Fuel Cells Today articles from February 2005

Fuel Cells Today archives from February 2005

GM, Shell Plan Fuel Cell Fleet, Fueling Station in NYC.
February 1, 2005... General Motors Corporation (GM) and Shell Hydrogen, LLC recently announced a plan to, respectively, operate a fleet of 13 fuel cell vehicles and build a hydrogen service station in the New York City metropolitan area by the end of 2006. ...

Honda Leases Fuel Cell-powered FCX to Hokkaido Prefecture.
February 1, 2005... Honda Motor Company, Ltd. recently announced the delivery of a fuel cell-powered FCX to the prefectural government of Hokkaido, Japan. According to the automaker, the lease is the first of a fuel cell vehicle in Japan in a region that...

University of Iowa Students Develop Fuel Cell-powered Toy Car.
February 1, 2005... Local Iowa television news channel KWWL recently reported that students at the University of Iowa have developed a hydrogen fuel cell-powered toy car that is capable of running for three to four hours before refueling. "It's probably one...

Toyota to Employ Fuel Cell Electric Buses at Aichi Expo.
February 2, 2005... Kyodo recently reported that Toyota Motor Corporation has revealed plans to use the company's demonstration fuel cell hybrid-electric buses to transport participants between two exposition sites at the 2005 Aichi World Exposition in March. ...

Astris Energi Completes Czech Affiliate Purchase.
February 2, 2005... Mississauga, Ontario-based alkaline fuel cell (AFC) technology company Astris Energi, Inc. recently announced it has completed the purchase of its affiliate Astris s.r.o., located in the Czech Republic. Prior to the purchase, Astris Energi...

Genoil Begins Mixing Hydrogen With Crude Oil.
February 2, 2005... Reuters recently reported that David Lifshultz, chairman and CEO of Canadian energy technology services provider Genoil, has revealed that the company is currently using hydroconversion upgrade units to combine hydrogen with carbon in crude...

EMTEC Funds Faraday, Catacel Hydrogen Projects.
February 2, 2005... The Dayton, OH-based Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC) recently announced it has awarded funded contracts through its Hydrogen Infrastructure Program to Clayton, OH-based Faraday Technology, Inc. and Leavittsburg, OH-based Catacel...

FuelCon Sells FC Test Stations to Canada's NRC-IFCI.
February 3, 2005... Vancouver, British Columbia-based FuelCon Systems, Inc. announced this week it has won a contract to supply 500-watt proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell (FC) test stations to the Canadian National Research Council's Institute for Fuel Cell...

Acumentrics Ships SOFC System to Japan for Testing.
February 3, 2005... Acumentrics Corporation recently announced the shipment of a five-kilowatt (kW) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system to the Sumitomo Corporation of Japan for installation at Nippon Steel Corporation's Yawata Laboratories. According to...

Petroecuador, Central U to Collaborate on Hydrogen Study.
February 3, 2005... Business News Americas (BNamericas) recently reported that Ecuadoran oil company Petroecuador announced earlier this week it has signed an agreement with the Central University of Ecuador to conduct a one-year feasibility study on the use of...

Nissan CEO Says Fuel Cell Vehicle Development Too Costly.
February 4, 2005... Reuters recently reported that Nissan Motor Company chief executive officer (CEO) Carlos Ghosn commented late last week during a speech at the annual meeting of the National Automobile Dealers Association in New Orleans, LA that he believes the...

Hy-Drive, Martinrea Sign License Agreement for Hydrogen Systems.
February 4, 2005... Hy-Drive Technologies, Ltd. recently announced it has signed a license agreement with Martinrea International, Inc. to jointly develop an automotive hydrogen generating system (HGS) for automobiles and light trucks based on proprietary,...

LIPA Issues RFP for Fuel Cell Generation Project.
February 4, 2005... The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) recently announced the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) for the construction and operation of a fuel cell generation project capable of producing 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity. According...

Fideris Opens New EMEA Office in Zurich.
February 4, 2005... Lowell, MA-based Fideris, Inc., a leading independent provider of test solutions in the fuel cell market, recently announced the opening of a new office in Zurich, Switzerland under the name Fideris Test Solutions that will serve the company's...

Weekly Update.
February 4, 2005... CLEAN HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES CONFERENCE 2005: LINKING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, EMISSIONS AND NATIONAL SECURITY, February 22-24, 2005, La Quinta Resort & Club, La Quinta, CA POWER-GEN RENEWABLE ENERGY: MOVING INTO THE MAINSTREAM, March 1-3, 2005,...

Contango Capital to Use Money From Fund Closing to Support FCs.
February 7, 2005... Houston, TX-based Contango Capital Management, a provider of venture capital to developing alternative energy companies, recently announced it has closed its first fund at $8.25 million. According to Contango Capital, the fund, Contango...

GM, Hydrogenics Demonstrate Hydrogen-powered Forklift.
February 7, 2005... Hydrogenics Corporation and General Motors (GM) of Canada, Ltd. recently announced they have successfully demonstrated a hydrogen-powered forklift at GM's manufacturing plant in Oshawa, Canada. According to Hydrogenics, the demonstration...

IdaTech Begins Fuel Cell Installation at ID Learning Center.
February 7, 2005... Idaho Power recently announced that technicians from IDACORP subsidiary IdaTech have begun installation of a five-kilowatt fuel cell at the Foothills Environmental Learning Center in Boise, ID. According to Idaho Power, IDACORP provided...

Scottish University Receives Grant for Fuel Cell Project.
February 7, 2005... The University of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland recently announced that it has been awarded a 60,000-pound (approximately $113,000) grant from the BOC Foundation to help support its School of Chemistry's fuel cell technology program. ...

CA Retailer Considers Acquisition of Intelligent Energy.
February 8, 2005... Oceanside, CA-based "nautically inspired apparel" retailer Dickie Walker Marine, Inc. recently announced it has reached agreement with the board of directors of London, England-based Intelligent Energy Holdings, Plc, an energy solutions group...

Las Vegas Signs Lease for Honda Fuel Cell Vehicles.
February 8, 2005... American Honda announced last week it has leased two Honda FCX fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) to the city of Las Vegas, NV. According to Honda, the vehicles, currently the only FCVs being used by a government entity in the state, will be added...

CMU, NETL Develop Hydrogen Production Computer Model.
February 8, 2005... Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) recently announced that it, in conjunction with the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), has developed a new computational modeling tool that could help determine the...

Mitsubishi Motors, Mitsubishi Heavy Consider FCV Project.
February 9, 2005... Kyodo recently reported that Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. are considering a joint project to develop a new fuel cell vehicle (FCV). Kyodo noted that Mitsubishi Motors announced plans last month to...

ECD Ovonics Reports Second-quarter Financial Results.
February 9, 2005... Rochester Hills, MI-based Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics), "a leader in the synthesis of new materials and the development of advanced production technology and innovative products," recently announced its financial results for...

OH Awards Funding to Velocys Fuel Cell Technology Project.
February 9, 2005... Local Ohio newspaper the Marion Star recently reported that the State Controlling Board has allocated approximately $900,000 to Velocys, Inc. under Ohio's Third Frontier Action Fund to help support the company's "Microchannel Hydrogen Generator...

Please Accept Our Apologies for Thursday's Missing Issue.
February 11, 2005... This past week, EIN Publishing underwent company-wide upgrades in an effort to improve the functionality of our office and the production of our daily newsletters. Yesterday, we experienced a brief system outage that prevented us from sending...

AEC Completes Phase 2 Testing of Hydrogen Production Unit.
February 11, 2005... Alternate Energy Corporation (AEC) recently announced the completion of the second phase of its backup power initiative with the final testing of its beta version demonstration hydrogen production unit (HPU). According to AEC, the HPU has...

Donaldson Ships First FC3 Order From Japan.
February 11, 2005... Minneapolis, MN-based filtration system and replacement part provider Donaldson Company, Inc. recently announced the shipment of its first order of fuel cell contamination control (FC3) units manufactured at the company's facility in Japan. ...

BOC Becomes Shareholder in HERA, Hydrogen Storage Systems.
February 11, 2005... HERA, Hydrogen Storage Systems, Inc., a developer of solutions based on proprietary hydride technology for automotive, transportation and hydrogen distribution applications, recently announced that BOC has become a new shareholder in the...

ASU Biodesign Institute Conducts Hydrogen Separation Project.
February 11, 2005... Arizona State University (ASU) online newspaper the Web Devil recently reported that ASU's Biodesign Institute has undertaken a new project aimed at developing a catalyst that mimics the photosynthesis process to efficiently separate hydrogen...

METI to Support Fuel Cell Running Life Study.
February 11, 2005... Johnson Matthey Precious Metals Marketing website Platinum Today recently reported that Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun has revealed that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) plans to enlarge the FY 05 budget of the New Energy...

ABI Research Ranks Companies in Automotive FC Vendor Analysis.
February 11, 2005... Oyster Bay, New York-based ABI Research recently announced the release of its first annual comparative study of companies active in the automotive fuel cell (FC) market, which analyzes the activities of three groups -- OEM automotive vendors...

Weekly Update.
February 11, 2005... CLEAN HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES CONFERENCE 2005: LINKING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, EMISSIONS AND NATIONAL SECURITY, February 22-24, 2005, La Quinta Resort & Club, La Quinta, CA POWER-GEN RENEWABLE ENERGY: MOVING INTO THE MAINSTREAM, March 1-3, 2005,...

MI Representative Introduces FCV, HEV Tax Credit Bill.
February 14, 2005... Reuters recently reported that U.S. Representative Dave Camp (R-MI) proposed legislation late last week that would provide tax breaks to those purchasing fuel cell and hybrid electric vehicles. According to Reuters, the bill specifically...

Voller Acquires KAT-Chem, Hires New Executive.
February 14, 2005... British portable fuel cell interest Voller Energy Group PLC announced last week it has purchased KAT-Chem GmbH, a developer of hydrogen reformer technologies. Voller agreed to pay a maximum of 250,000 pounds (about $467,000) for the deal...

Proposed U.S. Budget Includes $322 Million for DOE FC Programs.
February 14, 2005... The U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC) recently reported that President George Bush has included $322 million in the fiscal year (FY) 2006 Department of Energy (DOE) budget for fuel cell (FC) and hydrogen technology programs, representing a...

Nuvera, UHDENORA to Collaborate on Modular FC System.
February 15, 2005... Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc. and UHDENORA SpA, a developer and supplier of electrochemical plants for the production of chlorine and caustic soda, recently announced plans to codevelop a modular fuel cell (FC) system designed to increase the...

Lincoln Composites to Provide Hydrogen Storage Tanks to GTI.
February 15, 2005... Hexagon Composites subsidiary Lincoln Composites, Inc. recently announced it has been awarded a contract to provide Gas Technology Institute (GTI) with 7,000-psi, all-composite, Type IV Tuffshell L hydrogen storage tanks for two hydrogen...

ECD Ovonics Announces $87.8-million Private Placement.
February 15, 2005... Rochester Hills, MI-based Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics) recently announced it has entered into definitive agreements with investors relating to a private placement of $87.8 million through the sale of 5.09 million shares of...

Virginia Tech Develops Increased-efficiency SOFC Converter.
February 15, 2005... The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) recently announced that researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, working under a NETL research grant, have developed a new converter...

FuelCell Energy Announces Executive Promotion, Appointment.
February 16, 2005... FuelCell Energy, Inc. recently announced the promotion of R. Daniel Brdar to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer, as well as the appointment of Christopher Bentley as the company's new executive vice president...

CFCP Unveils Tool to Sample Hydrogen Fuel Quality.
February 16, 2005... The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CFCP) recently announced it has developed a new tool that allows fuel quality monitoring officials to collect hydrogen fuel test samples from the dispenser nozzle. CFCP said the quality of hydrogen is...

Tellabs Awards Funding to IIT for Sustainable Village Project.
February 16, 2005... The Chicago Sun-Times recently reported that Tellabs Foundation has awarded the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) a $200,000 grant for its Sustainable Village project, a program aimed at demonstrating clean and renewable energy technology....

Quantum Awarded U.S. Patent for Hydrogen Refueling Station.
February 17, 2005... Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. recently announced it has been awarded a U.S. patent for portable and transportable hydrogen refueling systems. According to the company, the patent covers portable and transportable...

Chrysalix Energy Announces First Closing of New Fund.
February 17, 2005... Chrysalix Energy recently announced the first closing of its new fund Chrysalix Energy II U.S. Limited Partnership. According to Chrysalix, the lead investors include the Private Equity Group of WestAM, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan...

QuestAir to Provide Hydrogen Purifier for AC Transit HES.
February 17, 2005... QuestAir Technologies, Inc. recently announced it will supply a H-3200 hydrogen purifier for use in the AC Transit Hydrogen Energy Station (HES) currently being constructed by ChevronTexaco Hydrogen Company in Oakland, CA. According to...

Astris Energi Announces Appointment of New Auditing Firm.
February 17, 2005... Alkaline fuel cell (AFC) technology company Astris Energi, Inc. recently announced it has appointed Danziger & Hochman of Toronto, Ontario as its new auditing firm, effective immediately. "The decision to change auditors was made purely for...

Next Week's Publishing Schedule.
February 18, 2005... EIN will not publish its newsletters on Monday, February 21 in observance of Presidents' Day. (EIN EDITOR: 2/17)

Franklin Fuel Cells Raises Additional Funding.
February 18, 2005... The Philadelphia Business Journal recently reported that Malvern, PA-based Franklin Fuel Cells, Inc. has raised an additional $3 million from previous investors, including EnerTech Capital Partners, Reinvestment Fund's Sustainable Development...

Hydrogenics Announces Departure of CFO.
February 18, 2005... Fuel cell interest Hydrogenics Corporation recently announced the resignation of its chief financial officer (CFO) Gary Brandt, effective March 31. "We've reached a natural transition point," said Hydrogenics president and CEO Pierre...

New ABI Research Study Evaluates Hydrogen Infrastructure.
February 18, 2005... Oyster Bay, NY-based ABI Research recently announced the release of a new study, titled "Hydrogen Infrastructure," which evaluates "the production and distribution pathways that will be essential for any major fuel cell vehicle introduction."...

Weekly Update.
February 18, 2005... CLEAN HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES CONFERENCE 2005: LINKING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, EMISSIONS AND NATIONAL SECURITY, February 22-24, 2005, La Quinta Resort & Club, La Quinta, CA POWER-GEN RENEWABLE ENERGY: MOVING INTO THE MAINSTREAM, March 1-3, 2005,...

Proposed Bill Looks to Support Ethanol-to-hydrogen Production.
February 22, 2005... The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) recently announced that U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) has introduced new legislation that would allocate $5 million over three years to demonstrate the cost-effective production of hydrogen from ethanol...

UDI, Battelle Codevelop Prototype Fuel Cell APU.
February 22, 2005... Battelle and United Defense Industries, Inc. (UDI) recently announced they have joined together to develop and demonstrate a prototype fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) on a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, "a key vehicle system for the [U.S.] Army...

Ballard Reports Fourth-quarter Financial Results.
February 22, 2005... Burnaby, British Columbia-based Ballard Power Systems, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, recently announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2004,...

CFCL Awarded Two U.S. Patents for Electrical Conductivity.
February 22, 2005... Ceramic Fuel Cells, Ltd. (CFCL) recently announced it has been awarded two U.S. patents for inventions that help resolve problems of electrical conductivity for ceramics and heat resistant steels. CFCL said it has developed a way of taking...

Ballard Reports 'Significant' Advances in FC Stack Technology.
February 23, 2005... Ballard Power Systems, Inc. recently announced it has made "significant" progress in three areas crucial to the commercialization of automotive fuel cell (FC) stack technology -- freeze start capability, durability and cost reduction -- without...

Alliance Star to Supply DFC Power Plants to Starwood Hotels.
February 23, 2005... FuelCell Energy, Inc. and Alliance Power recently announced that their newly formed joint venture, Alliance Star Energy, LLC has entered into a master energy service agreement (MESA) with Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. that provides...

Hydrogenics Completes Acquisition of Stuart Energy.
February 23, 2005... Canadian fuel cell interest Hydrogenics Corporation announced last week it has fulfilled the terms of its takeover bid for Stuart Energy Systems Corporation by acquiring 93 percent of the company's outstanding shares. Hydrogenics said it...

Nissan Develops In-house FC Stack, Hydrogen Storage System.
February 24, 2005... Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. recently announced it has designed and developed its first in-house fuel cell (FC) stack, as well as a new high-pressure hydrogen storage system. According to Nissan, the new technologies are anticipated to...

Hyundai, UTC, ChevronTexaco Open CA Hydrogen Station.
February 24, 2005... Hyundai Motor Company, in partnership with UTC Fuel Cells and ChevronTexaco, recently unveiled a new hydrogen fueling station at the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center in Chino, CA as part of the Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Fleet and...

Japan Approves Mazda's New Hydrogen Filling Station.
February 24, 2005... Mazda Motor Corporation recently announced it has received approval from government authorities in Japan for a filling station to store and supply fuel for ongoing hydrogen vehicle research and development. According to Mazda, the new...

Honda to Introduce Fuel Cell, Hybrid Scooters in Vietnam.
February 24, 2005... The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) recently reported that Honda Motor Company plans to introduce its 125cc Honda Fuel Cell scooter and 50cc Honda Hybrid scooter in Hanoi on February 28 and Ho Chi Minh City on March 5. (VNA: 2/22)

Ceres Awarded U.K. DTI Contract for Fuel Cell Development.
February 25, 2005... Ceres Power Holdings, plc recently announced it has been awarded a 1.9-million pound (approximately $3.6-million) contract from the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as part of the government's commitment to support the development of...

NTT Develops Prototype Micro Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell.
February 25, 2005... Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) recently announced the development of a prototype micro polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) that uses hydrogen gas as a fuel and is small enough to directly fit inside of a mobile phone. ...

British Columbia Minister Awards Funding to Fuel Cells Canada.
February 25, 2005... British Columbia minister of energy and mines Richard Neufeld recently announced $2 million in funding to Fuel Cells Canada to help support hydrogen and fuel cell research and development. "Hydrogen and fuel cell development is driving new...

Weekly Update.
February 25, 2005... POWER-GEN RENEWABLE ENERGY: MOVING INTO THE MAINSTREAM, March 1-3, 2005, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV CONNECTICUT CLEAN ENERGY FUND'S 3RD ANNUAL FUEL CELL INVESTMENT SUMMIT, March 6-8, 2005, Mohegan Sun Hotel, Uncasville, CT GLOBAL...

Clemson Awarded DOE Grant to Research Hydrogen Production.
February 28, 2005... Clemson University recently announced it has a received a $856,000 grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) to help develop more efficient methods for producing hydrogen. "The irony is that today, most hydrogen is produced by consuming...

Study Considers Cost of Hydrogen Infrastructure in Europe.
February 28, 2005... Gas and engineering and material handling company Linde Group recently released a new hydrogen economic feasibility study which projects that a "significant" hydrogen infrastructure could be developed in Europe by 2020 for a total cost of...

UND Team Develops New Fuel Cell Vehicle.
February 28, 2005... Local North Dakota newspaper the Grand Forks Herald recently reported that the University of North Dakota's (UND) 30-member Society for Energy Alternatives is currently developing a new fuel cell vehicle that it hopes to complete in April and...

Alicat Scientific, Inc.
February 28, 2005... Tucson, AZ-based Alicat Scientific, Inc., a manufacturer of mass flow meters, mass flow controllers and dual valve pressure controllers, employs internally compensated laminar (ICL) technology to provide compact, low power consumption devices...