CHIC project presented at Hannover Messe 2013 8 Apr - 12 Apr, 2013
This year, HyER participated at the Metropolitan Solutions at the Hanover Fair (8-12 April 2013). The theme of the hall was “The cities of the future” and exhibitors showcased smart and sustainable solutions to address the urban challenges. On 10 April 2013, at a press event at the HyER stand, phase 1 city partner from Hamburg in the EU co-funded (by FCH JU) Clean Hydrogen In European Cities (CHIC) project explained how fuel cell buses are performing in European cities like Hamburg, London, Aargau (Switzerland), Oslo and what the next developments in hydrogen technology and infrastructure are as more cities in Europe will be adopting clean public fleets. On 9 April 2013, HyER Brussels Office Coordinator Marieke Reijalt presented the project to city and international stakeholders at the Metropolitan Solutions’ Better Transport Forum co-organised by Hannover Messe and ICLEI. Furthermore, a large delegation of city and transport representatives from Riga (Latvia) visited the HyER stand to find out more on the project.
California issues roadmap for fuel cell electric buses March 29, 2013
The California Fuel Cell Partnership has published ‘A Roadmap for Fuel Cell Electric Buses in California: A zero-emission solution for public transit’. The paper assesses the progress of fuel cell electric buses in California and globally, and offers recommendations to state and federal policy makers in California about actions they can take to put these buses on the path to full commercial readiness. The road map proposes two centres of excellence for fuel cell buses within California. 40 buses would operate at each location and would be operated in normal service over a 12 year period. Fuel use would need to be cost-comparative with existing diesel and natural gas buses. Each centre would cost approximately $50 million. Two fuel cell electric bus programs are active in California at AC Transit (SF Bay area) and SunLine Transit (Coachella Valley). AC Transit buses are provided by the European bus supplier Van Hool (Coordinator of the High V.LO-City project and supplier of the Clean Hydrogen In European Cities (CHIC) project, both co-funded by the EU’s Fuel Cell Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU)programme). Read more here.
The California Fuel Cell Partnership has published ‘A Roadmap for Fuel Cell Electric Buses in California: A zero-emission solution for public transit’. The paper assesses the progress of fuel cell electric buses in California and globally, and offers recommendations to state and federal policy makers in California about actions they can take to put these buses on the path to full commercial readiness. The road map proposes two centres of excellence for fuel cell buses within California. 40 buses would operate at each location and would be operated in normal service over a 12 year period. Fuel use would need to be cost-comparative with existing diesel and natural gas buses. Each centre would cost approximately $50 million. Two fuel cell electric bus programs are active in California at AC Transit (SF Bay area) and SunLine Transit (Coachella Valley). AC Transit buses are provided by the European bus supplier Van Hool (Coordinator of the High V.LO-City project and supplier of the Clean Hydrogen In European Cities (CHIC) project, both co-funded by the EU’s Fuel Cell Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU)programme). Read more here.
Ballard fuel cell to power Connecticut bus March 13, 2013
Ballard Power Systems (supplier in EU co-funded by the FCH JU Clean Hydrogen In European Cities (CHIC) project) has announced a supply agreement with the Center for Transportation and the Environment for a 150 kilowatt fuel cell module to be integrated into a bus that will be deployed with CTTransit in Hartford, Connecticut. The All-American fuel cell hybrid bus is expected to be delivered in 2015. The fuel cell hybrid bus configuration to be deployed with CTTransit was jointly developed with partners BAE Systems and ElDorado National and is currently in operation with SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California. Additional buses with this same configuration using previously shipped Ballard FCvelocityTM-HD6 power modules are planned; 2 for SunLine Transit Agency and one for deployment in the Boston, Massachusetts area. This will bring the total number of buses in operation using this configuration to 5 by 2015. Read here the full article. Source: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
Ballard Power Systems (supplier in EU co-funded by the FCH JU Clean Hydrogen In European Cities (CHIC) project) has announced a supply agreement with the Center for Transportation and the Environment for a 150 kilowatt fuel cell module to be integrated into a bus that will be deployed with CTTransit in Hartford, Connecticut. The All-American fuel cell hybrid bus is expected to be delivered in 2015. The fuel cell hybrid bus configuration to be deployed with CTTransit was jointly developed with partners BAE Systems and ElDorado National and is currently in operation with SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California. Additional buses with this same configuration using previously shipped Ballard FCvelocityTM-HD6 power modules are planned; 2 for SunLine Transit Agency and one for deployment in the Boston, Massachusetts area. This will bring the total number of buses in operation using this configuration to 5 by 2015. Read here the full article. Source: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
AC Transit receives Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award February 17, 2013
AC Transit was awarded with the 2012 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards (GEELA) on 22 January 2013. The Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award Program is California’s highest environmental honour. Namely, AC Transit was awarded for building the most comprehensive hydrogen fuel cell demonstration programme with the most advanced hydrogen refuelling stations and zero-emission fuel cell buses. The fuel cell buses have been supplied by Van Hool manufacturer (also Coordinator of EU co-funded High V.LO-City project and supplier in the Clean Hydrogen In European Cities project). Read here the article in the press.
AC Transit was awarded with the 2012 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards (GEELA) on 22 January 2013. The Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award Program is California’s highest environmental honour. Namely, AC Transit was awarded for building the most comprehensive hydrogen fuel cell demonstration programme with the most advanced hydrogen refuelling stations and zero-emission fuel cell buses. The fuel cell buses have been supplied by Van Hool manufacturer (also Coordinator of EU co-funded High V.LO-City project and supplier in the Clean Hydrogen In European Cities project). Read here the article in the press.
US Department of Energy report: Fuel cell bus fuel economy twice that of conventional diesel January 11, 2013
The US Department of Energy recently published a report on “Fuel Cell Buses in the U.S. Transit Fleet: Current Status 2012’”. Based upon a one year study of a fuel cell electric vehicle fleet, the report finds fuel cell electric buses to boast a fuel economy of 1.8 to 2 times more than conventional diesel buses and compressed natural gas buses. The bus fleet in the study travelled 250,000 miles and logged almost 25,000 hours of fuel cell system operation. Read here the report.
The US Department of Energy recently published a report on “Fuel Cell Buses in the U.S. Transit Fleet: Current Status 2012’”. Based upon a one year study of a fuel cell electric vehicle fleet, the report finds fuel cell electric buses to boast a fuel economy of 1.8 to 2 times more than conventional diesel buses and compressed natural gas buses. The bus fleet in the study travelled 250,000 miles and logged almost 25,000 hours of fuel cell system operation. Read here the report.
Researchers Create More Efficient Hydrogen Fuel Cells March 19, 2012
ScienceDaily (Mar. 15, 2012) —Hydrogen fuel cells, like those found in some “green” vehicles, have a lot of promise as an alternative fuel source, but making them practical on a large scale requires them to be more efficient and cost effective. A research team from the University of Central Florida may have found a way around both hurdles. The majority of hydrogen fuel cells use catalysts made of a rare and expensive metal — platinum. There are few alternatives because most elements can’t endure the fuel cell’s highly acidic solvents present in the reaction that converts hydrogen’s chemical energy into electrical power. Only four elements can resist the corrosive process — platinum, iridium, gold and palladium. The first two are rare and expensive, which makes them impractical for large-scale use. The other two don’t do well with the chemical reaction. UCF Professor Sergey Stolbov and postdoctoral research associate Marisol Alcántara Ortigoza focused on making gold and palladium better suited for the reaction. They created a sandwich-like structure that layers cheaper and more abundant elements with gold and palladium and other elements to make it more effective. The outer monoatomic layer (the top of the sandwich) is either palladium or gold. Below [...]
ScienceDaily (Mar. 15, 2012) —Hydrogen fuel cells, like those found in some “green” vehicles, have a lot of promise as an alternative fuel source, but making them practical on a large scale requires them to be more efficient and cost effective. A research team from the University of Central Florida may have found a way around both hurdles. The majority of hydrogen fuel cells use catalysts made of a rare and expensive metal — platinum. There are few alternatives because most elements can’t endure the fuel cell’s highly acidic solvents present in the reaction that converts hydrogen’s chemical energy into electrical power. Only four elements can resist the corrosive process — platinum, iridium, gold and palladium. The first two are rare and expensive, which makes them impractical for large-scale use. The other two don’t do well with the chemical reaction. UCF Professor Sergey Stolbov and postdoctoral research associate Marisol Alcántara Ortigoza focused on making gold and palladium better suited for the reaction. They created a sandwich-like structure that layers cheaper and more abundant elements with gold and palladium and other elements to make it more effective. The outer monoatomic layer (the top of the sandwich) is either palladium or gold. Below [...]
US puts $ 1 bln in ‘National Community Deployment Challenge’ to support BEV and FCEV March 12, 2012
On 7 March, the US President Barack Obama unveiled a new $1 billion (around €755 million) initiative ‘National Community Deployment Challenge’ to support the deployment of alternative-fuel vehicles. Communities will be able to use the funds in support of plug-in electric, natural gas, hydrogen fuel cell or any other advanced vehicle technology. The communities would then become “real-world laboratories,” the White House said, providing models for full-scale deployment of these advanced technologies. It is proposed that an additional $3.7 billion (around €2,8 billion) be made available in the FY2013 Budget for advanced vehicles tax credits. The proposed plan include tax credits for advanced vehicles from the current $7,500 (around €5,667) to $10,000 (around €7,556) while also broadening the range of alternative-fuel vehicles eligible for the credit at the point-of-sale, thereby allowing customers to benefit from a lower vehicle cost at purchase rather than when they file their taxes. The cap on manufacturers eligible for the credit will also be eliminated. The level of the consumer incentive will be gradually decreased and ceased by the end of the decade. The ‘National Community Deployment Challenge’ initiative will provide assistance to 10-15 communities to invest in necessary infrastructure, remove regulatory barriers, and create local [...]
On 7 March, the US President Barack Obama unveiled a new $1 billion (around €755 million) initiative ‘National Community Deployment Challenge’ to support the deployment of alternative-fuel vehicles. Communities will be able to use the funds in support of plug-in electric, natural gas, hydrogen fuel cell or any other advanced vehicle technology. The communities would then become “real-world laboratories,” the White House said, providing models for full-scale deployment of these advanced technologies. It is proposed that an additional $3.7 billion (around €2,8 billion) be made available in the FY2013 Budget for advanced vehicles tax credits. The proposed plan include tax credits for advanced vehicles from the current $7,500 (around €5,667) to $10,000 (around €7,556) while also broadening the range of alternative-fuel vehicles eligible for the credit at the point-of-sale, thereby allowing customers to benefit from a lower vehicle cost at purchase rather than when they file their taxes. The cap on manufacturers eligible for the credit will also be eliminated. The level of the consumer incentive will be gradually decreased and ceased by the end of the decade. The ‘National Community Deployment Challenge’ initiative will provide assistance to 10-15 communities to invest in necessary infrastructure, remove regulatory barriers, and create local [...]
Worldwide Revenue from Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Will Reach $785 Million in 2012 March 6, 2012
The Clean Hydrogen in European Cities (CHIC) Project is the essential next step to full commercialization of hydrogen powered fuel cell (H2FC) buses. CHIC will reduce the ‘time to market’ for the technology and support ‘market lift off’ by intensively testing the technology to generate learning for the final steps towards commercialization by operating a minimum of 26 H2FC buses and substantially enlarging hydrogen infrastructure. For this year, the worldwide revenue from fuel cells and hydrogen will already have a revenue of 785 million dollars, more than half a billion euros. Press release from Pike Research from February 2012 As the fuel cell industry makes the transition from the R&D stage to full commercialization, breakout applications are continuing to emerge and business models and market structures are evolving rapidly. Overall, the industry continues to expand, and the total size of the global market – including revenues from fuel cells and from hydrogen for fuel cells and internal combustion engines (ICEs) – will reach $785 million in 2012, according to a new white paper from Pike Research. One key market that is taking shape is the use of fuel cells for residential combined heat and power (resCHP) applications, a market that [...]
The Clean Hydrogen in European Cities (CHIC) Project is the essential next step to full commercialization of hydrogen powered fuel cell (H2FC) buses. CHIC will reduce the ‘time to market’ for the technology and support ‘market lift off’ by intensively testing the technology to generate learning for the final steps towards commercialization by operating a minimum of 26 H2FC buses and substantially enlarging hydrogen infrastructure. For this year, the worldwide revenue from fuel cells and hydrogen will already have a revenue of 785 million dollars, more than half a billion euros. Press release from Pike Research from February 2012 As the fuel cell industry makes the transition from the R&D stage to full commercialization, breakout applications are continuing to emerge and business models and market structures are evolving rapidly. Overall, the industry continues to expand, and the total size of the global market – including revenues from fuel cells and from hydrogen for fuel cells and internal combustion engines (ICEs) – will reach $785 million in 2012, according to a new white paper from Pike Research. One key market that is taking shape is the use of fuel cells for residential combined heat and power (resCHP) applications, a market that [...]
Fuel Cell Bus Fleet Exceeds 1 Million Miles in Service January 5, 2012
BC Transit’s fuel cell bus fleet operated in Whistler, British Columbia has exceeded the milestone of 1 million miles in service. Powered by Ballard Power Systems’ FCvelocity™-HD6 fuel cell modules the 20 bus fleet completed tests in 2009 and began service in early 2010 in time for the winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The fleet surpassed 1 million kilometers in May 2011, so has completed the additional 0.6 million km during the past seven months. In addition to the million miles, the following achievements have been reported: Total fleet operation of 80,000 hours; 9,600 safe refuelling operations, delivering 220,000 kg of hydrogen; Greenhouse gas savings of 2,200 tons, equivalent to removing 400 passenger cars from the road. Source: Ballard PR, FuelCellToday
BC Transit’s fuel cell bus fleet operated in Whistler, British Columbia has exceeded the milestone of 1 million miles in service. Powered by Ballard Power Systems’ FCvelocity™-HD6 fuel cell modules the 20 bus fleet completed tests in 2009 and began service in early 2010 in time for the winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The fleet surpassed 1 million kilometers in May 2011, so has completed the additional 0.6 million km during the past seven months. In addition to the million miles, the following achievements have been reported: Total fleet operation of 80,000 hours; 9,600 safe refuelling operations, delivering 220,000 kg of hydrogen; Greenhouse gas savings of 2,200 tons, equivalent to removing 400 passenger cars from the road. Source: Ballard PR, FuelCellToday