Fuel Cell

Mechanical Technology Inc (MKTY) announced today that it has received United Nations (UN) Packaging Certification and is now in United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Compliance for shipment of its methanol fuel cartridges, supporting its initial product launch planned by year-end. With this UN and DOT recognition in place, authorized shippers can now conveniently transport MTI Micro's fuel refills by ground, sea and air, both domestically and internationally. "MTI has emerged as a leader in the development of safe and reliable methanol fuel cartridges and packaging," said John Lynn, President and CEO of the Methanol Institute, the global...

General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (GD), announced today it has been awarded a contract by the United States Air Force (USAF) to develop and deliver 10 prototype tablet computers powered by direct liquid fuel cells for evaluation as a potential replacement for the department's current ground air traffic control computers. The program will combine commercial-off-the-shelf computer equipment with privately-developed fuel cell technology, and could enable extended field operations that will reduce the USAF's reliance on centrally-located recharging apparatus and spare batteries. Medis Technologies Ltd. (MDTL) is a sub-contractor on this project...

BOC Group PLC (BOX) has been awarded a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant for a 3-year, $3.8 million project to develop an advanced hydrogen generation and delivery system. BOC, as the project leader, is partnering with Canada-based Membrane Reactor Technologies (MRT) and HERA Hydrogen Storage Systems Inc. (HERA) to develop and demonstrate advanced hydrogen generation and delivery systems that integrate MRT's membrane reactor and HERA's thermal hydride compression into a single package. The companies are working to develop a solution for the economic and technical challenge of delivering low-cost, high-purity hydrogen to industrial users, vehicles and stationary/mobile...

Ballard Power (BLDP), DaimlerChrysler AG, ("DaimlerChrysler") and Ford Motor Company ("Ford") have signed an agreement for the previously announced sale of Ballard's German subsidiary, Ballard Power Systems AG ("BPSAG"), to DaimlerChrysler and Ford. This deal will give Ballaard some much needed cash and will allow them to focus on research and fuel cell development.

The following is an excerpt from a press release from the Department of Energy (DoE) that came out today: "DOE’s Hydrogen Program and Fuel Cells 2000 have released a new searchable database of fuel cell and hydrogen activities in the United States. The database allows better access to information on stationary fuel cell installations, vehicle demonstrations and fueling stations – as well as state policies, initiatives and legislation aimed at advancing these technologies." Try running some queries on the database of fuel cell and hydrogen activities. I didn't check out the website too extensively but from what...

  Honda Motor Co (HMC) and Plug Power Inc (PLUG) announced that they have began successful operation of the second-generation Home Energy Station (HES II) located at Plug Power's corporate headquarters in Latham, New York. HES II is the further evolution of a joint development effort by Honda and Plug Power to produce a home refueling unit that provides hydrogen from natural gas for vehicle refueling, heat for domestic hot water use and electricity for the home. Testing of the HES II system will be done in conjunction with demonstration of Honda's 2005 FCX...

ZAP (ZAPZ) announced that it has signed a purchase order with privately held Anuvu Incorporated of Sacramento, California for its patented Power-X(TM) hydrogen fuel cell engine systems. "I believe that this is the largest order ever for PEM fuel cell engines," said Anuvu National Sales Director Craig Newhouse, PhD. "We look forward to working with ZAP to make reasonably priced zero emission fuel cell powered vehicles available for both consumers and fleet buyers."

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced that it has received orders to supply electrolysis-based hydrogen generator plants to two of China's largest energy companies. China Electric Power Energy Group and China National Power have each purchased a HySTAT-A Hydrogen Plant, capable of producing 10 Nm3/h of high purity hydrogen at a pressure of 25 bar. In both cases, the hydrogen produced will be used to cool the generators in a coal-fired power plant. Delivery of both orders is expected to take place in 2006.

Charles Morand The DOE made public earlier today the amount of money that will awarded to clean power projects in lieu of the usual tax breaks: $3 billion. This will allow project proponents to receive a direct cash grant now instead of a Production Tax Credit or an Investment Tax Credit later on. The guidance document notes the following: "Section 1603 of the Act’s tax title, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act, appropriates funds for payments to persons who place in service specified energy property during 2009 or 2010 or after 2010 if construction began...

Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD) has been selected for three demonstration projects by the California South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) for fueling stations to be placed in Burbank, Riverside and Santa Ana in 2005. Air Products will be collaborating with Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (DESC) on two of the fueling stations. Each city will operate its station following fueling process and safety training by Air Products.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW) announced that its Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV) and Mobile Hydrogen Infrastructure (MHI) programs are allocated to receive a total of $6.95 million in funding under the fiscal year 2006 Appropriations Bill for the Department of Defense, signed into law by President Bush on December 30, 2005. These programs follow on Quantum's successes with the U.S. Army, wherein Quantum developed and demonstrated the "Aggressor AMV," a high performance light-duty off-road fuel cell hybrid vehicle, and the recently completed "HyHauler MHI," a transportable hydrogen refueling station designed for rapid refueling of military vehicles and...

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW) announced that it received a purchase order for 15 hydrogen-fueled Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles from Miljobil Grenland AS, a participant and vehicle provider to the Norwegian Hydrogen Highway (HyNor). These hydrogen hybrid vehicles will be put in service in Norway in 2006 and 2007 as part of the HyNor program. HyNor is a unique Norwegian joint public/private partnership initiative to demonstrate real life implementation of hydrogen energy infrastructure along a route of 580 kilometers (360 miles) from Oslo to Stavanger during the years 2005 to 2008. The project comprises all steps...

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced that it has secured a follow-on order for 25 Fuel Cell Power Modules. These HyPM® 10kW power modules will be incorporated into back-up power products for one of the world's largest suppliers of uninterruptible power. Hydrogenics expects to deliver two units in 2004 and the remainder throughout 2005. More positive news from HYGS. As we head towards the close today HYGS is still down about 8% on 10x normal volume because of the takeover news. I did purchase more this morning.

Medis Technologies Ltd. (MDTL) announced today that it has been issued a new patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (U.S. Patent #6,758,871 "Liquid Fuel Compositions for Electrochemical Fuel Cells") for its proprietary fuel. This is the third U.S. patent issued with respect to the fuel used in Medis' proprietary fuel cell technology and this patent relates to the composition of that fuel. Additional patents that cover other aspects of the fuel and its use in Medis' fuel cell are still pending.

Privately held NanoDynamics announced that the company introduced its ground-breaking new portable solid oxide fuel cell at the 2004 Fuel Cell Seminar Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas earlier this week. "We are very excited to have introduced the Revolution(TM) 50 at this conference," commented David Bothwell, Director of NanoDynamics' ND Energy. "For the past two years, the Company has been working to create a powerful combination of nanomaterials and novel cell design to demonstrate the power of nanotechnology. The resulting fuel cell system is lightweight, portable, compact and can be operated using conventional hydrocarbon fuels, such as propane....

Plug Power Inc (PLUG) and Ballard Power (BLDP) announced they have been awarded a $2M program by the U.S. Department of Defense to develop an advanced prototype PEM fuel cell system to support Defense Continuity of Operations (COOP). Under this program, Plug Power and Ballard will jointly develop a next-generation prototype PEM fuel cell power solution to be used in backup power applications. Plug Power will act as the systems integrator, using a Ballard® fuel cell stack for evaluation and potential use in COOP programs for the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security....