First new hydrogen bus for RV1 route arrives in the UK (17/05/10)

The first of five fuel cell buses which will hit the streets of south-east London later this year arrived at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire recently.

After undergoing rigorous safety checks, the vehicles will be sent out on route RV1, travelling between Covent Garden and Tower Hill via the South Bank and Bankside.

Asia's first hybrid-powered UAV makes 1st flight (14/05/10)

An unmanned aerial vehicle powered by a fuel cell and lithium battery took to the skies for the first time ever in Asia last month.

The drone, which was built at National Cheng Kung University, embarked on its maiden 15-minute flight in Ligang Township, southern Taiwan on 13th May.

Lewis WH Lai, an Aerospace Engineering Professor at the university, said: "The Gray-faced Buzzard produces no carbon dioxide emissions and is very quiet.

"The hybrid battery is an amelioration of a fuel cell, which on its own is too costly, and a lithium battery, which on its own has too short a durability."

Fuel Cell-Powered Sailplane Debuts In Berlin (07/06/10)

Meanwhile, in Germany, the Antares DLR-H2 became the first manned craft ever to take off using only fuel cells for power.

The sailplane, which was developed at the DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics, only requires about 10kW of power and the fuel cells operate at 52 per cent efficiency.

Total efficiency is pegged at about 44 per cent for the entire drive system, meaning it is twice as efficient as conventional propulsion technologies, according to Aviation Week.

Kia to sell 10,000 fuel cells by 2015 (21/05/10)

Kia has set itself the bold target of becoming the world's leading producer of fuel cell vehicles within the next five years, What Car? reports.

The South Korean automaker revealed that it hopes to sell between 1,000 and 2,000 of the vehicles between now and 2012, eventually getting 10,000 on the road by 2015.

Daimler, Toyota mulling joint fuel cell project: report (25/05/10)

Toyota and German partner Daimler are considering embarking on a joint development of fuel cells for electric vehicles, AFP reports.

"There is strong interest in sharing development costs [through a joint venture]," the news provider quoted the Financial Times Deutschland as saying.

Asia Pacific Fuel Cell scooter completed 1000km around Taiwan test drive (20/05/10)

A record-breaking fuel cell scooter recently completed a four-day journey in excess of 1,000km.

The Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies-designed model, which achieved a one-day best of 300km during a road test last November, managed to successfully take on its latest challenge in Taiwan.

UPS Systems' Seminar Creates 'Exciting Times' for Fuel Cell Industry (27/05/10)

UPS Systems claimed that its recent fuel cell-based seminar managed to convince 67 per cent of its delegates to change their opinions in favour of the technology.

The event was designed to promote commercial applications for fuel cells and the company believes they will play a major part in the future of UK businesses.

Systems Marketing Manager Roger Foggitt said: "The event was a great success, with over 70 delegates attending from all around the UK."

Hydrogen fuel cells power Wegmans produce (31/05/10)

A supermarket operator in central Pennsylvania is using fuel cells to power its electric forklifts and pallet delivery trucks, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Wegmans is using the units instead of lead-acid batteries in a fresh-produce warehouse which serves a number of stores in the region

"The hydrogen lasts twice as long as the battery charge. The weight doesn't bog it down," Dave Kloos, an employee at the company, told the news provider.

Schumer promotes fuel-cell legislation (02/06/10)

Staying in the US, Senator Charles Schumer has introduced new legislation to provide tax credits to firms which produce fuel cells for heavy machinery.

At present, the law only covers cars and trucks featuring fuel cells, which Mr Schumer believes gives "short shrift" to companies such as Plug Power.

"Fuel cells save energy and help the environment regardless of whether they're attached to a car or a forklift, and they should be treated equally," he said, according to Business Review.

Tickerspy.com Announces New Stock Index Tracking Fuel Cell Stocks (26/05/10)

Meanwhile, a prominent investing website has launched a new index which tracks fuel cell stocks.

Tickerspy revealed that the index includes major companies involved in the technology, such as Plug Power, Ballard Power Systems, FuelCell Energy and Hoku.

Singapore unveils fuel cell bus (03/06/10)

In Singapore, a new hybrid fuel cell-battery bus has been unveiled ahead of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in the country in August.

The vehicles, which were developed by NTU and Tsinghua universities in China, will be used to transport athletes and officials around the Youth Olympics Village.

FuelCell Energy to Supply Direct FuelCell Power Plants to California Utility (04/06/10)

FuelCell Energy has received an order for two of its 1.4mW DFC1500 fuel cell power power plants from a Californian utility company.

The $12.6 million contract will see fuel cell technology being used on the campuses of California State University East Bay and San Francisco State University.

London will have a fleet of fuel cell-powered black cabs in place by the time the Olympic Games is held in the city in 2012, it has been confirmed.

The vehicles, which are set to have a top speed of 80mph, will make use of six hydrogen filling stations but should be able to run for a day without requiring a refuel.

New hydrogen black cabs leave only water in their wake (07/06/10)

Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse said: "The black cab is a London icon but it is also a source of pollution.

"This prototype, which emits only water from its tailpipe, is a glimpse of how hydrogen technology could soon play a vital role in cleaning up air quality."

Cars fuelled by hydrogen to be tested in Leicester (10/06/10)

The first-ever major trial of private fuel cell vehicles on British roads will take place in Leicester, it has been confirmed.

Riversimple, which has built a two-seater hydrogen-powered car, has agreed a deal with the city council to run a pilot scheme involving 30 models early in 2012.

As part of the scheme, drivers will pay a fixed monthly fee of £200 and be charged a variable fuel-inclusive fee of 15p per mile.

"Leasing will allow you to create different service offers for different customer groups, as in the mobile phone industry," Riversimple Inventor Sebastian Piech told the Financial Times.

IdaTech Exhibits Next Generation Telecom Backup Power Fuel Cell System at the Intelec Conference in Orlando, Florida (07/06/10)

IdaTech has displayed its next-generation fuel cell system at the 2010 International Telecommunications Energy Conference in Orlando, Florida.

The ElectraGen ME unit, a 5kW, fully integrated solution which offers backup power for telecom base stations, is designed to replace batteries and diesel generators.

ClearEdge Power Signs Exclusive Agreement with LS Industrial Systems (LSIS) to Distribute ClearEdge5 Fuel Cells in Korea (08/06/10)

ClearEdge Power has sealed a three-year deal with Korean firm LS Industrial Systems for the distribution of its combined heat and power fuel cell systems.

The $40 million partnership will see more than 800 of the ClearEdge5 units sold in the country.

Jong-Woong Choe, Senior Executive Vice President at the Electric Power Group, told Business Wire: "The proven ClearEdge Power technology and its unique design make the proprietary fuel cell platform a foundational solution we can offer to our customers now and into the future."

Linde hydrogen technology to fuel AC Transit buses (07/06/10)

Fuel cell buses are set to hit the road in San Francisco Bay after an agreement was reached to bring two hydrogen refuelling stations to the area.

The vehicles will operate in the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit district after Linde North America contracted the company for the refuelling facilities it is building.

"Linde refuelling stations will be outfitted with the latest, most efficient technology and will deliver the fastest and most reliable hydrogen fuelling capability in North America," said Steve Eckhardt, West Coast Head of Alternative Energy Business Development at Linde.

ESI North America Fuel Cell Simulation Advancements Presented to Department of Energy (DOE) (09/06/10)

And finally, a project which has been investigating the behaviour of proton exchange membrane fuel cells over the past three years is starting to yield encouraging results, Business Wire reports.

ESI North America presented "significant enhancements" in the simulation of automotive fuel cell performance to the Department of Energy's Hydrogen and Vehicle Technologies Program annual merit review and peer evaluation meeting.

© Adfero Ltd