Daimler AG. At present the Fuel Cell Lab is integrated into the plans of the Centre for Applied Aviation Research (ZAL).

MUNICH, GERMANY–The technology group The Linde Group is developing an innovative process for the sustainable production of hydrogen from biogenic raw materials. Hydromotive GmbH, a subsidiary of The Linde Group, is to build a demonstration plant from mid-2009 at the chemical site in Leuna, Germany, which will produce hydrogen from glycerine. The feedstock glycerine is a by-product of biodiesel production and further processing of glycerine therefore makes good sense.

“Promising opportunities for the sustainable cost-effective production of hydrogen are presented by the use of biogenic raw materials,” said Dr Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive Board of Linde AG. “With this innovative patented process, we have taken yet another step towards low-emission energy supply using hydrogen.”

The plant, which will reprocess, pyrolyse and reform raw glycerine and will come on stream in mid-2010, will produce a hydrogen-rich gas, which will be fed into the existing Leuna II hydrogen plant for the purification and liquefaction of the hydrogen. The “green” liquefied hydrogen produced there will initially be used in German centres such as Berlin and Hamburg where hydrogen is being employed as a fuel.

As a result of its high hydrogen content, raw glycerine, which arises in the course of biodiesel manufacture, is particularly suited for the production of hydrogen. The potential benefit of biomass (per hectare) is exploited to an even greater extent by the conversion of glycerine into hydrogen for the production of fuel. Biogenically produced glycerine will not be in competition with food production and is available all year round.

As the world’s largest manufacturer of hydrogen plants, Linde has access to the full range of technology required for the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier – from production to filling. Linde is a leader in the fitting out of hydrogen filling stations and its filling technology is available in more than in 15 countries. When hydrogen is used as a fuel, no harmful emissions at all are produced.

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 52,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2008 financial year, it achieved sales of 12.7 billion euro. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

Contributors receive 25% credit against SC income taxes

CHARLESTON, SC–SCRA, a global leader in applied research and commercialization, announces that contributions are being accepted toward the South Carolina Hydrogen Infrastructure Development Fund (HIDF). On behalf of the state of South Carolina, SCRA is the designated administrator of the Fund, responsible for technical selection, program delivery and financial management. The SC General Assembly enacted S.243 in 2007, which established the HIDF. SCRA is the designated executor of the Fund on behalf of the state of South Carolina.

South Carolina taxpayers who contribute to the Fund receive a 25% credit against their SC income tax, license fees or insurance premium tax. Fund contributions will be distributed in the form of grants used to promote the development and deployment of hydrogen production, storage, distribution and dispensing infrastructure to enable the growth of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in South Carolina.

With the national focus on creating alternative energy sources, South Carolina is emerging as a leader in hydrogen and fuel cell technology and innovation, delivering substantive research and commercialization outcomes through vibrant interaction among our university research foundations, industry, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. This emergence was in full evidence last month when the National Hydrogen Association held its annual conference in Columbia, attracting attendees from across the globe. Two hydrogen fueling stations opened in South Carolina during the conference – one in Columbia and one in Aiken – implemented by the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative and the Center for Hydrogen Research, as partners with SCRA in the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance.

“SCRA is pleased to be selected as the administrator of the HIDF,” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “This not only reflects SCRA’s consistent ability to achieve assured outcomes, but it also demonstrates our excellence as a partner in deploying important technology which advances the Knowledge Economy in South Carolina.”
Persons or organizations who wish to contribute to the HIDF may send a check, payable to “South Carolina HIDF”, to:

SC Hydrogen Infrastructure Development Fund
c/o South Carolina Research Authority
5300 International Blvd.
N. Charleston, SC 29418
Attn: Julia Martin

Contributors should include the donor’s full name and home/business address, and indicate where the tax credit certification should be mailed. Upon receipt of the contribution, SCRA will issue the tax credit certification and deposit the contribution in the account prescribed by the South Carolina Department of Treasury.

For more information about the HIDF, please visit:
http://www.scra.org/hidf.shtml
For a list of South Carolina hydrogen and fuel cell facts, visit:
http://www.scra.org/hydrogen_facts.shtml

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About SCRA
SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with offices in South Carolina, Ohio and near McLean, Virginia. SCRA collaborates to advance technology, providing technology-based solutions with assured outcomes to industry and government, with the help of research universities in SC, the US and around the world.