Hydrogen in South Carolina
With over 50 years of hydrogen research, South Carolina is establishing itself as a dynamic environment in which to nurture and grow the next generation of energy solutions, including the hydrogen and fuel cell industry.
The Savannah River National Laboratory and the Center for Hydrogen Research are collaborating to address production and storage issues while South Carolina's research universities are tackling automotive integration, fuel cell research and future transportation needs.
The City of Columbia itself offers Southern hospitality coupled with a fiery nightlife. Visitors can enjoy the many historic buildings, the nearby Congaree River and an array of entertainment opportunities, including arts & culture events, live bands, salsa dancing, and sporting events.
Plan to attend the 20th Anniversary Hydrogen Conference in Columbia, SC, March 30 - April 3, 2009.
America Gets New Glimpse of Hydrogen Powered Future
2008.08.12.
ROAD TOUR 2008 (for more information: http://www.hydrogenroadtour.com/)
Five years ago, President Bush challenged Americas innovators to develop new hydrogen technologies to help reduce our nations dependence on oil, and today we have a fleet of hydrogen vehicles making their way across the country, said U.S. Deputy Secretary Thomas Barrett. These hydrogen vehicles are the non-polluting cars of tomorrow and they are being demonstrated today on our nations roads.
Nine auto manufacturers, the U.S. Department of Energy, California Fuel Cell Partnership, National Hydrogen Association, and U.S. DOT are sponsoring the Hydrogen Road Tour to show that hydrogen vehicle and fueling technologies are approaching commercial availability, even as new research and development breakthroughs continue.
The technology necessary to put these cars on the road, and keep them moving, exists today, said Administrator Paul Brubaker of the U.S. DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA). The question is not if hydrogen powered vehicles will be available commercially, but when.
Brubaker noted that six transit agencies across the country currently operate hydrogen-powered buses, Southern California auto dealers are leasing hydrogen vehicles, and hundreds of individuals are driving hydrogen-powered vehicles in demonstration programs across the United States. And, he added, hydrogen can be used as a fuel for both a fuel cell vehicle or in a modified internal combustion engine.
Hydrogen is part of a balanced and diverse energy portfolio that will help address our future energy, environmental and economic security needs, U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary Clarence "Bud" Albright, Jr. said. This tour provides Americans an opportunity to see what the future could hold for hydrogen powered vehicles, as we work to help make these vehicles cost competitive and available for all.
The tour will make 31 stops in 18 states, stretching from Maine to California. Hydrogen vehicles from BMW, Daimler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen will be making the journey, and will be joined by hydrogen transit buses along the route.
As the vehicles travel from Maine to California, they will fuel at a number of the 61 hydrogen stations that are operational today. For the most part, the vehicles will use mobile stations from Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., and Linde. Both companies have been providing hydrogen worldwide for decades. Most hydrogen in the U.S. today is created from natural gas. According to well-to-wheels studies, when hydrogen from natural gas is used in a FCV, greenhouse gas emissions are about 55% less than a comparable conventional vehicle. When the hydrogen is made from renewable sources, such as water or biomass, the GHGs are zero.
CaFCP coordinated the logistics for the trip with regional hydrogen, fuel cell and Clean Cities programs. Together, we can show the country and the world how individual state and local programs are making a national change, CaFCPs executive director, Catherine Dunwoody said. The Hydrogen Road Tours goal is to showcase the progress that industry and government have made together, and emphasize the next steps to commercialization evan as R&D continues. Some automakers are taking the first steps to market by leasing a limited number of FCVs in selected areas. Many expect to see commercial roll-out in the 2015-2020 time frame.
Bringing these vehicles to market requires continued commitment from government and industry.Dunwoody continued. Building convenient, accessible hydrogen stations is crucial in the next few years.
source: http://www.h2carsbiz.com
Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid Gains Government Approval to Begin Public Road Testing in Japan
2008.06.20
Mazda Motor Corporation has received permission from Japans Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) to test the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan on public roads. Mazdas newest hydrogen rotary engine vehicle features a hybrid system that increases the vehicles power by 40 percent and doubles the hydrogen fuel range to 200 kilometers. Mazda aims to complete the road trials and start commercial leasing in Japan during fiscal year 2008. The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid is the worlds first hydrogen hybrid car with a dual-fuel system that enables the car to run on either hydrogen or gasoline.
Separately, Mazda has also announced that it will display and demonstrate its hydrogen rotary vehicles at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July 2008. The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid will debut alongside the previously released RX-8 Hydrogen RE at the summits Environmental Showcase.
Akihiro Kashiwagi, Mazdas program manager in charge of hydrogen RE development, said, We are committed to improving the performance of our hydrogen rotary engine vehicles to help promote a more eco-friendly place for the automobile in society. Getting permission from the transportation authorities in Japan to begin public road testing the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid in time for the Hokkaido Toyako Summit is extremely significant, because the eyes of the world will be focused on Japans environmental technologies. Going forward, we will continue to advance our development program and strive to start commercial leasing during this fiscal year.
The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid incorporates the acclaimed dual-fuel system from the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, which became the worlds first commercially available hydrogen rotary engine vehicle in 2006. The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid also features a hybrid system that combines an electric motor with Mazdas hydrogen rotary engine to realize significantly enhanced performance. Mazda�s other environmental technologies showcased on the vehicle include Mazda Biotechmaterials. Used for some of the vehicles interior plastic parts and seat covers, these plant-derived materials contribute to reduced CO2 emissions.
Under its Sustainable Zoom-Zoom environmental plan, Mazda is dedicated to pursuing harmony between driving pleasure and environmental and safety features, while working toward an advanced Zoom-Zoom future by developing vehicles that look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive again.
History of Mazdas hydrogen vehicle development
source: http://www.h2carsbiz.com
| 1991 |
Developed first hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, HR-X |
| 1992 |
Conducted test drive of golf cart equipped with fuel cell |
| 1993 |
Developed second hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, HR-X2
Developed MX-5 test vehicle equipped with hydrogen rotary engine |
| 1995 |
Conducted Japan�s first public road tests of a hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, the Capella Cargo. |
| 1997 |
Developed Demio FC-EV |
| 2001 |
Developed Premacy FC-EV, conducted first public road test in Japan (Methanol reforming fuel cell system) |
| 2003 |
Announced RX-8 hydrogen rotary engine development |
| 2004 |
Received MLIT approval for public road testing of RX-8 Hydrogen RE |
| 2006 |
Started commercial leasing of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE in Japan |
| 2007 |
Signed agreement to provide 30 RX-8 Hydrogen REs to Hynor, a Norwegian national project |
| 2008 |
Received MLIT approval for public road testing of the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid
|
Heliocentris wins electrolyser order for hydrogen fuel cell bus filling terminus
2008.11.04.
Berlin, Germany - 4th November 2008. Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, the fuel cell system integrator, announced today that the City of Barth in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania has awarded Heliocentris a contract to deliver an electrolyser for the supply of hydrogen to the City's hybrid midi-bus and to optimize the City's wastewater treatment facility. This new contract follows Heliocentris' successful integration of a 32 kW fuel cell system for use in the Barth midi-bus, earlier this year.
"This contract proves we can deliver fully functioning fuel cell systems together with the necessary hydrogen infrastructure for a transport system," said Dr. Henrik Colell, CEO of Heliocentris. "This contract will add significantly to our revenues in 2009."
The hydrogen electrolyser provided by Hydrogenics, which can deliver 10m3/hour of hydrogen, will be used to generate the necessary hydrogen to operate the fuel-cell bus. A major advantage of the electrolyser is the co-generation of oxygen (5m3/hour), which will be used to increase the capacity of the local wastewater treatment facility.
"Following the fast and successful integration of the fuel cell system for the midi-bus, we are very happy to have Heliocentris deliver the hydrogen infrastructure, also. We are confident Heliocentris will once again reliably deliver on schedule," said Mr. Hellwig, Project Manager of the City of Barth. "We are also expecting from the cooperation with Heliocentris a goal-orientated project delivery as we have already achieved with the hybrid bus."
source: http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com
Eternally 10 years ahead?
2007.07.07
The elusive promise of hydrogen fuel cells seems to be always '10 years ahead', but via Independent.ie, we learn what to look forward to if '10 years ahead' materialises:
"Our target is to produce a hydrogen fuel-cell car for $50,000 by 2015," says Peter Froeschle, a senior manager at DaimlerChrysler, which has already spent more than €1bn (£675m) developing its fleet of prototypes, " though we don't expect the operation to be profitable until 2020."
Today's price of GBP 60,000 for the 13 hydrogen fuel-cell Toyota Prius mentioned in the same article is not far off the price of the all-electric Tesla Roadster, with a well-to-wheel efficiency several times higher than fuel-cell vehicles. Moreover, the Roadster can have a full tank of electricity for a couple of euros.
Both fuel-cell vehicles and electric vehicles need to go through a similar cost learning curve to achieve a $50,000 target by 2015, but electric vehicles have a few things going for them:
- Infrastructure for electricity distribution is already available. Widespread use of electric vehicles could be an enabling technology for the smart grid of the future.
- Low-carbon fuel, as the electricity system is increasingly decarbonised.
- Low fuel cost.
- High well-to-wheel efficiency.
source: http://www.leonardo-energy.org
The Hydrogen Economy as an illusion
2006.09.11.
A remarkable speech by Ulf Bossel
At the closing weekend of the Lucerne Fuel Cell Forum(6 July 2006), the organizer, Dr. Ulf Bossel made a speech that was both remarkable and rather startling. He proclaimed that it is very unlikely that the so-called Hydrogen Economy will ever be established, and that his organization will consequently cease to discuss hydrogen fuel cells.
The law of physics as the final arbiter
By hydrogen economy, Ulf Bossel means the use
of pure hydrogen to feed Polymer Electric Fuel Cells (PEFC) in transport vehicles. This pure hydrogen is produced by electrolysis — a conversion process that will always result in some energy losses. As a consequence, Ulf Bossel declared, hydrogen can, by the very laws of physics, never compete with the source electricity used to make it. In his words: ‘The energy problem cannot be solved by creating artificial fuels. The laws of physics speak against a hydrogen
economy, and physics cannot be changed by wishful thinking, political initiatives, research programs, or venture capital.’
An alternative to battery technology
The speech was no doubt an historic event, but one that needs to be put into perspective however. Farsighted engineers and scientists have always seen the PEFC merely as an alternative to battery technology. It was not the PEFC itself that was wrong, but rather the hydrogen economy hype, deriving a complete picture for the future out of a mere storage technology. Are we living in a ‘fuel tank economy’ today? As an altertative to battery technology, the PEFC did certainly look promising at one time. It is only recently, with the development of lithium-ion batteries for cars, that its qualities have been clearly surpassed. So if you look at it this way, making an abstraction of all hype, what is happening today is just a shift in the optimal choice of energy storage for the car of the future.
Fuel cells have a future
The declaration of Ulf Bossel does not
mean that the complete Fuel Cell Forum has come to an end. His organization will continue to discuss phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, and solid oxide fuel cells. These fuel cell technologies can, according to Bossel, meet the challenges of the future, since they don’t rely on pure hydrogen but can also use bio-methane as a fuel. They are not suitable for driving a car, however, but can be used by stationary appliances for the production of electricity. They are mainly seen as an alternative for gas motors in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants or for diesel engines in an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).
source: http://www.leonardo-energy.org
