Recyclable Hydrogen Fuel Tanks (08/09/09)

Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico have found a new reaction which could dramatically reduce the amount of energy required to store hydrogen for use in fuel cells, Technology Review reports.

In conjunction with University of Alabama Chemistry Professor David Dixon, they used a tin catalyst in several stages to dramatically refine the activity of key storage material ammonia borane.

Brazil commissions first of five hydrogen fuel cell buses in Sao Paolo (06/09/09)

Commissioning of the first of five fuel cell buses set to be unveiled in Sao Paulo, Brazil has been completed.

The vehicles emit water vapour and have a range of 350km, according to a report by Fuel Cell Today.

Project driveway update: 1 million miles on Hydrogen Equinox (09/09/09)

General Motors (GM) has confirmed that the 116 cars involved in its Project Driveway programme have now reached a combined total of over one million miles.

The scheme, which was launched two years ago, sees individuals invited to drive the company's fuel cell-powered Chevrolet Equinox for a couple of months.

GM's Gen 2 Fuel Cell System Cuts Size, Weight and Cost (24/09/09)

GM has also revealed that its second-generation fuel cell system will represent a significant improvement from the model currently used in the Chevrolet Equinox.

The new design is believed to be half the size of its predecessor, while also being 220lbs lighter and requiring less than half the amount of precious metals.

Hyundai, Toyota plan to cooperate on fuel-cell cars (10/09/09)

Hyundai and Toyota are leading a host of automakers which have agreed to cooperate in their attempts to produce fuel cell vehicles.

"In order to ensure a successful market introduction of fuel-cell vehicles, it should be aligned with the build-up of necessary hydrogen infrastructure," read a joint statement.

"Therefore, a hydrogen infrastructure network with sufficient density is required by 2015."

The other automakers to sign the memorandum of understanding are Daimler, Ford, GM and Honda.

Germany to Launch Nationwide Hydrogen Fuel Network by 2015 (14/09/09)

German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee explained that the agreement should see his country remain at the forefront of developing new solutions for fuel cell usage.

"We are aiming at establishing the nationwide supply with hydrogen in Germany at around 2015 in order to support the serial production of fuel cell vehicles," he told gas2.org.

Oorja Protonics developing range-extender for light duty vehicles (10/09/09)

Oorja Protonics has revealed that it is working on a range-extender fuel cell system which it intends to incorporate into its light-duty vehicles, Fuel Cell Today reports.

The San Francisco-based firm will use the new technology in electric or hybrid offerings when it is completed within the next two years.

Government launches hydrogen fuel cell competition (11/09/09)

In the UK, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has launched a new competition which will see £7.2 million split between firms developing fuel cell technology.

Companies will apply to the Technology Strategy Board by 29th October in an attempt to secure funding for their projects.

"The UK has the right combination of expertise, ingenuity and determination to bring hydrogen and fuel cell technology to the global market," said Energy and Climate Change Minister David Kidney.

Hydrogen, fuel cell sector lobbies Canada for cash (15/09/09)

Executives at Canadian hydrogen and fuel cell companies have urged the country's government to provide the sector with new funding, Reuters reports.

"Canada has such a strong position in terms of this technology but if we don't keep the momentum there is a huge risk of losing it to other countries," Andreas Truckenbrodt, CEO of the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, told the news provider.

The current C$150 million (£87.6 million), five-year programme expires in March 2010.

Daimler Seeks All Options To Cut Car Emissions (15/09/09)

Thomas Weber, Research and Development Board Member for Daimler's Mercedes unit, revealed that the firm intends to sell hundreds of thousands of fuel cell vehicles.

In an interview with Dow Jones Newswires, he explained that the automaker is eager to develop vehicles with electric motors, fuel cells and conventional motors all working in harmony.

Daimler wins award for fuel cell technology (01/10/09)

Daimler's commitment to developing fuel cell technology was underlined recently when its Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid urban bus was handed the prestigious F-Cell Award.

"The award confirms that we are the technology leader in the area of alternative drive technologies," commented Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses.

House considers funding green vehicle research (16/09/09)

The US government is considering a new bill which would see spending on fuel-efficient vehicle technology increased by up to $200 million (£125.5 million) per year.

"There is no doubt that in the years ahead more Americans will be driving hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles and cars and trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells," said Republican Gary Peters, who is sponsoring the bill.

IRD Launches Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Battery Charger for Electric Boats (18/09/09)

Meanwhile, IRD has announced that it has produced a new direct methanol fuel cell battery charger for electric boats, Fuel Cell Today reports.

The company believes that the 500W device can increase the working time of a 1.4kW electric boat motor from two hours to five hours, without requiring charge from the grid.

Students Navigating The Hudson River With Hydrogen Fuel Cells (21/09/09)

A group of students from Rensselaer have completed a four-day sail along the Hudson River in a unique boat featuring only a pair of 2.2-kW fuel cell units, Science Daily reports.

University of Birmingham's Fuel Cell Group signs research agreement with Ontario's Hydrogen Village (22/09/09)

The University of Birmingham's Fuel Cell Group and the Hydrogen Village organisation in Ontario, Canada have signed a strategic partnership to aid their respective fuel cell technology developments.

"We hope that we will be able to grow our understanding of how hydrogen will play a major part in fuelling our future," Dr Bruno Pollet from the university's School of Chemical Engineering told the Birmingham Post.

Honda Wins 2009 Grove Medal for FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Technology (22/09/09)

Honda received the prestigious Grove Medal for its FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle at the recent Grove Fuel Cell Symposium.

Hy9 Introduces Economic Hydrogen Purifiers for Multi-Billion Dollar Industrial & Clean Energy Markets (24/09/09)

Hy9 Corporation has launched its new HPS range of palladium multi-membrane hydrogen purifiers for applications needing capacities of between 100 cc per minute and 100,000 scfh.

Company CEO Brad Bradshaw said: "Hy9's palladium membrane purifiers ensure reliable production of high-purity hydrogen, eliminating the need for other less reliable, uneconomic or ineffective purification techniques."

"Shanghai" brand fuel cell cars to serve Expo 2010 Shanghai (27/09/09)

SAIC Motor Corporation has revealed that it is sent to bring an unspecified number of 'Shanghai' brand fuel cell cars to the Shanghai World Expo next year, Auto News reports.

China's largest automaker noted that the vehicles can run for over 319km from one charge, while also being able to attain a top speed of almost 150km/h.

UPS Systems Installs Hydrogen Mini Grid System (30/09/09)

UPS Systems has announced that it has completed the installation of a mini-grid system at the Environmental Energy Technology Centre in Rotherham, Fuel Cell Today reports.

The system features three 12-kW PEM fuel cells, plus nine inverters, three 168 Ahr batteries and a host of supervisory software to aid its operation.

Plug Power commissions fuel cell unit at Union College in New York (02/10/09)

Finally, Plug Power has commissioned a new fuel cell-based combined heat and power unit at a student property at Union College in New York.

The 5kW system, which uses natural gas as fuel, is a collaboration between the company, the local National Grid utility, the college and the US Department of Energy.

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