Hydrogen still in the eco-car race (17/04/10)

Israeli scientists claim to have made a significant advance in the hydrogen fuel sector after developing super-thin glass filaments to contain the gas.

C.En, the Swiss firm which is aiding the research, revealed that 370 of the glass capillaries are placed in an array, with 11,000 of such arrays then capable of powering a car for 400km.

"We have shown new materials that can store more hydrogen than any other system," Dan Eliezer, Chief Executive of the company, told the Associated Press.

Changan Auto Group OK'ed for fuel-cell car production (21/04/10)

Changan Automotive Group has confirmed that it will run its new fuel cell sedan at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

The vehicle was successfully listed in the 210th 'vehicle manufacturers and products announcement' issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Plug Power to Display GenDrive Product Suite at Leading Material Handling Trade Show (22/04/10)

Plug Power displayed its GenDrive fuel cell product suite at a major trade show in the US last month.

The class-1, class-2 and class-3 units - which are used in a range of trucks - were on show at the NA 2010 event in Cleveland between 26th and 29th April.

Plug Power has also expressed its satisfaction at the new Fuel Cell Industrial Vehicle Jobs Act 2010, which was introduced in the House of Representatives last month.

"We applaud Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing this forward-thinking and effective legislation," said Chief Executive Andy Marsh.

"This bill can create thousands of green jobs in his district, in New York State and throughout the country."

The new legislation makes material-handling fuel cell vehicles eligible under the existing Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit for Qualified Fuel Cell Motor Vehicles.

UltraCell Introduces "3-Up" Battery Charging Portable Power System for Military Electronic Equipment (26/04/10)

Meanwhile, UltraCell Corporation has released a new battery charging system for military devices and electronic equipment.

The 3-Up product combines its existing reformed methanol fuel cell technology and runtime fuel tanks with a flexible nylon bundling system and an innovative power manager.

Chief Executive Keith Scott revealed that the portable power solution is customisable as it is able to implement a number of fuel cell-based systems in relation to individual needs.

"We're excited to be able to offer this technology and look forward to continuing to deliver innovative portable fuel cell solutions," he said.

Praxair and Powertech Enter Into a Strategic Alliance to Supply Hydrogen and Fueling Equipment for Fuel-Cell Powered Forklifts (27/04/10)

Praxair has signed a strategic partnership with Powertech Labs in order to provide additional hydrogen fuelling capacity in North America.

The alliance will see the former's hydrogen and the latter's hydrogen fuelling equipment marketed to material-handling customers, such as distribution centres for fuel cell-powered forklift trucks.

Linde to Feature Hydrogen Fueling Technologies for Fuel Cell Vehicles (28/04/10)

Linde North America showcased its next-generation hydrogen fuelling technology as the recent National Hydrogen Association's 21st annual conference in California earlier this month.

At the centre of the company's display was its Ionic Compressor system, which uses an ionic liquid in direct contact with hydrogen, rather than using a piston in the pressurising process.

"The Ionic Compressor is a step-change in the area of hydrogen fuelling," said Mike Beckman, head of Linde North America's alternate energy team.

"It is a high-efficiency, high-throughput, low-maintenance and low-noise compression solution to allow fast and safe filling of vehicles."

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies and Test Equipment Connection Corporation Enter into Distribution Sales Agreement (03/05/10)

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies has entered into an agreement with Test Equipment Connection Corporation to market its H-Series Fuel Cell Systems and Greenhub Powerbox UPS solutions.

Mike Novello, Horizon's President and Chief Operating Officer, said: "The GreenHub line ranges from 500W to 2kW and includes innovative remote control features via GPRS, using iPhones or PDAs.

"The H-Series polymer electrolyte membrane Fuel Cell Systems are also known to be the most affordable clean power solutions of its type worldwide."

USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative Announces $100,000 Fuel Cell Challenge Business Plan Contest (04/05/10)

Companies from around the world have been invited to submit business plans for a competition to find novel hydrogen, fuel cell and clean technologies to be used in South Carolina.

The Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge 2010 was announced by the University of South Carolina - City of Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative at the National Hydrogen Association annual conference.

Grants of $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 will be awarded to the entries finishing first, second and third respectively.

Toyota Targets $50,000 Range for Hydrogen Sedan Due by 2015 (06/05/10)

Toyota has revealed that it plans to sell its first retail fuel cell sedan for about $50,000 by 2015, Bloomberg reports.

The Japanese automaker also revealed that it has managed to cut the cost of producing the hydrogen-powered vehicles by about 90 per cent from the $1 million-per-car estimate it provided in the mid-2000s.

"Our target is, we don't lose money with introduction of the vehicle," Yoshihiko Masuda, the company's Managing Director for Advanced Autos, told the news provider.

"Production cost should be covered within the price of the vehicle."

Finally, General Motors (GM) has secured a deal with Hawaiian energy provider The Gas Company (TGC) to tap into the significant hydrogen resources on the island of Oahu.

TGC will call upon its 1,000-mile pipeline system and use a proprietary separation process to obtain hydrogen to power fuel cell vehicles at local fuelling stations.

"This is the type of enabler that a hydrogen transportation infrastructure needs because it addresses both the source of the hydrogen and a feasible way to deliver it for fuel cell vehicle use," said Charles Freese, Executive Director of GM Global Fuel Cell
Activities.

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