Hydrogen Fuel News

A company from the Basque area of Spain, called Tecnalia, has unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell prototype car, known as H2CAR. The Tecnalia ecological car project was developed to demonstrate not only the viability of fuel cell vehicles but hydrogen as a storage medium for renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and wave power. The H2Car is a hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid vehicle that uses 220v rapid charging batteries to complement the 5kw fuel cell and add extra power to the electric motor when the car is accelerating and passing other vehicles. In fact, electric car advocates will be happy to know that the batteries of the H2Car can be recharged within a matter of a few minutes. The combination of rapid-charging plug-in hybrid technologies and hydrogen fuel cell technologies make this one of the most flexible FCV’s to come along in recent years. The storage tanks for the Tecnalia, H2Car are only 200 bar (about 3,500 psi), which is less than other fuel cell vehicles that generally range between 5,000 psi and 10,000 psi for longer range travel. Besides hydrogen-powered car, Tecnalia is also involved in the HIDROTEC project, which uses wind and solar power to produce hydrog..

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Hydrogen , Green Daily As difficult as it may be to believe, interest in alternative fuel vehicles actually pre-dates the launch of AutoblogGreen a little more than two years ago. Another fact that may be tough to swallow is that the BBC's Top Gear was not always the hour of silliness we see today with Clarkson, Hammond and May. In fact Top Gear's current format only began in 2002. Going back in time it had a more staid magazine style format with hosts such as William Woollard. Way back in 1990, Woollard did a pair of segments on alternative fuels and the threat of Global Warming from increased greenhouse gas emissions. Watching these 18 year old segments, it seems not a lot has changed. Woollard looked at hydrogen with an early prototype of the BMW Hydrogen 7, methanol, CNG, solar powered EVs and even hybrids. The GM Impact, the precursor to the EV1, even makes a brief appearance while discussing battery electric vehicles. In that pre-lithium ion era, sodium sulfur batteries seemed to be one possible solution to range and weight problem of storing electrons. Although such batteries were tested by automakers, the high operating temperatures (up t..

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.) One concern with the Toyota FCHV hydrogen fuel cell vehicle might be that there is not enough room for a spare tire due to the [...]

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a solicitation for up to $10 billion in federal loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. This marks the second round of solicitations for DOE's Loan Guarantee Program, which encourages the commercial use of new or significantly improved energy technologies.

Filed under: Hydrogen , Honda , Green Daily , Japan Honda has taken the wraps off of the Japanese version of the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity and announced that the sleek burgundy sedan will be available for lease in Honda's home country come November. The Japanese FCX Clarity's specifications (available after the jump) are mostly the same as the American version , with two noticeable differences. First, and high on the list of items everyone is talking about, the Japanese model has climate-controlled seats up front and in back. That's huge. The other item is that Honda is now claiming a range of 620km (385 miles). That's a lot more than the 270 miles that the American version is rated at, but the numbers for the Japanese model were done in 10-15 mode using Honda calculations and the American numbers were calculated with "Honda in-house data calculated using previously approved EPA methodology." Since the American FCX holds its 4.1 kg of hydrogen at 5000psi while the Japanese version stores 171 liters at 35MPa (these are two different ways to say the same thing), I think the difference comes in the testing and calculating rather than any updated technology. The 10-15 cycle is a pr..

Suzuki is once again dipping their toes inside the fuel cell vehicle market by testing the SX4 FCV on the roadways of Japan. In 2005, the Suzuki Ionis hydrogen fuel cell vehicle was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show. Then in October 2007, the Suzuki Crosscage hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle as unveiled, also in Tokyo and the announcement was made that British company Intelligent Energy was supplying the FC. For the Suzuki SX4 FCV, General Motors is supplying the 80kw fuel cell. The Suzuki SX4 FCV also comes with a 68 kw electric motor, a 10,000 psi compressed hydrogen tank that will help the vehicle achieve a range of 150 miles and a top speed of around 75 mph. Fitted with a small capacitor, the SX4 FCV has been certified by the Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). This means Suzuki can now conduct road tests with the goal of future commercialization of the vehicle. One may wonder about the limited range and top end speed of the Suzuki SX4 FCV compared to other fuel cell vehicles, but you have to remember that this vehicle is based upon the compact Suzuki SX4 gasoline-powered vehicle where space is at a premium and the engine has a comparable out..

The U.S. now imports more than 60% of its oil. With oil topping $140 a barrel this week, we are now endangering our economy, national security and health with our addiction to oil.

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The UK government has set out a national renewable energy blueprint designed to slash carbon emissions and reduce dependency on oil and gas. UK Business Secretary John Hutton outlined the proposals that are likely to include up to a third of electricity coming from renewable sources as well as significant increases in the use of renewable forms of heat and transport fuels last week. The blueprint is designed to help meet the UK's anticipated 15% renewable energy target by 2020, an increase of 1000% on current levels.

Scientists have achieved a record light conversion efficiency of 8.2 percent in solvent-free dye-sensitized solar cells. This breakthrough in efficiency without the use of volatile organic solvents will make it possible to pursue large scale, outdoor practical application of lightweight, inexpensive, flexible dye-sensitized solar films that are stable over long periods of light and heat exposure.

(Note: I have e-mailed members of the National Research Council hydrogen review board, Department of Energy hydrogen officials, and other interested parties to make them aware of this letter.) June 28, 2008 Dear Mr. Karsner, With oil prices around $140 a barrel, we are in the beginning stages of a national energy crisis.  The group of people who have [...]

Filed under: Hydrogen , Suzuki Click image to enlarge The new Subaru Stella plug-in isn't the only Japanese green car making its debut next month at the G8 conference in Hokkaido. Suzuki's in the game as well with a new hydrogen fuel cell version of its SX4 crossover, the SX4-FCV. Fitted with a fuel cell supplied by GM, and a 70 MPa (10,000 psi) storage tank for the H 2 , the SX4-FCV has a maximum operating range of 250 kilometers and a top speed of 120 km/h (around 75 mph). Power output from the fuel cell is rated at 80 kW, while the motor delivers 68 kW. Road testing has been approved by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and transport, and will commence soon. [Source: Suzuki ]   Read  |  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Hydrogen , Green Daily Finally, we've discovered the BMW Hydrogen 7's perfect refueling station. A new Shell station that sells both hydrogen and standard gasoline opened yesterday in West Los Angeles (oh so close to Hollywood, which is providing most of the the drivers for the dual-fuel luxury vehicle). The station is located on Santa Monica Boulevard and Federal Avenue, near I-405. If I'm not mistaken - and I might very well be, so feel free to say so in the comments - this is right near the recently-opened Tesla Motors store , which is kind of ironic. New FCX Clarity drivers and participants in GM's Project Driveway should be able to refuel their cars at the station and feel pretty good about the provenance of their purchase. Shell will be selling hydrogen made using electrolysis right there at the station. To further cast a green haze over the whole thing, Shell is buying "green electricity" from the utilities to crack the water. [Source: Shell Hydrogen LLC] PRESS RELEASE: Shell Opens Los Angeles' First Combined Hydrogen and Gasoline Station HOUSTON, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell Hydrogen LLC, today, announced the opening of California's first hydrogen refueling s..

I’ve been taking about hydrogen generators for cars for some time now as supplemental technology for a gasoline or diesel-powered engine. While the critics are blathering on about the laws of thermodynamics and there being no such thing as a perpetual motion machine, confusing legitimate hydrogen fuel injection with the mythical car that runs on 100-percent water, it occurred to me that a little support is needed for the DIY’er community. Now, how HHO gas is bonded at a molecular level is open to debate, and I’ll let the chemical engineers battle out the theoretical implications. What is not open to debate, however, are the thousands of users with first hand practical experience of their own, using an HHO generator and providing positive gas mileage results. In fact, the electrolysis of water has been around since the 1800’s, but using the resulting HHO gas for supplemental fuel is a rather new phenomenon. In recent months the market has really heated up. Just this week alone, mechanics, car dealerships and inventors from Louisiana, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas and Arizona has all made the news with their HHO generators independent of one another. While critics ofte..

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.) The following article from LoHud.com discusses Maria Recchia-O’Neill’s experiences with the Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicle as a Project Driveway participant.  [...]

Filed under: Diesel , Hydrogen , MPG , Mazda , Lightweight Mazda has declared that by the middle of the decade they will have replaced their entire powertrain lineup and cut fuel consumption by 30 percent. On the powertrain side, engines will be upgraded across the board including a new direct injected wankel rotary. In 2009, a new Smart Idle Stop system will debut that restarts the engine using the direct injection system instead of the starter. Fuel will be sprayed directly into the cylinder and ignited to get the pistons moving. New gas engines will get direct injection and Mazda will add new clean diesels to the lineup worldwide as well as continuing to develop hydrogen-fueled engines. Ford's Japanese affiliate intends to continue down the path begun with last years new Mazda2 and the new 6 this year by reducing the weight of new models. The trend of recent decades to higher powered engines has led to a cascading effect of increased mass to support the power. Mazda intends to reverse the process. From 2011, Mazda wants to cut at least 220lbs from new models. [Source: Mazda] Mazda to cut vehicle fuel consumption 30 percent by 2015. - By 2015, Mazda will have renewed almost its ..

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.) The first hydrogen fueling station in California that is part of an existing gas station was opened today.  It is at [...]

Filed under: Hydrogen , Nissan , Renault , European Union Click for high-resolution gallery We already had spoken about the fuel cell technology (borrowed from Nissan) installed in a plain Renault Scénic , one of Europe's most popular compact minivans. The interesting part of the concept, at least from the aesthetic point of view, is that the car's interior room remained untouched, thanks to sandwhiching most of the components in the floor of the vehicle. Like other fuel cell vehicles, the fuel-cell Scénic ZEV H2 features a hybrid powertrain. The system includes lithium-ion batteries that, together with the high-pressure tanks, allow the car to have a 220-mile range. The 350-bar hydrogen tank (3.7kg of H 2 ) will be substituted by a 700 bar tank at a later date, which would allow a range of more than 300 miles. Find the full press release after the jump. [Source: Renault] PRESS RELEASE : The Renault-Nissan Alliance's longer-term outlook focuses on continuing work on EV prototypes powered by fuel cells. Though they offer significant gains in range they are more complex to mass-produce and mass-market. Rolling out such breakthrough technology requires production, trans..

Seeking to understand a new fuel cell material, a research team has uncovered a novel structure that moves oxygen ions through the cell at substantially lower temperatures than previously thought possible.

U.S. Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) on Wednesday tackled head-on the question of whether Congress can mandate electricity prices with the introduction of legislation that would set "feed-in" tariffs to motivate the development and purchase of more renewable sources of electric power.

We all know that fuel cells are cool, hip and happening right now. You can’t shake a stick without hitting a news story about the newest breakthrough in fuel cell technology. But, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is adding to this list by developing a high temperature solid oxide fuel cell with a structure that moves the oxygen through at measurably cooler temperatures. By cooling the fuel cell with chilly oxygen atoms, both operating cost is reduced and reliability is enhanced. Now high temperature solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are not usually associated with cars and other vehicles outside of Rolls Royce, Volkswagen (PAFC) and the Navy unmanned underwater devices that use them. But, the bigger news is that this new technology may be a boon for the larger stationary fuel cell marketplace. Stationary SOFC using cool oxygen could create power in the 100 MW range, or enough to power a small city, airport or military operation. University of Liverpool scientists have developed an electrolytic material for the SOFC made of lanthanum, strontium, gallium and oxygen, which will aid in faster startup times, unlike other comparable stationary fuel cells, that cou..

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.) I have mentioned Bill Reinert from Toyota several times over the last few weeks on the blog.  Therefore, I thought I [...]

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.) Here is a three-minute YouTube video of Sean Captain from Popular Science taking the Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicle for [...]

"Going back to rather basic A-level exam chemistry AB (ammonia borane) is a white powder which, when heated, gives off hydrogen.  AB also stores more hydrogen by volume than even liquid H2.  Using AB would also mean that swathes of electricity would not be needed to produce the hydrogen from water."  More

"The innovative hybrid system increases the vehicle's 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 world's first hydrogen hybrid car with a dual-fuel system that enables it to run on either hydrogen or gasoline." More

On June 4, Shell Hydrogen announced the opening of an H2 pump integrated into a traditional gas station on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard near Federal Avenue. A week later, General Motors announced that GM and Clean Energy are opening a hydrogen fueling station in the fall near Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX ) to help the participants in Project Driveway refuel close to home. Tomorrow, the Shell Hydrogen station on Santa Monica Boulevard officially opens and the California Air Resources Board is expected to talk about the funding for three additional hydrogen fueling stations in California under Governor Schwarzenegger’s Hydrogen Highways Initiative. And, if this weren’t enough, the Honda FCX Clarity will start rolling out July 1 in the Los Angeles area to a small group of celebrities and other notables that I’ve already talked about. Jamie Lee Curtis and husband Christopher guests lead the A list of celebrities while Jon Spallino and family continue the tradition of a regular family leasing a Honda FCX (something they have done since 2005). So, for fans who are hyper over hydrogen this summer, a trip may be in order to catch a glimpse of what the future hold..

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.) Brandom Perry has posted a hydrogen rap song on YouTube.  At the beginning of the video, he says it is a public [...]

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.) GM put together a two-minute video where Nick Williams and Tom Albert, the first two Project Driveway participants in Washington, D.C., were [...]

(Note: To learn more about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and their potential to solve the oil crisis, please read the series of articles titled “Twelve Hydrogen Facts” which is part of the Hydrogen Manhattan Project.) Britta Gross is the Manager of Hydrogen and Electrical Infrastructure at GM.  She was interviewed in April on a GM blog podcast [...]

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There is an excellent webcast by Mr. Robert Walker, a retired Pennsylvania Congressman of 20 years and Vice Chairman of the Department of Energy ( DOE ) Hydrogen Technical Advisory Committee that gives an overview of hydrogen cars and the building of the supporting infrastructure and economy. Many of the ideas he speaks about I’ve also talked about on this blog and website. One new idea that I haven’t heard anyone speak of yet is the idea for the Federal Government to encourage the rollout of the hydrogen infrastructure by offering free H2 to everyone who buys a car. This idea may sound a little farfetched at first, but here’s the point that Walker makes. He says that based on the rollout of hybrid vehicles over a six year period, which accounts for 250,000 vehicles, the federal government could offer free hydrogen gas to the same number of H2 vehicles over the same time period. This would cost the U. S. government $700 million during this time. By comparison, we will be spending $16 billion on ethanol subsidies instead of hydrogen cars. The free H2 for consumers who buy hydrogen cars would not only encourage buyers to purchase these vehicles, but the suppliers of hydrogen a..

Dramatic progress in renewable energy technology is needed if the United States desires to produce 25 percent of its electricity and motor vehicle fuel from renewable sources by 2025 without significantly increasing consumer costs, according to a new study.

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A year ago I talked about St. Andrews Episcopal middle school in Amarillo, Texas winning the 2007 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge as part of that year’s National Science Bowl competition. Then in May 2008 I had talked about the EnergyWhiz Olympics and Hydrogen Sprint competition for school kids in Florida, who would then go onto compete in the National Science Bowl. Well, over this past weekend, the 2008 National Science Bowl was held in Golden Colorado along with the 2008 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge. According to the U. S. Department of Energy ( DOE ) website, St. Andrews did well again this year, finishing first on Friday. But according to the press release it was Treasure Valley Math and Science Center from Boise, Idaho that finally won the overall 2008 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Challenge, edging out the other contenders. General Motors was one of the main sponsors of the competition and according to GM vice president Elizabeth A. Lowery, “Today's students are the future engineers and scientists that will be part of the continuing transformation of automotive propulsion technology, so at GM we believe it is important to encourage and support education i..

EnerNOC Inc. announced that it has entered into a new demand response agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE). The agreement includes up to 110 megawatts (MW) of capacity over its term, which expires in 2012.

Filed under: Biodiesel , Diesel , Ethanol , EV/Plug-in , Flex-Fuel , Hybrid , Hydrogen , Mercedes Benz , HCCI By the middle of the next decade Mercedes-Benz wants its entire lineup to be able to operate entirely free of petroleum. The German giant is working on a variety of technologies that will help provide crude oil free transport such as battery electrics, fuel cells and highly efficient internal combustion engines that can operate on biofuels. Mercedes has recently been letting European journalists sample some of these new powertrains at a test facility in Spain. The F700 concept that debuted last fall in Frankfurt is powered by a turbocharged DiesOtto engine. The DiesOtto is Mercedes' branding for a combined HCCI and spark ignition engine that provides nearly the same efficiency as a diesel without the need for the expensive after-treatment systems. This and conventional diesel engines can run on biofuels and Mercedes hopes to launch the DiesOtto in production by 2010. Mercedes is also currently field testing electrically-driven vehicles with both batteries alone and fuel cells each of which they also plan to launch at the beginning of the decade. While it may well be that a..

Filed under: Hydrogen , Nissan , Renault We already knew about Nissan's X-trail running on hydrogen, so this might not come as a surprise, but Nissan's partner Renault has launched the fuel-cell Scénic ZEV H 2 prototype. This compact people carrier improves the X-trail's performance and almost matches the numbers of a regular car: maximum speed is 160 km/h (about 100mph) and it's got a range of 350 km (200 miles) thanks to a 350 bar-pressurized tank which can contain up to 3.7 kg of H 2 . Renault stated that this tank was ready for 700 bar pressure, which would extend the range to 500 km (330 mi). Nissan supplied the fuel cell, the tank and the lithium-ion battery, while Renault's engineers prepared the Scénic's floor to be able to admit them. This meant that the car got 6 cm (2.5 in) taller, but overall interior space, including trunk space, was preserved. You can watch a video (in French) here . [Source: Autoplus ]   Read  |  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Hydrogen , Mazda , Japan click to enlarge Unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show last fall, the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE hybrid is about to make its on-the-road debut in Japan. Mazda announced that the Japanese Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) has granted permission to test the hydrogen- and gas-powered minivan on public roads. The new rotary engine and hybrid powertrain in the Premacy Hydrogen RE gives the vehicle more power (40 percent more, compared to the old setup) and offers a range of 200 km (124 miles). All of this makes Mazda confident it can complete road trials and begin commercially leasing the vehicle during fiscal 2008. The hydrogen car uses a plant-based biofabric for some of the seat covers and door trim. G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit attendees can get a view of Mazda's hydrogen rotary vehicles (the Premacy and RX-8 ) during next months' event. More details after the break. Press Release: Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid Gains Government Approval to Begin Public Road Testing in Japan - Hybrid system enhances power by 40 percent and doubles hydrogen fuel range to 200 km - HIROSHIMA, Japan-Mazda Motor Corporation today received permission from..

The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan will begin road testing in Japan this summer with the target of commercial leasing of the vehicle starting this autumn season. The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE is the world’s first hybrid electric vehicle that is also a bi-fuel vehicle as well, running on either gasoline or hydrogen. The BMW Hydrogen 7 luxury car is a bi-fuel vehicle (gasoline and hydrogen) but is not a hybrid electric vehicle. Like the BMW Hydrogen 7, the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE solves the chicken-and-the-egg problem with regard to building enough hydrogen fueling stations to support the cars. With a flip of a switch the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE rotary engine can run on either gasoline or hydrogen and has increased its range on hydrogen-only from 124 miles to 135 miles. The rotary engine is an advantage since it’s not conducive to backfiring as are traditional internal combustion engines. While the exterior may be zoom-zoom inspired, the interior is eco-friendly with some of the plastic parts being replaced by plant-based materials. The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE will be showcased this summer at the 2008 G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July.

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Speaking at an American Public Transportation Association (APTA) conference in San Francisco a week or so back, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed light rail, commuter rail and other public transit as a way to save 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline per year. Speaker Pelosi went on to talk about how high speed rail in California will create good paying jobs and boost the economy while relieving congestion on the highways and roadway of the state. Pelosi says, “California will set a new golden spike for rail travel as we break ground on an 800-mile system with trains traveling speeds of 220 miles per hour, transporting passengers from the Transbay Terminal right here in San Francisco to Union Station in Los Angeles in just two and a half hours.” Speaker Pelosi goes on to talk about the importance of new light rail systems for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping to limit the carbon footprint of the surrounding community. What was missing for me, though, in this speech was that there was no mention of hydrail (hydrogen trains) as a valuable resource for zero emission rail transportation. Any speech about trains helping to save gasoline, cut emissions and reduce our carbon..

EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDFEN) and utility company EDF Energy have announced the creation of a joint venture to become a major player in the UK renewables market. The joint venture, called EDF Energy Renewables, is seeking to capitalize on the synergies between the two companies to make the combined entity a major force in the UK renewable energies market, according to EDFEN.

On Tuesday, The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 (H.R. 6049) failed to pass a procedural vote to limit debate and proceed to consideration of the bill. The vote count was 52-44, 8 votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a potential filibuster. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) reserved the right to bring the bill up again at a later date, possibly following the Senate's Fourth of July break.

Honda has started production of the FCX Clarity, a new zero-emission four seater car that runs on Hydrogen and electricity. According to Honda, the new car offers three times better fuel efficiency than a normal car. Honda is planning to produce 200 of the FCX Clarity cars, which for now will only be available on a three year lease for around $600 a month. The first cars will be available for lease in July in California with a follow up launch in Japan later in the year. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis will be one of the first to have one of the new Honda vehicles. http://www.enjoyfrance.com/content/view/1512/31/

The World Trade Center (WTC) has been a sensitive symbol for this country especially after 9-11. Being built at this same location in New York is the Freedom Tower symbolizing among many other things, the tenacity of our citizens. The Freedom Tower and three other towers that are a part of the rebuilt World Trade Center will now be going green using four UTC Power hydrogen fuel cells that will provide 4.8 MW total of energy. The onsite hydrogen fuel cells will supplement other offsite green energy the WTC will receive. According to New York Governor David A. Paterson, “The fuel cells and other measures will help make the new World Trade Center towers an exemplar of environmental sustainability and will signal to the world New York State’s commitment to greater energy security and reduced dependence on foreign oil. I can think of few sites in the country where the symbolism of this is more important.” The new World Trade Center UTC Power fuel cell installation, one of the largest in the world, was negotiated by the New York Power Authority (NYPA). The use of hydrogen fuel cells along with offsite wind power will help the WTC attain LEED certification. In a time of high oil pr..

"Here in the New York Tri State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area, there is a Shell Hydrogen Station located on Kensico Avenue in White Plains. There are two types of stations, stationary and mobile and this one is stationary and is owned by Shell Hydrogen. The Prototype "Home Energy Station" located at 968 Albany-Shaker Road Latham, New York, 12110, is another stationary Hydrogen Station that produces its own hydrogen fuel on site and is owned by Plug Power, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.. Their phone number is (518) 782-7700. " More

"The 17th World Hydrogen Energy Conference has opened in Brisbane, Australia yesterday as the industry comes together to discuss hydrogen as the most applicable energy resource in future years. Dr Andrew Dicks, Chairman of the WHEC Organising Committee welcomed some 500-plus delegates from 44 countries to the Brisbane Convention Centre for the event, the theme being to supply energy to a changing world and especially for transport - with hydrogen being perceived as the best energy vector to use to help the planet." More

Filed under: Hybrid , Hydrogen , Jaguar , Lotus Lotus Engineering is continuing to move aggressively into the realm of greener transportation. This week two different consortia of which Lotus is a part were awarded development contracts by the UK Government Technology Strategy Board. The first of the two projects is the Zero Emission London Taxi that we reported on last month. The government money will be used to help with the commercialization of fleets of fuel cell powered taxis in London by 2012. The other project, dubbed Limo-Green, involves developing a hybrid drive Jaguar sedan. The description of this car is fairly vague, mentioning an advanced drive motor, small battery pack and an auxiliary power unit for sustained cruising. It sounds like it might be an extended range electric vehicle but with a relatively small battery for only minimal EV-only range. Lotus is developing the APU as a small engine with high thermal efficiency and power output. This could be an interesting project to watch. The Lotus press release is after the jump. Press Release: Lotus Wins Two High Profile Green Car Projects Lotus Engineering Invests in Low Carbon Vehicle Programmes Lotus Engineering, th..

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Hydrogen , Lightweight Quantum has been working on adding hydrogen capability to the Norwegian infrastructure, both through hydrogen stations and converted hydrogen Priuses . In the U.S., Quantum is also working on plug-in hybrids for California's South Coast AQMD . Last week, Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide announced it will now be working on new advanced hybrid powertrains for EDAG and IISI. Who? Glad you asked. IISI is the International Iron and Steel Institute, which has an automotive group, and EDAG is the Engineering + Design AG. The two are involved in the Future Steel Vehicle program, which hopes to find new, lightweight steel autobody concepts that are designed to work well with new vehicle powertrains, be they plug-in hybrids or hydrogen fuel cell. Quantum's task is develop the powertrains (advanced lithium-ion battery system and controls) with partner Advanced Lithium Power Inc. All of these concepts are meant to show that old-school steel is not dead yet (in fact, I heard it's going for a walk). Don't think the Rocky Mountain Institute will be in favor of that. Details after the jump. Press Release: Quantum Fuel Systems Te..

Filed under: Hydrogen , Manufacturing/Plants , Honda Honda has officially kicked off production of the FCX Clarity fuel cell car in Tochigi, Japan. As the first cars began to roll down the line today some of the first customers were on hand to receive ceremonial keys to the cars that they will start receiving next month. Car number 1 will go to film producer Ron Yerxa sometime in July. Honda CEO Takeo Fukui announced the first five customers at a ceremony at the first dedicated fuel cell vehicle factory in the world. Along with Yerxa, Jon Spallino, Jim Salomon, Laura Harris, and Jamie Lee Curtis and her filmmaker husband Christopher Guest will be getting Claritys. Spallino was the first retail customer of the original FCX and, along with his wife, has been driving a fuel cell car for three years now. During the ceremony, Power Honda Costa Mesa (Costa Mesa), Honda of Santa Monica (Santa Monica) and Scott Robinson Honda (Torrance) were named as the first part of the network of dealers providing sales and service support for the fuel cell vehicle fleet. For Spallino, the new Clarity will certainly be a huge step up from the original FCX. The new car has been designed from the ground ..

"Japanese car manufacturer Honda has begun the first commercial production of a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle. The four-seater, called FCX Clarity, runs on hydrogen and electricity, and emits water vapour. Honda claims the vehicle offers three times better fuel efficiency than a traditional, petrol-powered car. Honda plans to produce 200 of the cars, which are initially available only to lease, over the next three years." More

The Department Of Energy (DOE) - Power Marketing Administration (PMA) is an organization dedicated to the marketing of electricity generated from government hydroelectric dams, management of the transmission and distribution grids and economic development. To achieve its mission, the PMA has substantial technical and engineering capability, contract management expertise, good relationships with the major public utilities as well coordination and cooperation with state and local governments.

Nanotechnology is paving the way toward improved solar cells. New research shows that a film of carbon nanotubes may be able to replace two of the layers normally used in a solar cell, with improved performance at a lower cost. Researchers have found a surprising way to give the nanotubes the properties they need: add defects. Currently, these solar cells, called dye-sensitized solar cells, have a transparent film made of an oxide that is applied to glass and conducts electricity. In addition, a separate film made of platinum acts as a catalyst to speed the chemical reactions involved.

Scientists have demonstrated an atomistic mechanism of hydrogen release in magnesium nanoparticles -- a potential hydrogen storage material.

Filed under: Emerging Technologies , Green Culture , Hybrid , Hydrogen , Fiat If you didn't know, Sergio Marchionne is Fiat's CEO. In a recent interview in the French-speaking Swiss media outlet L'Hebdo , he spoke about the bank crisis, Switzerland's politics and his life in Switzerland. But he also talked about the car of the future, that is, the car of the near future. Mr. Marchionne is a firm believer that the most realistic and available solution to reduce car pollution is reducing engine size. This agrees with Fiat's new policy on smaller turbo-charged engines, called T-Jet , and also the latest iteration of the common-rail JTD diesels. Speaking about other green car technologies, he acknowledges the benefit possible from hybrid powertrains, but believes that they're complex and expensive, and therefore more suitable for expensive cars. Regarding hydrogen, he stated that it isn't expected to be ready until 2020, but he finds it will be a real revolution once the technology is viable. [Source: L'Hebdo (thanks to Jeroen for the tip)]   Read  |  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Diesel , Emerging Technologies , Hybrid , Hydrogen , Mercedes Benz , Green Daily There is no silver bullet to kill the oil werewolf. How many times have we heard that line (well, without the werewolf part)? A lot, and Mercedes issued a press release today that pretty much takes that one idea and goes on to explain at length how Daimler AG is going about loading all their weapons in the war against oil dependency (ok, ok, I'll stop with this metaphorical nonsense now). As longtime readers will know, Mercedes (like most automakers) is working on a variety of technologies to reduce fuel consumption. The tri-star brand has got DiesOtto (aka HCCI); lithium-ion batteries in upcoming production cars (the S400 BlueHybrid); and all those BlueTEC and BlueEFFICIENCY vehicles. Daimler's announcement today is about the company's "Road to the Future," and it sums up these various technologies (and more, like fuel cells) while talking about the idea of modular application. That is, future MB vehicles could include multiple green technologies (or parts of each) to create vehicles that Daimler is happy with "depending upon vehicle class, usage profile and customer requirements," as eM..

Filed under: Hydrogen , Volkswagen At the opening of a new Volkswagen dealership in San Jose, CA on Thursday the company celebrated by showing off its Tiguan HyMotion concept in the U.S. for the first time. The Tiguan was joined by the regular 2.0L TFSI Tiguan and the Jetta TDI. The Tiguan HyMotion is a hydrogen fuel cell powered version of VW's new compact crossover. The fuel cell generates 107hp and combined with the lithium ion battery pack the total output of the electric drive system is 134hp. The battery pack is primarily used to recapture kinetic energy during braking and then provide quick power for transient acceleration conditions. The Tiguan HyMotion was originally shown at last year's Shanghai Motor Show and at the 2007 Challenge Bibendum. Unlike the Space up! Blue concept shown at the LA Auto Show, the Tiguan uses a low temperature fuel cell. The Space up! Blue used a high temperature fuel cell that is theoretically more efficient but is not yet actually running in a vehicle. %Gallery-25054% [Source: Volkswagen] VOLKSWAGEN'S U.S. DEBUT OF ZERO EMISSION TIGUAN Volkswagen highlights commitment to environment by showcasing Tiguan HyMotion concept, clean diesel TDI's and ..

Filed under: Hydrogen , Chevrolet , GM General Motors is announcing a new partnership today with Clean Energy to install a hydrogen filling station near Los Angeles International Airport. Clean Energy is a California-based company that currently operates 170 compressed natural gas filling stations around the country and the new LAX hydrogen station will be on the same site with a CNG station. The new LAX station to be operated by Clean Energy will be available to participants in GM's Project Driveway fuel cell field test program. According to Dan O'Connel, GM's Director of Fuel Cell Commercialization, the primary user of the facility will likely be Virgin Atlantic. The airline is taking six of the fuel cell Equinoxes ( up from three ) that are being used for Project Driveway to use for shuttling first class passengers to and from the airport. Beyond this first station, Clean Energy is looking at adding additional stations at other locations as well as examining the feasibility of on-site reforming of natural gas to produce hydrogen. General Motors has now built 85 of the planned 100+ Equinoxes for the program and will have delivered 40 of them to customers within the next two week..

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman concluded his weekend visit to Aomori, Japan where the energy ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized countries (G8) and from China, India and South Korea met to discuss ways to enhance global energy security while simultaneously combating global climate change. The G8 includes Canada, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.