FuelCellsWorks

A GM fuel cell vehicle shows the damage of a rear end collision. The fuel cells where explosive hydrogen is stored were not compromised.

A GM fuel cell vehicle shows the damage of a rear end collision. The fuel cells where explosive hydrogen is stored were not compromised.

One of the more impressive aspects of General Motors’ Project Driveway, which put 120 Chevrolet Equinox fuel-cell vehicles on the streets, is that it was pretty clear from the start that some might get in accidents.  With that many vehicles it was bound to happen. But how would  a hydrogen vehicle hold up?

So far, so good. Five GM fuel-cell vehicles have been involved in accidents over the years, and none has resulted in any sort of catastrophic hydrogen explosion, says Charlie Freese, who is charge of GM’s fuel-cell program. That has always been the fear about hydrogen cars, since memories still linger of the Hindenburg dirigible accident in 1937. Freese explains that the cars are designed so the tanks will leak in a jet of flame if ruptured and ignited, not go off like a bomb.

The pictures are from an accident in Washington, D.C. GM PR man Alan Adler says that early on Feb. 22, a Chevrolet Equinox fuel-cell  vehicle was involved in a three-car crash. How it happened:

The vehicle was being driven in traffic at low speed when it was struck from behind by a full-size pickup which forced the fuel-cell vehicle forward into another pickup. No hydrogen was released and no one was injured.

The vehicle was extensively damaged on both front and rear ends and later declared a total loss. A vehicle data analysis indicates that the vehicle and controls operated as designed, Adler says. The vehicle was on a short-term loan to a military consultant.

A hydrogen-powered ferry could be the future for Bristol Harbour. Bristol City Council is inviting companies with the technological know-how to design, develop and demonstrate a hydrogen-fuelled boat in partnership with a local ferry operator.

The aim is to showcase hydrogen fuel cell technology which is emerging as a possible clean and green alternative to traditional diesel and petrol engines.  It is hoped that this project will demonstrate the advantages to the public and businesses, kick-starting a hydrogen economy in Bristol and attracting new environmental innovators into the city.

The project will be council funded subject to tender, so the amount the council will pay will not be known until tender process is finalised and a successful bid is selected.

The trial is set to run for between three and six months, starting in the Summer. The ferry will be expected to run for 42 hours over a six day week to demonstrate the advantages of the technology in this setting, including a less noisy and smelly experience for commuters and tourists.

Hydrogen fuel technology is seen as a possible fuel of the future as it is clean, with the potential for significantly lower environmental impacts than other fuels; the only waste product of hydrogen fuel cells is water, so it will help to reduce air pollution in the Harbour.

A number of European cities are experimenting with hydrogen at the moment.  Hamburg already runs a hydrogen ferry and Amsterdam will be introducing one soon.  Hydrogen is also being implemented as a fuel source for buses in a number of cities following a global trial over the last few years, which included London.

The invitation to bid document provided details of all local ferry operators currently operating council funded services. In the council’s view, all operators have the potential to take the challenge.

Councillor Jon Rogers, Executive Member for Transport and Sustainability, said; “We are looking at alternative environmentally-friendly technologies for all Bristol transport. The harbour is a great place to trial a new innovation which sends this message, as it draws crowds and is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every year.”

“Bristol has a long history of maritime innovation and this is hopefully the next step.  We want to show that Bristol is a place to try out new environmental technologies, creating new jobs while combatting climate change, peak oil and other environmental concerns.  We are hopeful that the ferry will also reveal other hydrogen-based opportunities, maybe including the next generation of rapid transit.”

Residents in south Shropshire could be one step closer to seeing green hydrogen-fuelled cars on the streets.

The firm Riversimple LLP has set up its headquarters at the Mill on the Green at Dinham, Ludlow.

There will be six employees initially but it is hoped that four jobs could be created by the end of the year.

Bosses at the innovative business said it was “a revolutionary goal” for the company to see the hydrogen cars provided on lease. The company launched its prototype carbon-fibre hydrogen cars and has prototype facilities and workshops at Silverstone.

Hugo Spowers, managing partner of Riversimple, said: “The riverside mill with its water wheel presents a glorious working environment. It will be inspirational as we go about our quest for energy efficiency.”

Last summer Riversimple achieved widespread publicity with its first carbon-fibre hydrogen two-seater.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGSD) (TSX: HYG) (”Hydrogenics” or the “Company”) a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that, as expected, the Company received a staff determination letter from the NASDAQ Stock Market (”NASDAQ”) notifying the Company that its common shares are subject to delisting from the NASDAQ Global Market based upon the fact that Hydrogenics’ stock has not satisfied the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement under Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the “Minimum Bid Price Rule”) for ten consecutive trading days.

The Company intends to request a hearing with the NASDAQ to appeal the proposed delisting. Subsequent to the previously announced one-for-25 consolidation of the Company’s common shares, effective March 12, 2010, the Company’s common shares have traded above the $1.00 Minimum Bid Price requirement. Once the common shares have traded at or above $1.00 per share for ten consecutive trading days, which the Company expects will occur beginning March 26, 2010, the Company will be in full compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule and the delisting proceedings should be terminated.

Separately, Hydrogenics shares will trade under the symbol “HYGSD” for 20 business days following the share consolidation, or until April 9, 2010, subsequent to which the shares will revert to trading as “HYGS.”

ABOUT HYDROGENICS

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.

Fuel cell maker is sued by Saudi company over distribution agreement

By LARRY RULISON, Business writer

COLONIE — A Saudi Arabian company is suing fuel cell manufacturer Plug Power Inc., claiming the company hasn’t lived up to a distribution agreement signed in 2000.

The company, Soroof Trading Development Co. Ltd., says it paid $1 million for the distribution rights and spent another $1 million to prepare to sell Plug’s fuel cells in Saudi Arabia, according to a civil lawsuit filed last month is U.S. District Court in New York City.

The distribution deal was reached when Plug had a joint venture with General Electric Co. called GE Fuel Cell Systems. However, that venture was dissolved in 2006, and GE is no longer involved with Plug’s business.

Plug makes various types of hydrogen-powered fuel cells but has been focusing recently on its GenDrive cell used in forklifts. It also has plans to commercialize a new type of fuel cell that will provide heat and power to homes and small businesses. Back in 2000, Plug’s market focus was much different.

Plug and Soroof had tried to work out their differences before last month’s lawsuit was filed. In its recent annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, Plug wrote that Soroof demanded to go to arbitration over the dispute in 2008. The arbitration apparently failed.

“Accordingly, while there continues to be on-going discussions between the two parties, we believe that it is too early to determine that there is likely exposure to an adverse outcome and whether or not the probability of an adverse outcome is more than remote,” Plug wrote. The lawsuit is seeking as much as $3 million. Soroof is run by Saudi Prince Bander Bin Abdullah Al Saud.

A Plug spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment on the lawsuit. An attorney for Soroof who filed the complaint also could not be reached.

Back in 2006, GE and Plug said that they were dissolving their relationship, which was between Plug and GE subsidiary GE MicroGen. The Soroof suit specifically says that GE is a “non-party” to the complaint, although GE Fuel Cell and GE MicroGen are listed as defendants. A GE spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment.