BUILDING A WORLD THAT WORKS
TM
WWW. HYDROGENCOMMERCE .COM
Welcome
to the International Clearinghouse for Hydrogen Commerce
"First they laugh at you,
then they ignore you, then they fight with you, then you win."
-- Ghandi
IS THIS THE END OF AMERICA? "We're going to be a second-rate country." Thomas Friedman
CNN Money Interview September 16, 2008
A TRAITOROUS CONGRESS, HARD AT WORK DESTROYING THE
ECONOMY FOR THE SAKE OF OIL PROFITS, IS PUTTING AMERICA UP FOR SALE TO HER
ENEMIES. THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE JAILED, NOT RE-ELECTED. -- RDM
WARNING: John McCain is Big Oil's
Manchurian Candidate
"[John McCain
thinks] Americans are so stupid — so bloody stupid —
that if you just
show them wind turbines in your Olympics ad
they’ll actually think you
showed up and voted for such renewable power
— when you didn’t." Thomas Friedman, author and New York Times
columnist Eight Strikes and You’re OutThomas Friedman The New York Times August 12, 2008 McCain accepted
almost no money from Big Oil for 8 years but suddenly he's
taken over a million dollars!
Does that strike you as odd?
McCain always talks big about wind and solar but he's
NEVER cast one vote for Renewable Energy PTC!
Does that strike you as strange?
This psychologically damaged stealth hypocrite is out to make
you a patsy for Big Oil and Nuclear Power.
"Wait until you find out
who is the most knowledgeable person on energy in the United
States of America!"
Allied Business Intelligence (ABI) research
shows that greater emphasis is finally being given to fuel cells in the European Union,
much as in Japan. The US will have to more aggressively execute its strategy of solving
technological challenges and infrastructure layouts if it is to help early fuel cell
vehicle introduction by the second half of the decade. "We have started to see more
upbeat participation in automotive fuel cells in the European Union in the last year. And
Japan already has been so active in this field it is taking the lead along with the US.
The US, on the other hand, has to push the fuel cell sector toward meaningful
infrastructure deployment, bringing in all the stakeholders -- and by that we mean the oil
industry," said Ozbek.
The prototype hydrogen fueling system is
based on Hamilton Sundstrand’s Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) water electrolysis
technology, which Stuart Energy integrated into a fully packaged system. The hydrogen
fueling system incorporates the same PEM-cell stack technology that will be utilized by
NASA for oxygen generation on the International Space Station. The system is based on a
modular build strategy and includes an integrated hydrogen dispenser, compact design and
newly developed packaging. The prototype is designed to deliver ½ kg of high-purity
hydrogen per hour at 5,000 psi. Possible applications for this technology include
distributed power, small industrial systems and transportation.
A Nissan X-TRAIL FCV fuel cell vehicle
powered by a UTC Fuel Cells (UTCFC) hydrogen power plant was unveiled in Tokyo today. The
vehicle is the first produced under agreements signed between Nissan and UTC Fuel Cells to
develop fuel cells and fuel cell components for vehicles. The zero-emissions X-TRAIL FCV
is a hybrid vehicle drawing primary power from a 75-kilowatt UTCFC ambient pressure fuel
cell power plant. It is fueled by compressed hydrogen. Nissan intends to start public road
testing of the vehicle in Japan.
Last week (December 2), Air Products
delivered its first Hydrogen Fueler to Honda Motor Company for their Fuel Cell Vehicle
Program with the City of Los Angeles, Calif. Air Products Hydrogen Fuelers are currently
available on a lease basis to companies with hydrogen fueling needs, especially automobile
companies. ...The new Hydrogen Fueler features a safe, compact design, and quiet operation
with no compressor. Components of the Air Products system are code compliant with the
Department of Transportation, ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and SAE
(Society of Automotive Engineers). Air Products can transport the unit to a customer site,
and maintain the Fueler and related fuel dispensing equipment, which is self-contained.
The system is remotely monitored and designed to ensure daily, around-the-clock, hydrogen
fast-fill vehicle fueling availability. The remote system measures the unit's hydrogen
fuel level, and Air Products will replace or exchange it for a full unit when the hydrogen
storage quantity is reduced to a certain level.
The benefits of the HyPM-LP2 design will be
demonstrated in a fuel cell-powered bus project that was announced last week by Natural
Resources Canada, and in a John Deere off-road vehicle that was announced in August.
Hydrogenics' HyPM power modules are fully integrated power generators that only require
hydrogen fuel to produce electrical power. In addition to the fuel cell stack(s) the power
module includes all the associated components and subsystems that are required to
systemize and run the fuel cell. The HyPM-LP2 has several distinct improvements over
previous HyPM generations. The low profile configuration of the 20 kW HyPM-LP2 makes it
more practical to use the power module in a wide range of transportation and stationary
applications and, if necessary, to increase power output by incorporating multiple power
modules.
Under the terms of the agreement with NRCan,
Hydrogenics' HyPM power module will be integrated into a next-generation technology bus
demonstration. A major difference between this bus project and earlier projects is
Hydrogenics' proprietary vehicle-to-grid technology. This vehicle-to-grid capability
enables a vehicle's power supply to provide off-board power and power to the electrical
grid, while the vehicle is sitting idle. The company has been developing technology around
the concept of using vehicles as a source of distributed power and has been aggregating
key intellectual property in this area over the past two years.
The Governor's Office of Energy Management
and Conservation (OEMC), Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), Xcel Energy, Inc. (NYSE:XEL) and
the City and County of Denver today announced the installation of a proton exchange
membrane (PEM) fuel cell system at Denver's Washington Park Fire Station. Plug Power's PEM
fuel cell system, fueled by natural gas, will provide a portion of the facilities'
electricity and heat, essential for the operation of the fire station's computers, lights
and garage doors.
Under the two-year lease agreement, the City
of LA will pay $500 a month to lease the first of five Honda FCX models with the other
four vehicles being delivered in 2003. In addition, Honda has contracted with Air Products
and Chemicals, Inc., based in Allentown, PA with local operations in El Segundo, to
provide the hydrogen fuel and refueling infrastructure. ...Honda plans to lease about 30
fuel cell cars in California and Japan during the next two to three years. The company
currently has no plans, however, for mass-market sales of fuel cell vehicles or sales to
individuals.
The UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies took
delivery today from Toyota Motor Sales USA of the first market-ready fuel-cell vehicle in
the United States. The UC Davis research institute will use this car, and more to arrive
soon, to conduct the first public evaluation of American consumer reactions to the new
automotive technology. For the past five years, Toyota has provided more than $2 million
in research grants to the University of California for advanced fuel-cell development
study. In the new program, UC Davis and its sister campus at Irvine will share six Toyota
fuel-cell vehicles and grants from Toyota of more than $4 million over the next 3.5 years.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ballard
will supply Honda with up to 32 Mark 902 fuel cell modules through 2005 and support
services for Honda's fuel cell vehicle customer deliveries in the US and Japan.
Ballard Power Systems has received a US
$1.88 million order from a new automotive customer for Ballard's fuel cell engine and
support services. The contract will include Ballard's light-duty fuel cell engine,
featuring the Mark 902 fuel cell module, application engineering, integration and vehicle
launch support.
GrafTech International Ltd., a leader in
graphite and carbon science for over 100 years, today announced that GRAFCELLTM
advanced flexible graphite will be included in the Ballard Power Systems Inc.'s fuel cell
engines used to power Honda's new FCX fuel cell vehicle planned for commercial release by
the end of this year. Honda announced that the City of Los Angeles is its first U.S.
retail customer for its fuel cell vehicle, agreeing to lease five Honda fuel cell vehicles
beginning in late 2002. Honda will also market these vehicles in Japan within the next
year. These vehicles will be powered by Ballard(R) fuel cells and have been certified as
zero emissions vehicles by the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. As previously announced, GTI's GRAFCELL will be included in the first
two announced commercialized vehicles, DaimlerChrysler's 60 Mercedes Benz A-Class fuel
cell vehicles and DaimlerChrysler's 30 Citaro buses expected to operate in 10 European
cities, both planned for release in 2003.
The United States government must make a substantial
financial investment in the conversion to fuel cells if the world is to realize the
forecasted benefits of the hydrogen economy, according to a study released by Johannes
Thijssen, a Director at TIAX, at the 2002 Fuel Cell Seminar in Palm Springs, CA.
"While using hydrogen as a vehicle fuel or for any fuel purpose has long been a topic
of visionary discussions, it is clear that we will not see a hydrogen economy in the short
term without the active leadership of the U.S. government," said Thijssen.
"Government has the power, the resources and the reach to spur industry into action
and make the transition to hydrogen a reality. We are confident that with government and
industry working in tandem, Americans will more quickly realize the substantial
environmental and strategic benefits of a hydrogen economy." Hydrogen fueling
stations would be similar in structure and service to gas stations, except that the
vehicle fuel dispensed would be hydrogen rather than gasoline. Near term, the sources of
hydrogen will be primarily natural gas and other hydrocarbons. The longer term strategy
will be to transition to some combination of renewables, nuclear, and coal (with CO2
sequestation). While the initial costs of the fueling stations are substantial because of
factors such as the high equipment costs, the benefits, such as lower emissions and a
reduction in green house gases, can be realized once the system is in place, according to
TIAX. Thijssen's presentation centered on analysis that TIAX conducted for the Department
of Energy's Office of Advanced Transportation Technologies analyzing the long-term
benefits, risks, and costs of implementing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The study also
evaluated a wide range of other fuel and vehicle combinations. Other findings of the
analysis include: -- Hydrogen-fueled fuel cell vehicles (FCV) could result in a
well-to-tank energy savings of 50% over conventional vehicles because the hydrogen FCV
fuel economy benefit offsets the lower efficiency of fuel production. -- Ownership costs
for all FCV options is expected to be $1,000 to $2,000 higher per year than that of
conventional and advanced ICE vehicles, even with the projected advances in fuel cell
technology, primarily due to the higher cost of the vehicle. -- Hydrogen generated using
renewables, such as wind, is currently more than 1.5 times as costly as that generated
from conventional sources, such as natural gas. In the longer term, this gap will decrease
significantly, or disappear, as renewable technologies improve and prices of conventional
fuels increase. -- One factor that drives the cost of fuel cell production is the high
cost and limited availability of platinum, which is necessary for fuel cell production.
TIAX concluded that the first 30 to 40 years of the hydrogen economy, platinum would be a
major issue but following that period, advances in technology should be able to compensate
for the use of platinum.
A formal dedication ceremony for the Energy
Station was held today at the West Fleet Vehicle Center in Las Vegas. As deployed in the
station, QuestAir's HyQuestor(R) system purifies a hydrogen containing gas stream
extracted or 'reformed' from natural gas. The purified hydrogen is then used to fuel City
of Las Vegas transit buses and other vehicles, or a stationary 50kW fuel cell electricity
generator.
More than 3,800 fuel cell systems have been
installed and operated worldwide, according to a new report by online resource, Fuel Cell
Today (www.fuelcelltoday.com). The
first such systems were introduced in the 1950s and the improvement in performance and
increase in the number of units since then has been impressive. "The 58 per cent
annual growth rate shown by last year's figures is significant, following high growth
rates in the preceding years," commented Fuel Cell Today's deputy editor and
co-author of the new report, Mark Cropper. "For example, there has been significant
growth in the automotive sector, with over 300 prototype vehicles built around the world
since the mid-1990s." This growth is expected to continue as companies such as Toyota
and Honda lease their first fuel cell automobiles towards the end of 2002. However, other
uses for this technology are beginning to emerge, for instance powering laptop computers.
Toshiba plans to sell a fuel cell powered laptop from 2004.
Fuel cells are self-contained, power
generation devices capable of producing reliable electricity for residential, commercial,
industrial and transportation applications. Fuel cells require hydrogen to operate, and
initially, the hydrogen supply will come from hydrogen-rich hydrocarbon fuels, which are
already widely available. However, these hydrocarbon fuels must first be processed, or
reformed, to release the hydrogen they contain. Enova Systems develops hardware and
software to regulate the reforming process. Enova's hardware -- based on its energy
management systems already in successful operation -- controls the reformer process,
monitoring temperature, flow and other parameters. It also includes necessary diagnostic
and reporting capabilities.
The two companies have moved into a new
phase of their business relationship, with Ballard obtaining a licensing option for
Millennium Cell's Hydrogen on Demand(TM) hydrogen fuel system and making a strategic
investment in Millennium Cell. Ballard has converted the $2.4 million prepaid license fee
into a secured three-year debenture issued by Millennium Cell that is convertible into its
common stock at $4.25 per share. Ballard retains its licensing option for the
non-exclusive right to manufacture and sell products with Hydrogen on Demand(TM)
technology for specific portable fuel cell products and internal combustion engine
generator sets. ...Founded in 1998, Millennium Cell is based in Eatontown, NJ and has
developed a multi-faceted patent portfolio, which the Company is pursuing in the United
States and internationally surrounding a proprietary process called Hydrogen on
Demand(TM). The Hydrogen on Demand(TM) system safely generates pure hydrogen from
environmentally friendly raw materials. In the process, the energy potential of hydrogen
is carried in the chemical bonds of sodium borohydride, which in the presence of a
catalyst releases hydrogen. The primary input components of the reaction are water and
sodium borohydride, a derivative of borax. Borax is found in substantial natural reserves
globally. Hydrogen from this system can be used to power fuel cells or fed directly to
internal combustion engines. Millennium Cell also has a patented design for boron-based
longer-life batteries.
Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq: PLUG) and H Power
Corp. (Nasdaq: HPOWD) announced today that they have entered into a definitive merger
agreement pursuant to which Plug Power would acquire H Power in a stock-for-stock exchange
valued at approximately $50.7 million. The two companies believe that the combination of
these two leaders in the PEM fuel cell industry will create a stronger company that is
better positioned to achieve long term commercial and financial success in this promising
new industry. ...Under the terms of the agreement, unanimously approved by the Board of
Directors of each company, the exchange ratio is initially set at approximately
eight-tenths of a share of Plug Power for each H Power share. Based on this initial
exchange ratio, H Power shareholders would receive Plug Power common shares equaling
approximately $4.70 per share for each H Power share. The initial exchange ratio will vary
within upper and lower bounds of 10% in the event that the value of Plug Power common
stock during a defined pre-closing period varies by more than 10% from $5.88 per share. In
addition, the value to be paid will vary depending on the amount of H Power's cash, assets
and liabilities at the closing date. Currently, it is expected that H Power shareholders
will receive $50.7 million of value and will own between approximately 13.3% and 15.8% of
the Plug Power shares outstanding after the closing. After closing, Plug Power plans to
work quickly to streamline the business and eliminate redundant operations, leading to an
expected ongoing cash consumption rate of $40 to $45 million annually. As part of the
post-closing integration of the combined business, it is anticipated that all operations
will be consolidated into Plug Power's headquarters, located in Latham, N.Y.
TIAX LLC, a leading technology research
consulting firm, has been selected by the California Energy Commission to develop a low
emission technology to generate electricity from landfills. The goal of the project is to
use hydrogen-enriched biogas fuel derived from a landfill to power a 75-kilowatt
generation unit with very low nitrogen oxide emissions.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
has awarded a contract to UTC Fuel Cells (UTCFC), a unit of United Technologies Corp.
(NYSE: UTX), and the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium (NAVC) to design a heavy-duty,
zero emission, ambient-pressure fuel cell power plant for buses. The effort is being
funded by $2.6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation with a $2 million match
from UTCFC. The funding was included in the FY'02 DOT Appropriations Bill and secured by
Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman (both D-CT) and Representative John Larson (D-CT1).
...The project specifically calls for the unit to be an ambient-pressure fuel cell system.
Ambient pressure fuel cells better manage the water produced by the fuel cell. The result
is a simpler, lower cost system that is quieter, significantly more fuel efficient and
easier to install into a vehicle. UTCFC is the only fuel cell company developing ambient
pressure fuel cell technology for transportation applications. ...The Thor and Irisbus
projects are hybrid buses that use 75-kilowatt ambient pressure fuel cells in conjunction
with on-board batteries to propel the bus. The new heavy-duty design will create a fuel
cell power plant large enough to propel the bus and eliminate the need for batteries.
"Attempting to solve the eternal 'where
do we get the hydrogen?' question," the magazine said in making the award,
"Chrysler this year unveiled the most imaginative solution we've seen. "Its
Natrium minivan is powered by sodium borohydride -- essentially, laundry detergent
combined with hydrogen." The hydrogen is extracted from the sodium borohydride fuel
using patented "Hydrogen on Demand" technology from Millennium Cell Inc. in
Eatontown, New Jersey.
Shell Hydrogen today announced that it has
purchased an equity stake in QuestAir Technologies Inc., a company that has developed
proprietary gas purification technology. The US$7 million investment will enable the
Canadian company to commercialise and further develop technology that purifies hydrogen.
Purification technology is important to the development of hydrogen as an energy source
because the purity of hydrogen fed into fuel cells affects their performance and useful
lives, and hence their economic viability. QuestAir, based in Vancouver, aims to
commercialise hydrogen purification devices for use in fuel cell applications by 2006.
Airgas also will provide Avista Labs'
customers with services related to fuel supply, including site preparation and
installation, monitoring and fuel replenishment, and safety consultation regarding the
storage and use of hydrogen fuel. The agreement, extending through 2005, calls for Avista
Labs and Airgas to work together to further develop the market for hydrogen-powered fuel
cells in the United States. Airgas' national network includes nearly 800 locations,
including 25 facilities currently filling hydrogen cylinders that will be used by Avista
Labs fuel cells. Airgas also provides a complete line of specialty gas equipment.
The SunLine
ThunderVolt fuel cell bus is the first California-built fuel cell bus, and the first
placed into paying-passenger service in California. ThunderVolt is a joint venture of two
California companies, Thor Industries of Chino, CA, a major bus maker, and ISER, a hybrid-electric
drive system integrator. Components include state-of-the-art hydrogen storage tanks from
Irvine's QUANTUM Technologies and
UTC's fuel cell, which turns hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, with no emissions, to
drive the bus' electric motors. The bus achieves 7 to 11 equivalent miles per gallon
(50-100% better than diesel) and operates roughly 75 miles per day in service,
establishing important durability milestones for the fuel cell industry.
Stuart Energy Systems
Corporation (TSX:HHO) announced today the unveiling of
its latest "intelligent" hydrogen fueling station in California. The California
Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) selected Stuart Energy to provide the first satellite
hydrogen fueling station to supply hydrogen fuel to vehicles of the CaFCP, extending the
driving range of these vehicles beyond their home base in Sacramento. The station will be
located in the community of Richmond at the Richmond Operating Division of AC Transit, an
associate member of the CaFCP. This will be the first time the CaFCP will use water
electrolysis to generate hydrogen fuel on-site for its vehicles. The advantages of these
distributed hydrogen generation systems is that they are convenient, easy to install and
available immediately. With the addition of this Stuart Energy satellite station located
about 70 miles southwest of Sacramento, CaFCP vehicles will now have greater driving range
and easy access to the San Francisco Bay Area - now the fourth largest metropolitan area
in the United States, with a population of nearly seven million people.
It's no surprise since an average PEM fuel
cell stack could contain up to 100 pounds of plastics in bipolar and end plates.
Obviously, the opportunities for material suppliers is significant. Consequently all of
the major specialty plastics suppliers including DuPont, Dow, Honeywell, Ticona, and DSM
have extensive fuel cell development programs. Specialty ceramics and carbon
fiber/fabric/powder producers also face excellent growth opportunities. That is why
Ballard Systems, a leading PEM fuel cell manufacturer, acquired Textron's specialty carbon
products business.
This week two ECO member cooperatives installed H Power
residential fuel cells at military bases in California and Maryland. Funding for the
installations was awarded by the research and development center of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. CERL is conducting one-year
tests of various PEM residential fuel cells; previously it tested larger solid-oxide fuel
cells on military bases. Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) installed two fuel
cells at the Patuxent Naval Air Test Center in Lexington Park, Maryland, while
Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) of Colorado installed a fuel cell at the Sierra
Army Depot in Herlong, California. ECO and H Power assisted both cooperatives with
training and installation. SMECO has installed one natural gas-fueled and one
propane-fueled system. One fuel cell is providing heat and power to an officer’s
home, while the other to a commercial building. The DMEA fuel cell uses propane and
provides heat and power to a swimming pool and a heat and air conditioning appliance. The
three fuel cells feature modifications made as a result of information gained from the
ongoing ECO-H Power beta test program.
Hydrogenics Corporation, a designer and
manufacturer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology, today announced that
Hydrogenics received a first-time order from European Fuel Cell GmbH for multiple
fully-featured FCATS H-Series systems and reformer test systems. These test systems will
support EFC's development work in natural gas-fuelled combined heat and power Home Energy
Systems at their research and development facility in Hamburg, Germany. Hydrogenics also
announced that it has received an order for multiple test systems from a significant fuel
cell materials developer. The combined value of these orders is approximately $US 1.5
million.
Superior MicroPowders today announced the
signing of a long-term joint development agreement in the field of hydrogen generation
with a unit of ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures. Multiple parallel programs are defined
under this agreement focusing on the manufacture of advanced catalyst material systems for
fuel reformer and hydrogen generation technologies. Under the terms of this agreement, SMP
will develop and produce proprietary catalyst systems within certain fields of use.
Plug Power Inc. announced today an exclusive
joint development agreement with Honda R&D Co., Ltd. of Japan, a subsidiary of Honda
Motor Co., Ltd., to develop and test an initial prototype home refueling system for fuel
cell automobiles at Plug Power's facilities in Latham, N.Y. and Honda facilities in Japan.
Plug Power will integrate one of its GenSys(TM)5C stationary fuel cell systems with
additional components necessary for the home refueling concept, which will be supplied by
Plug Power and Honda R&D.
As part of the CUTE-project (Clean Urban
Transport for Europe), 9 European cities and Reykjavik, Iceland will demonstrate emission
and sound free transportation systems for a period of two years. Daimler Chrysler's
hydrogen fueled buses will be used in these demonstration projects. Each of the 10
operators will install a hydrogen supply station that demonstrates various hydrogen
production and fueling technologies. ...In the United Kingdom, Vandenborre Hydrogen
Systems (HS) signed an agreement with BP for the supply of one IMET(R) electrolyser to be
integrated into the hydrogen fuel station BP will deliver to Barcelona. At this site, the
IMET(R)-60 electrolyser will produce 60 Nm3/hr (2282 scfh) of hydrogen from water and
electricity. The hydrogen will then be compressed to 350 bar(g) (5075 psig), stored and
the buses will be replenished via a dispensing station specially developed by German-based
Linde AG. ...HS has also signed an agreement with Hoekloos for the supply of one
IMET(R)-60 electrolyser to be integrated in the Amsterdam hydrogen fuel station. The
complete station will be installed inside a 40-ft container and will include a
deoxo-drier, a cooling system and a water treatment system. Hoekloos will deliver the fuel
station to GVB, a public bus transportation company in Amsterdam that will operate three
buses starting in mid-2003.
The FCHV-BUS2, jointly developed by TMC and
Hino, is a fuel cell hybrid, low-floor, easy-access commuter bus powered by hydrogen gas
stored in high-pressure tanks. While the vehicle is in use, it is extremely quiet and
emits no carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). Since the
unveiling of the FCHV-BUS1 in 2001, various modifications have been made and the new
improved FCHV-BUS2 is designed to use two fuel cell stacks instead of one for heightened
performance. The FCHV-BUS2 has received governmental approval for conducting public road
tests from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the assessments are
scheduled to start shortly. It has adopted universal design concepts, including the use of
pictorial symbol displays and interior colors using differences in brightness and a
complementary scheme to enhance visibility and recognition.
The UNI-SOLAR(R) triple-junction thin-film
amorphous silicon solar technology has received widespread recognition, including a 1998
R&D 100 award by R&D Magazine, which recognizes the year's 100 most significant
technological innovations, and a 2001 Bright Light Award which honors five of the most
recent consumer-oriented innovations carried out under the sponsorship of the DOE.
UQM's small, lightweight and highly energy
efficient electric motors and electronic controls improve a fuel cell's overall
performance and energy efficiency.
The projected five year, $5 million program
will seek to develop and build the next generation fuel cell catalyst nanostructures to
atomically engineer and customize the baseline performance of PEM fuel cell membrane
electrode assemblies.
The California
Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership believes that vehicle
emissions and related issues need be addressed on both a short- and long-term basis.
Eventually, zero-emission fuel cell (hydrogen) powered vehicles will be developed and
deployed on a large scale; the Partnership encourages such a result in a timely,
cost-effective manner. Ford Motor Company currently manufactures natural gas vehicles and
is involved in efforts to develop fuel cell vehicles. David D. Henry, a manager in Ford's
Alternative Fuel Vehicles organization, calls NGVs an important "bridge" to
hydrogen-powered vehicles. "The bridge may extend over the next 20 years," Henry
says. "Natural gas vehicles have an important role to play in helping assure clean
air today and into the future."
Since introducing the first NECAR (New
Electric Car) in 1994, DaimlerChrysler has led development of fuel cell technology,
producing 20 concept vehicles, such as the NECAR series and the Chrysler Town &
Country Natrium. These vehicles have been designed to operate on a variety of fuels,
including methanol, gasoline, liquid and gaseous hydrogen and sodium borohydride, a
borax-like compound. The F-Cell vehicles will be powered by hydrogen. ...The Mercedes-Benz
A-Class F-Cell, the first cars to grow out of the research stage and to go on the road,
are being manufactured under near- standard conditions and will be operated and tested by
customers in everyday use within the framework of government-sponsored international
cooperative ventures. ..."The fuel cell technology gives us the opportunity to bring
mobility together with environmental compatibility and to make a major contribution to
society," said Prof. Jurgen Hubbert, member of the DaimlerChrysler Board of
Management with responsibility for the Mercedes-Benz. Hubbert noted, however, that before
fuel cell vehicles go to market in significant numbers, fuel and infrastructure issues
must be clarified in a worldwide initiative, jointly with the political community, the
energy sector and others.
Prof. Jurgen Hubbert, Member of the
DaimlerChrysler Board of Management with responsibility for the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and
Smart Passenger Car Division, stated DaimlerChrysler's intention to introduce 60
Mercedes-Benz A-Class "F-Cell" vehicles. These vehicles will be introduced in
limited customer fleets in Europe, Japan, Singapore and the United States beginning in
2003. Mercedes-Benz A-Class "F-Cell" vehicles are DaimlerChrysler's first fuel
cell cars to move from the research stage to customer demonstrations. "This
commitment by DaimlerChrysler demonstrates how automobile manufacturers will introduce new
technology on the path to mass commercialization of fuel cell vehicles," said Dennis
Campbell, Ballard's President and Chief Operating Officer. "DaimlerChrysler's cars
will use our latest generation fuel cell powertrain, that delivers world-leading
performance, as recently demonstrated by Ford's Focus FCV fuel cell vehicle that completed
the Michelin Challenge Bibendum road rally in Germany and France." Ballard's latest
generation 85 kW automotive fuel cell engine (which includes the gas supply system,
control unit and fuel cell module) has a higher net power output which, combined with
reduced weight and lower volume, results in a 60-percent improvement in power density over
previous generation technology. This has also reduced system complexity, improved vehicle
integration and lowered costs. In addition to the newly christened "F-Cell"
vehicles, today DaimlerChrysler also demonstrated the Citaro city bus and the Hermes
Sprinter delivery van, both powered by Ballard(R) fuel cell engines. Ballard will continue
to deliver heavy-duty fuel cell engines through 2003 to DaimlerChrysler for 30 Citaro city
buses to be operated in revenue-service in ten major European cities.
Mayor Jim Hahn announced today an agreement
between the City of Los Angeles and American Honda Motor Co., Inc., to make Los Angeles
the first U.S. retail customer for a fuel cell car. Under the agreement, City of Los
Angeles employees will immediately begin a familiarization program with prototype versions
of the Honda FCX. The City will take delivery of the first of five production vehicles
before the end of 2002. "Air quality in the Los Angeles basin has steadily improved
in recent years, thanks in part to the deployment of new environmental technologies,"
said Mayor Hahn. "Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles hold great promise for future
clean air vehicles and it's important that Los Angeles play a leading role in development
and early use of this technology." The Honda FCX recently was the world's first fuel
cell vehicle certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the U.S. EPA, with both
government agencies certifying it as a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV).
This year's categories eligible for funding
include clean heavy-duty vehicles, alternative fuel transit buses, construction of
alternative fueling stations, as well as a regional vanpool program, "Rideshare
Thursday" public awareness campaign and expanded Freeway Service Patrol.
Nuvera Fuel Cells today announced the sale
of nine proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks to Centro Ricerche Fiat (CRF), a
major Italian research organization of the Fiat Group Divisions. The announcement follows
the successful demonstration of the Fiat 600 Elettra Fuel Cell Vehicle, called
"Seicento Elettra H2," which uses a Nuvera Fuel Cells' stack to generate
on-board power from hydrogen. The fuel cell stacks powering Seicento Elettra H2, a vehicle
presented on February 2001 in the frame of an Italian-funded project sponsored by the
Italian Environmental Ministry, have operated without performance degradation for more
than 3,000 kilometers. Seicento Elettra H2 represents Fiat's initial venture into
developing fuel cell vehicles operating on hydrogen.
This system is designed to provide power
conversion between the battery and the fuel cell. Commenting on the order, David
Eisenhaure, SatCon president and chief executive officer said, "This order is
important in that it recognizes the successful performance of our initial converter during
recent demonstrations and highlights the capability of SatCon Applied Technology to
support the next-generation automotive market. SatCon has been intimately involved in the
technology development for hybrid electric automobiles for some time. We are currently
finishing up a successful program with the Department of Energy to build low cost hybrid
electric automobile controllers. We are also working with another of the large automotive
manufacturers on auxiliary motors for fuel cell cars. We are pleased that we have
successfully delivered products to DaimlerChrysler that meet their needs in this
initiative and we continue to believe that alternative fuel vehicles will represent the
future of the automobile."
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCEL)
announced today a modification to the existing Vision 21 program agreement with the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) to demonstrate two additional sub-megawatt power plants based
on the Company's patented Direct FuelCell/TurbineR technology. This
modification provides an additional $16 million to the project's budget that will be
shared by the DOE and FuelCell Energy. FuelCell Energy will build and test the first DFC/T
power plant at its facility in Danbury, Connecticut, and then demonstrate the second DFC/T
power plant in Montana. FuelCell Energy will be working with Montana State University who
will investigate suitable heat exchangers and an Internet-based load monitoring system,
and with CTA Architects Engineers, who will assist with the site selection and
installation of the Montana unit. The extended scope of the work is the result of
successful proof-of-concept tests of a DFC/T power plant based on a 250kW Direct Fuel Cell
integrated with a modified Model 330 microturbine made by Capstone Turbine Corporation.
Under the existing Vision 21 program, FuelCell Energy is developing a systems integration
design for a commercial 40-megawatt DFC/T stationary power plant and continuing
proof-of-concept testing of the DFC/T power plant with a 60kW microturbine. This program
modification will add the design, development and demonstration of sub-megawatt DFC/T
power plants in grid-connected field conditions, assess the efficiency potential of the
sub-megawatt plants and provide valuable data on integration and operation of DFC/T power
plants under laboratory and field operating conditions.
The joint effort will involve developing
innovative applications using metal fibre media produced by Bekaert Fibre Technologies, a
division of Bekaert Advanced Materials. The new components subsequently will be integrated
with Nuvera's proprietary technology, resulting in a lower-cost fuel cell stack with
enhanced performance and improved durability.
Acumentrics Corporation has delivered a
fully integrated rapid-start solid oxide fuel cell uninterruptible power supply, or
"UPS" to ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures in Houston, Texas under the terms of
a purchase order. Acumentrics supplied the factory-tested full-on-line 2 kilowatt fuel
cell unit based on their proprietary anode- supported tubular solid oxide fuel cell
"TSOFC" and power electronics technology. The product, named the BB-SOFC(TM)
2000, was specifically designed for low cost mass production. It operates directly from...
low-pressure natural gas and converts the fuel directly within its array of fuel cell
tubes. Because of the technical nature of the solid oxide fuel cell, both the hydrogen and
carbon monoxide produced during the conversion or reformation process allow it to boost
the fuel/electricity efficiency over other types of fuel cells that just run from
hydrogen. It also does not emit any appreciable noise or emissions of NOx or SOx. The
primary intended application for the BB-SOFC(TM) is out-door 90vAC broadband backup, but
is also configurable to output DC or 120vAC for telecom and computer backup applications.
"We are very enthusiastic about the
performance and efficiency of Millennium Cell's Hydrogen on DemandTM
system," said Pascal Henault, PSA Peugeot Citroen Vice President, Automotive Research
and Innovation. "We are pleased that we were able to collaborate on such a unique
vehicle as our H2O. This concept car, which is the conjunction of a child's dream and an
engineer's dream, illustrates the efforts of PSA Peugeot Citroen to find an appropriate
solution to the on-board hydrogen storage issue."
The Challenge's technical committee took as
its reference the Euro IV standard which will come into force in 2005 and which stipulates
pollution levels so low that it will no longer be possible to point the finger at motor
vehicles for contributing to pollution. Taking all the technological categories together,
75 percent of the vehicles entered had emission levels equal to or lower than this
standard. Certain fuel-cell vehicles running with 5 percent ethanol even achieved
pollution levels which were half those specified in the standard.
Japanese auto manufacturers are becoming the first in the
world to offer commercial fuel cell vehicles, according to Japan Auto Trends, the
newsletter of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) released today. For
example, Toyota and Honda will sell or lease fuel cell vehicles in the U.S. and Japan.
Toyota plans to lease a sport utility vehicle from around the end of the year. In July
2002, the Honda FCX became the first fuel cell vehicle in the world to receive government
certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air
Resources Board (CARB). Honda will start marketing the FCX in both Japan and the U.S. at
the end of 2002. The Honda FCX will be equipped with hydrogen tanks large enough to power
it for 220 miles on a single fill. The FCX top speed is 90 miles per hour. Toyota's U.S.
model will be based on the Highlander SUV and have a top speed of 90 miles per hour.
Nissan will enter the commercial vehicle fuel cell market in fiscal year 2003. In
addition, GM Japan will road test its HydroGen3 Opel Zafira fuel cell electric vehicle in
Japan. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is kicking off a 3- year
"Japan Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration Project," showing that hydrogen is safe,
effective and environmentally friendly. A second objective is demonstrating how to operate
the infrastructure needed to distribute the fuel.
Plug Power Inc. announced today the
availability of the company's first direct-hydrogen fuel cell system designed to provide
extended outage coverage for critical industrial operations. The 5-kilowatt, 48 volt DC,
hydrogen-fueled system, based on Plug Power's proprietary technology, will support premium
power applications. The new system marks Plug Power's first shipment into the back-up/UPS
(uninterruptible power supply) markets. ...The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has
received three systems, which are expected to be installed this fall. The systems will be
utilized to support uninterruptible power supply requirements for facilities at the U.S.
Merchant Marine Academy, a federal facility in Kings Point, N.Y.
Venture investors in the first half of 2002
funded over 70 companies, each receiving an average of US$7.2 million. Eleven companies
received commitments of US$15 million or more. Clean energy related companies received
just over 60% of cleantech venture dollars, with energy infrastructure (such as hydrogen
storage) accounting for a third of all investment activity in Q1 and energy generation
(such as solar cells) for 40% in Q2.
The rapid completion of its advanced
POWERSTACK MC250 cell has made this schedule possible, according to Jiri K. Nor, president
of Astris. He said the development program for this commercial product was accelerated
last spring when demand suddenly increased following the demise of England's ZeTek Power
LLC, the only other producer of alkaline fuel cells in the world. ZeTek had a number of
joint venture partners with energy systems depending on ZeTek energy systems, most of
which have now come to Astris.
The Stuart Energy H2BPS is designed to replace polluting
fossil fuel- powered gensets with emission-free hydrogen systems. A H2BPS integrates three
key components: a hydrogen generation system, storage, and a genset powered by a hydrogen
internal-combustion engine or a fuel cell engine. The H2BPS can produce hydrogen during
off-peak hours, using low cost electricity. During a power failure, the H2BPS converts
stored hydrogen into electricity to provide emergency power for elevators, lighting, fire
control systems, computers and other essential systems. With the addition of a fuelling
dispenser, the same H2BPS becomes a fuel station for hydrogen-powered vehicles. When
connected to the grid, the H2BPS can also supply electricity to the grid during peak
periods. When linked to renewable electricity, such as wind, solar or hydro, the H2BPS
becomes a totally "green" solution. The alpha H2BPS will provide back-up power
to Stuart Energy's headquarters and will be publicly demonstrated at the grand opening of
Stuart Energy's headquarters later this year.
Southwest Research Institute has opened a
unique pilot plant for the high-volume production of fuel cell electrodes, key components
of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and fuel cell systems. The plant was built as part
of a $12 million contract, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, with cost share
provided by SwRI, W.L. Gore and Associates, Elkton, Md., and General Motors Corp.,
Detroit. Commercial acceptance of fuel cell technology for automotive applications
requi7res a fuel cell system that meets the Freedom CAR cost target of $50 per kilowatt
($50/kW). Low-cost production of MEAs is critical to the success of fuel cell technology.
It is anticipated that an MEA must be available for $10/kW or less to meet these cost
targets. "Producing low-cost MEAs is a challenge because the catalyst on the
electrode is platinum, which typically costs $600 an ounce," says Dr. James Arps,
manager of SwRI's Surface Engineering Section and project manager of the DOE effort.
"We've designed a facility that allows us to deposit a very thin layer of platinum on
the electrode, which should meet or exceed the DOE cost target."
Nuvera Fuel Cells today announced that its
European subsidiary, Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe SrL, has been recognized by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its high-quality operations in
"research and development, design, fabrication, and servicing of fuel cell
stacks."
QUANTUM has been commissioned by Suzuki to
design and integrate hydrogen fuel systems that include QUANTUM's proprietary
ultra-lightweight, all composite TriShield(TM) hydrogen tanks and its patented in-tank
regulator. The 5,000 psi (350 bar) systems will be designed and tested to meet industry
standards in the U.S. (NGV2), Japan (KHK), and Europe (EIHP). The completed hydrogen fuel
systems will be delivered to Suzuki to meet their fast-track fuel cell vehicle development
program.
DTE Energy has been selected by the U.S.
Department of Energy as its partner in a first-ever hydrogen power park project. Anthony
F. Earley Jr., DTE Energy chairman and chief executive officer, today announced the
partnership at the MicroGeneration to Power Parks II conference in Detroit. ...The system
will run on hydrogen generated from renewable resources. During off-peak operating hours,
electricity from landfill gas or conventional central-station power (as a benchmark) will
be used in an electrolysis process to produce hydrogen gas from pure water. The hydrogen
will be compressed and stored for later use. During peak operating hours, the stored
hydrogen will be used to operate a 50-kilowatt (kW) fuel cell and a 25-kW Stirling Engine
or advanced reciprocating engine. The electricity produced will be used to offset the
normal energy requirements of a typical office park, while the heat generated will be used
to supplement existing heating and cooling systems. Earley noted that the hydrogen system
also will likely be deployed as part of another distributed energy project, NextEnergy, a
center for the research, development, commercialization and manufacture of alternative
energy technologies.
OvonicTM fuel cell technology has
many unique advantages over conventional fuel cells, including the ability to start up
instantly, accept recaptured energy, such as that of regenerative braking, increased
efficiency and power availability and a dramatic improvement in operating temperature
range of -20 to 120 degrees C compared to proton exchange membrane fuel cell which
operates over a narrow temperature range. OvonicTM fuel cell technology employs
an anode in which the active material is a hydrogen storage alloy with excellent catalytic
activity for the formation of atomic hydrogen from molecular hydrogen, outstanding
catalytic activity to combine hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions, and has exceptional
corrosion resistance in a corrosive environment such as an alkaline fuel cell. The anode
active material is low cost, containing non-noble metals. The materials are robust and
poison resistant. The electrodes are easy to produce by proven low-cost production
techniques.
The synthetic fuel could also be a single
fuel for ships and naval aircraft, and would be usable in some fuel cell power systems.
...The fuel will be run through a thorough testing program under the direction of the U.S.
Army Tank, Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, MI. All branches of the
armed services, specific independent commercial laboratories and specific DoD commercial
partners will be involved in the fuel testing program.
Representatives of H Power Corporation of
Belleville, New Jersey and the leadership of the Propane Education & Research Council
gathered with officials of Yellowstone National Park for the formal dedication of a
cutting-edge propane-powered 4.5-kilowatt cogeneration fuel cell currently in operation at
the busy west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The virtually emissions-free fuel
cell, termed "the best hope as an environmentally sustainable energy source" by
the Park, has been installed to generate electrical energy from propane to power entry
kiosks, computers, and lighting at the Park's west gate. The system's byproduct heat will
also be used as space heating for Park Service office space at the gate area. The
installation was made through Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative of Ashton, Idaho, a
member-owner of Energy Co-Opportunity (ECO).
The flexible graphite patents cover
important aspects of GTI's developing technologies in fuel cell, industrial heat
management (IHM) and electronic thermal management (ETM) markets. ...GTI's gas permeable
flexible graphite has higher electrical and thermal conductivity, has better
conformability and can be cost effectively manufactured in high volumes. These patents
will support GTI's continuous efforts in its collaboration with Ballard Power Systems in
the development of proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
This patent gives Stuart Energy exclusive
rights to develop and market on-site electrolysis-based hydrogen fuelling stations,
including PEM and alkaline, where information is exchanged between system components and
the user. For example, information exchange can range from fuelling a vehicle with a
"smart card" to controlling production and supply of hydrogen for the station.
Stuart Energy has filed for additional patent protection in other key global markets.
...With the issuance of this patent, Stuart Energy now has 16 patents granted and 118
patent applications on file in key global markets. The Company will continue to
aggressively expand and protect its investment in its intellectual property.
The goal of the project is to further examine the
environmental benefits and performance characteristics of the blended fuel, including the
potential to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, compared with natural gas. Previous
tests have shown that a blend of 20% hydrogen and 80% methane by volume, known as
Hythane(R), can reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen without hurting the performance and
efficiency of a natural gas engine. To assess the technology and fuel mixture, SunLine, which in 1994 was
the first public transit agency in the U.S. to convert to a fleet powered entirely by low
emission natural gas engines, will cooperate with Cummins Westport to prepare two
recalibrated versions of Cummins Westport's newly-developed B Gas Plus engine. For
comparative purposes, SunLine will also operate two natural gas transit buses with new B
Gas Plus engines. Cummins Westport expects to complete engine development by the end of
the year so that the bus test can begin early in 2003.
Nanomix's research and development has been
focused primarily on two exciting applications. Its chemical sensor platform can be
applied to process control and gas leak detection in refineries and industrial operations.
In addition, Nanomix is developing high-density hydrogen storage alternatives, a solution
which is of phenomenal interest to the mass automotive market. The company will use the
funds for general operating expenses, marketing and product development. It employs 24 and
has raised $13.5 million to date. Michael DeRosa, a Principal at EnerTech, will join
Nanomix's board as an observer.
The first shipment from the Monroe, North
Carolina plant, fulfilled the order placed by H Power's strategic partner, Naps Systems
Oy, a subsidiary of Fortum Corporation, a leading solar power system company based in
Finland. The order from Naps Systems Oy for five commercial HCore-500 units was publicly
announced on August 5th, 2002. The HCore-500 is a hydrogen-fueled 500-Watt, 48 V DC power
source that can be configured for indoor or outdoor use. Multiple HCores can be combined
to create customer-specific solutions, featuring voltage outputs of 120 VAC 60Hz or 48
VDC--up to 2kW. Naps will adapt these units for battery charging purposes for industrial
users. The intention is to use some of the units in international telecom pilot
applications.
Enova Systems, Torrance, California
(OTCBB:ENVA), today announced additional commercial sales of its heavy-duty drive systems,
the Panther(TM) 240 and Panther(TM) 120. These products -- already subject to significant
orders in major markets worldwide -- are available immediately for customers -- ranging
from automotive OEMs to other private sector and government entities. They are
operationally flexible, usable in electric, hybrid-electric, and fuel cell configurations.
The Panther(TM) 240 is Enova's newest addition to its line of drive systems, the 30kW,
60kW, 90kW and 120kW Panther(TM) systems. It is a production alternative to traditional
internal combustion engine drive systems for a range of vehicles -- including heavy-duty
transit buses, freight hauler trucks, and heavy-duty military and marine applications. The
Panther(TM) 240 separates itself from the competition because it is a complete drop-in
system that can be applied to new or upgraded vehicles.
Nanomix Inc., a leading nanotechnology
company developing components for electronics, sensor applications and energy storage,
today announced the close of a $9 million Series B financing round led by Apax Partners
and Sevin Rosen Funds. Additional participants in the round include EnerTech Capital
Partners as well as Series A investors Alta Partners and some of the previous individual
shareholders. The company was founded in September 2000 by University of California,
Berkeley physics professors Marvin L. Cohen and Alex Zettl. The funding close follows
several major company achievements, including the first large-scale integration of
nanotube electronics on a four-inch silicon wafer and lab-scale prototyping of a
high-density hydrogen storage system. Nanomix's chemical sensors will offer customers
compelling cost and performance advantages in industrial gas leak detection, medical
monitoring and industrial process control. Leak detection sensors are expected to reach
the market in the second half of 2003. Nanomix is also developing high-density hydrogen
storage alternatives for the emerging fuel cell industry. Using novel nano-materials,
these hydrogen storage systems will meet the performance needs of automotive and portable
electronic applications.
One of the new customers, the Dalian
Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), has been at the forefront of fuel cell research in
China for many years, having many patents related to PEM technology. DICP is a primary
shareholder of Dalian Sunrise Power Co. Ltd. which was established in 2001 to
commercialize the Institute's advanced fuel cell technologies. The other new customer is
the Shanghai Institute of Organic
Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a leading research institution in organic
chemistry in China with significant contributions to the development of national science,
economy and defense. As a leader in PEM research, SIOC has made prominent advances in
partial fluorine PEM. SIOC is the primary shareholder of Shanghai TL Chemical Co. Ltd.,
which was established in 2002 to develop and commercialize PEM and MEA technologies.
Stuart Energy Systems
Corporation (TSX: HHO) and Hamilton Sundstrand Space
Systems International, Inc., a business unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX),
announced today that they have entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement to jointly
develop and market integrated hydrogen generation products for vehicles, power generation
and industrial uses. The systems will be based on Hamilton Sundstrand's Proton Exchange
Membrane (PEM) water electrolysis technology, which Stuart Energy will integrate into
packaged hydrogen generation products.
Enova Systems, Torrance, Calif.
(OTCBB:ENVA), announced today that it has entered a consulting agreement with John
Wallace, former Director of Ford Motor Company's Th!nk Group and current Chairman of the
Board of Directors of Th!nk Nordic. Mr. Wallace will assist Enova Systems in further
developing and enhancing its corporate strategy in the areas of electric, hybrid-electric
and fuel cell OEM and heavy-duty mobile applications of its products and technology.
Corporate Press Releases
September and October 2002
How does open source car design work?
The honest answer is that we won't know until we have done
it. But we have plenty of ideas, which will develop over the coming months
as we share the designs for the Riversimple technology demonstrator and
start to produce collaboratively a production prototype.
There are lots of inspiring examples from open source
software, and we are being advised by people with experience in this area.
But there are many differences between open source hardware and software
design.
Differences between open source hardware and software
There are some major differences between open source software
and hardware design:
- There is a "gap" between the on-line design work and the finished
product delivered to the consumer. Not only is there substantial physical
testing to be done, but also there is significant work to be done to turn
the designs into an actual functioning product (we like the analogy of a
food recipe – a recipe is not a meal, you need a chef to turn it into a
meal). The answer we believe lies in establishing the right relationship
between 40 Fires and the manufacturers (the first of which is Riversimple),
where each party has its needs met.
- There’s a technical challenge to share ideas on-line, where there is
no satisfactory open source CAD (Computer-Aided Design) application. Our
solution is to use a low tech approach at first, using a wiki-based
website and freely available 3-D viewers to show the 3-D drawings. In time
we may get involved in developing a OS CAD program.
- Licensing. We cannot simply take the standard OS software license
(the GPL is the most common), since we are dealing with hardware, which is
not so well protected by copyright. See further down for some thoughts on
the licensing issues.
We'd like to hear from you!
As in Open Source software projects, we are not attempting to
do everything at once and we don’t have to. The designs that Riversimple
is licensing to 40 Fires resemble in many ways the code base which a
complex software project starts with.
However, because a car is different to software and requires
different development stages and processes, we will be asking for input
into specific areas, as well as procedural matters.
That's why we would like to hear from you, not only from
engineers or designers, but also if you have contributed to large scale
open source software projects and can help set up our project management
structure. Lawyers with an understanding of copyright and patents would
also be useful as we review the most appropriate license to use and if and
how we should be using patents for some new inventions which emerge.
To get involved, send an e-mail to
participate@40fires.org explaining your interest and skills.
The stages
We envisage different stages:
Stage 1 Over the coming months, starting this month (July
2009), we will make available design schematics from the Riversimple
technology demonstrator vehicle, together with a description of each
component's function in the whole system, and a vehicle design brief for
the production prototype. We will provide a mailing list or discussion
forum to enable comments and discussions. At this stage we expect
Riversimple, as the creator of the original designs, to be leading the
discussions.
Stage 2 As the detailed discussions develop, we expect a
broad consensus to emerge amongst the participants as to which is the best
solution to pursue for each design . By this stage, we expect the
conversations to be more democratic, with a broad cross-section of
collaborators participate, sharing their knowledge and insights.
Stage 3 We start creating detailed designs collaboratively
and publishing them on-line. Eventually an entire vehicle will be created,
and tested, on-line. We are aiming to complete the design of the
production prototype by the summer of 2010.
Stage 4 Riversimple and other entrepreneurs, under license
from 40 Fires, can start downloading the schematics and building and
testing the vehicles. With the lessons from this, work can start on an
improved production prototype.
Are our designs free (as in beer)?
Richard Stallman famously said that free software is "free as
in speech not free as in beer."
Are our designs free?
We consider that the designs themselves will be free in the
sense of free speech, with one exception. Currently we have chosen a
Creative Commons, non-commercial license. So the designs can be used,
modified, distributed under the same license terms but not for commercial
purposes.
We have chosen to be conservative at this stage and not
allowed commercial use. This may change - we intend to set up a discussion
group to debate this. The issue is that we don't want a large,
profit-focused organisation taking the designs and starting manufacturing
with them yet. We intend that when we grant a manufacturing license, this
will be for a small fee (say $10 per car) to cover 40 Fires running costs.
We are also keen on collaborating so if a commercial
organisation wants to use the designs, we'd like to chat with them first
before allowing them to use the designs for commercial purposes.
The licensing issues are very complex (patent law is not
copyright law; cars are not software) and we don't pretend to have all the
answers. It is quite possible that our license may in the end not meet the
strict requirements of the Free Software Foundation. But all we really
care about is that the license works to ensure that the cars can be built
in hundreds of different variations around the world, by local companies
and entrepreneurs as well as big multinationals if they like, and that no
one company (whether Ford or Riversimple) can dominate the market and keep
the ideas to itself.
BUILDING A WORLD THAT WORKS
TM
WWW. HYDROGENCOMMERCE .COM
