6/29/2001 QUANTUM and ATK
Thiokol Certify New Conformable Tank
- Quantum Technologies Worldwide/PRNewswire
ATK Thiokol Propulsion Company (NYSE: ATK) and QUANTUM
Technologies WorldWide, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq: IMCO), today announced the certification of the world's first all-composite
ultra-lightweight conformable storage tank for hydrogen and compressed natural gas to
NGV2-2000 standards. This is the only conformable tank technology in the world that has
successfully passed all testing requirements of NGV2-2000. This state-of-the-art
all-composite conformable tank was designed, developed and manufactured by ATK Thiokol
Propulsion Company, an operating company within Alliant Techsystems Inc. ATK Thiokol
Propulsion has granted QUANTUM exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute conformable
tank storage systems for OEM vehicle applications.
6/28/2001 FuelCell Energy
Ships Power Plant to Mercedes-Benz - FuelCell Energy/Business Wire
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCEL) shipped a 250 kW
Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) power plant to the Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facility in
Tuscaloosa, Ala. The power plant will tie into the existing power distribution system of
the Mercedes plant and provide project participants with operating experience and data. It
will also serve as a demonstration of the clean and efficient operation of DFC power
plants. Project participants in the commercial field trial include Southern Company,
Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, Alabama Power, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International,
Inc. and FuelCell Energy.
6/28/2001 QUANTUM Selected as Supplier for
DOE Compressed Hydrogen Gas Bus Demonstration Program - Yahoo!/PRNewswire
QUANTUM Technologies WorldWide,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of  IMPCO
Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMCO) announced today that it is designing and developing
a hydrogen storage and handling system for a Department of Energy (DOE) hydrogen bus test
platform. The purpose of the program is to demonstrate the feasibility of the use of
compressed hydrogen gas as a transportation fuel through the installation and
demonstration of high-pressure hydrogen tanks in actual hydrogen-powered vehicles --
operating under real-world conditions.
... Bechtel Nevada, as a
contractor for the DOE - National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), is overseeing
the hydrogen bus test platform. The project calls for the installation of eight (8)
QUANTUM 5,000 psi hydrogen storage cylinders on the roof of a 33-foot bus that
accommodates 27 passengers. The ultra-light weight QUANTUM tanks are eleven (11) inches in
diameter and 83 inches long. The bus will also be equipped with QUANTUM's patented in-tank
regulators that provide added safety by reducing the 5,000 psi storage pressure to a
delivery pressure of 150 psi.
6/27/2001 DCH Unveils New Higher-Power
Portable Fuel Cell Platform - DCH Technology
The unit demonstrated at the AQMD meeting stood less than
2 feet high with less than a 2.5 square-foot footprint yet delivered continuous 1 kW of
power with peak power of nearly 2 kW. DCH is targeting its higher-power portable fuel
cells to markets such as remote field power, telecommunications back-up power, in-home and
in-office back-up power, emergency response, and other applications where reliable,
emissions-free electric power is critical. more
6/27/2001 California Fuel
Cell PartnershipAdds Santa Clara VTA To Aid Bus Demonstrations - California Fuel Cell Partnership/Business Wire
"We are pleased to welcome VTA on board to help
demonstrate and raise public awareness of fuel cell technology," said Dr. Ferdinand
Panik, CaFCP Chairman and Sr. Vice President at DaimlerChrysler. "Buses play a key
role in our efforts. Our experience shows that they provide an excellent opportunity for
educating the public - from the riders to policymakers - about the environmental and
performance benefits of the fuel cell engine."
6/27/2001 Arthur D. Little
Awarded $3.83 Million In Contracts By The Department of Energy - ADL/Business Wire
The contracts for which Arthur D. Little has been
selected include:
-- A $425,000 contract to assist the Department in evaluating a
variety of fuel options for vehicle fuel cell power systems. Any fuel containing hydrogen
is potential fuel for fuel cells. However, the energy efficiency and associated emissions
(including greenhouse gas emissions) can vary greatly depending on the processes used to
make, transport, and store the fuel.
-- A $2,200,000 contract to develop a next-generation hybrid
compressor/expander module to provide compressed air and energy recovery in a polymer
electrolyte membrane fuel cell system.
-- A $580,000 contract to analyze the viability of the use of
polymer electrolyte membrane and solid oxide fuel cells as auxiliary power units for
on-road vehicles.
-- A $620,000 contract to develop projections of platinum group
metal (PGM) supplies and markets to analyze the potential impact of fuel cell
commercialization on the PGM market and world reserves.
6/26/2001 LIPA to Grid-Connect 75 Fuel
Cells Demonstration Project First of its Kind In New York - Long Island Power
Authority
Under a $7 million program designed to show how fuel cell
technology may ultimately generate electricity for residential customers, the Long Island
Power Authority (LIPA) today announced that it will connect 75 fuel cells to its electric
grid at its West Babylon substation this summer. The program is intended to begin
identifying and developing the measures and systems needed to facilitate the eventual use
of fuel cells operating in parallel with, and contributing to the overall reliability and
performance of LIPA's electrical grid system. Site planning in underway and construction
is expected to start in July. The fuel cells are being manufactured by Plug Power Inc., of
Latham, N.Y., and are expected to produce over one million kilowatt hours of electricity
over the duration of the program, which is enough to power about 100 average-sized homes.
By connecting the fuel cells directly to the transmission grid, the electricity created by
the fuel cells will be distributed to customers through LIPA's electric transmission and
distribution system. It will be the first large-scale use of fuel cells for this purpose
in New York State.
6/26/2001 United States Council for
Automotive Research Comments At Department of Energy Hearing -
USCAR
USCAR recommends that while it is appropriate to
reevaluate priorities for the future of collaborative research and development programs at
the Department of Energy, such programs should continue to focus on longer-term research
that attacks fundamental obstacles to those technologies that have the potential for
substantial societal benefits. This should include an emphasis on improving the efficient
production and use of energy in vehicles, as well as compatibility with a future hydrogen
economy for personal transportation.
6/26/2001 Jacobs Receives
Koch Petroleum Group's Hydrogen Plant Project - Jacobs Engineering
Group/Business Wire
The project will create a hydrogen facility capable of
producing approximately 35 million standard cubic feet per day in support of the
refinery's ongoing Clean Fuels Program. In 1999, Koch introduced Blue Plant gasoline,
which already meets EPA's 2006 gasoline sulfur requirements, to the Minneapolis-St. Paul
area. This hydrogen facility will allow for additional production of clean-fuels products.
6/19/2001 Unocal Funds
Second Phase of Texas' Application Of DCH Fuel Cell
DCH Technology/PRNewswire
DCH Technology, Inc. (Amex: DCH), a manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen specific
sensors, and also a global provider of hydrogen safety services, announced today that a
3kW DCH/Enable(TM) fuel cell power system will be used by members of the Texas Fuel Cell
Partnership (TFCP) to demonstrate pollution-free energy technology to Houston area
businesses and government agencies. Unocal, Inc. (NYSE: UCL) is funding installation of
the fuel cell system, which will be used by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) to power air-quality monitoring equipment at the Port of Houston.
Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) is providing the hydrogen fuel.
6/19/2001 QUANTUM Opens
Two Detroit Facilities - QUAMTUM/PRNewswire
QUANTUM Technologies WorldWide,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
IMPCO Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq: IMCO) today announced the opening of two Detroit facilities to focus on the
commercialization of QUANTUM's advanced fuel system technologies for alternative clean
emission fuels such as natural gas, propane and hydrogen. The new facilities include a
business operations unit and a research and development center, which are open to all
auto-manufacturers.
6/19/2001 Shell Hydrogen
and International Fuel Cells establish "HydrogenSource LLC" Fuel Processing
Joint Venture - Shell
HydrogenSource will design, manufacture and market fuel
processing systems for commercial, residential and transportation fuel cell power plants,
as well as distributed hydrogen fueling applications for retail or commercial filling
locations.
HydrogenSource will be headquartered in South Windsor, Connecticut. Its staffing is
expected to approach 200 people by the end of next year, with the majority of personnel
dedicated to research, development and engineering.
6/18/2001 FuelCell Energy
and Marubeni Sign Alliance Agreement For Direct FuelCell Power Plants in Asia -
FuelCell Energy/Business Wire
Upon signing the agreement, Marubeni will order 3 MW of
DFC power plants from FuelCell Energy, in addition
to the 1.25 MW currently on order. The two companies will also develop a balance of plant
design for the Asian market. During the next two years, Marubeni is targeting orders of at
least 45 MW in Japan and Asia.
6/11/2001 Government of Canada Targets
Largest Source of Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Transportation - Government of
Canada
The Government of Canada is taking strong steps to clean
urban air by curbing the growing emissions from vehicles in Canadian cities. David
Collenette, Minister of Transport, Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources, and David
Anderson, Minister of the Environment, today announced that the Government will invest
more than $109 million in initiatives focussed on urban transportation, fuel-cell
technology, increasing fuel efficiency and marketing low-emission vehicles. The
announcement was made today by the Ministers while attending the launch of the 2nd
annual Toronto Smog Summit. Today's announcements are primarily funded under the
$500-million Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change that the Government of Canada
announced in October 2000. The Government is investing $1.1 billion for initiatives on
climate change and clean air over the next five years. When fully implemented, the Action
Plan will lead to reductions in a number of air pollutants and is expected to take
Canada about one-third of the way to the greenhouse gas reduction target that it set
during the international Kyoto Protocol negotiations in 1997. These initiatives may also
lead to reductions in a number of air pollutants. Highlights of the announcements made by
the Ministers include the following: ...a $23-million investment in the Canadian Transportation Fuel
Cell Alliance to investigate different fuelling options for fuel-cell vehicles.
6/11/2001 Proton Energy
Systems Announces UNIGEN(R) Fuel Cell Development Program With Marconi -
Proton Energy Systems/PRNewswire
Under a Memorandum of Understanding, Proton and Marconi
are jointly developing concepts, designs and products incorporating Proton's UNIGEN(R)
regenerative fuel cell technology for potential application to Marconi's product lines.
Proton's 70 kWh UNIGEN system is the first such effort to evolve from the relationship
between Marconi and Proton. ...Other Proton products are being developed for Matheson Tri
Gas, a subsidiary of Nippon Sanso, Asia's largest industrial gas company. Global companies
ABB and Sumitomo have invested in Proton to gain access to the company's unique focus on
commercializing products based on advanced PEM fuel cell technology.
6/11/2001 Alastair Livesey
Joins ECD as its Director of Hydrogen Energy Systems - Energy Conversion Devices/PRNewswire
Prior to joining ECD, Dr. Livesey was employed by Shell
(1988-2000) where he held various positions, most recently as research and development
manager for sustainable energy development, particularly hydrogen, at Shell, U.K. While at
Shell, his work on fuel cells and the hydrogen economy was a contributory factor which led
to the formation of Shell Hydrogen. He has extensive background in alternative power
sources for automotive transportation, including batteries, hydrogen and fuel cell
vehicles and systems. Dr. Livesey reports directly to Mr. Stanford R. Ovshinsky, president
and CEO of ECD, and Mr. Robert C. Stempel, chairman of ECD.
6/7/2001 Greenvolt Power Corp. -
Greenvolting Developments - StockPatrol.com
Greenvolt says it has a license to sell a “12 volt 2
amp Magnesium, Air, Salt Water Fuel Cell” that it is testing. But while the Company
says orders are being received daily, it has not given details of those orders, the terms
of the license, or anticipated revenues from sale of the devices. The Company warns that
it may have to downsize operations if it can’t raise enough money. Downsize? From
what? How do you scale back from zero revenues and $377 in the bank? ...Does Greenvolt
hold any patents on this technology, or any exclusive licenses that would preclude instant
competition? Did Greenvolt invent the device or does it hold a license to market the
product – and if so, from whom and on what terms? The May 25th press release does not
say and the records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office do not reflect any
patents held by Greenvolt.
6/6/2001 HbT Co-founder
David Moard Leaves to Pursue New Ventures in Alternative Energy -
HbT/Business Wire
RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6,
2001--David M. Moard, the co-founder of HbT, a Southern
California-based hydrogen products manufacturer, is stepping down as chairman, CEO and
president of the company and handing off operational control to a team that will speed
commercialization of HbT's product lines. Dr. Larry Berg, a well-known proponent of
environmentally friendly technologies and policies and current board member of HbT, will
take over as interim chairman of the board of directors. Dr. Berg said that a new chief
operating officer for the company will be named soon. "David Moard should be
exceptionally proud of his superb accomplishments in establishing HbT as a global leader
in designing, manufacturing and servicing small-scale hydrogen reformers that are capable
of supplying both the fuel cell market and industrial hydrogen market applications,"
said Dr. Berg. "His decision to resign is based in part on his need to find new
opportunities within the energy sector that satisfy his enduring entrepreneurial spirit
and his ongoing efforts to promote hydrogen energy." "My decision reflects HbT's
current stage of development and what it will require to advance to the next phase of
success," Mr. Moard said. "My own goals are more attuned to ongoing development
of new commercial business opportunities, many of which will be complementary to HbT's
strategic direction, but which are best worked on apart from the organizational
setting." Mr. Moard's recent accomplishments on behalf of the company include framing
key strategic manufacturing and marketing alliances with Visteon Corp., the world's second
largest supplier of automotive parts, and Gaz de France, a major European natural gas
utility. He remains as a major HbT shareholder. Mr. Moard will continue serving under an
existing contract as an independent consultant to the company and will continue as a
national spokesman for the use of hydrogen as a clean, environmentally friendly power
source for both consumer homes and vehicles. He will continue his active role as a leader
of international hydrogen trade associations and industry groups. Founded in 1992, HbT has
headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Rancho Dominguez, Calif., with a research and
development center in nearby Long Beach. The company began full-scale production of its
"beta" fuel processors for fuel cell systems last year. In addition, HbT
manufactures two models of on-site hydrogen generators for myriad industrial uses such as
oil refining, glass manufacturing, metal heat-treating, manufacture of computer chips, and
hydrogenation of margarine and other food products. HbT's reformers incorporate the
company's patented Under-Oxidized Burner (UOBTM) technology.
6/5/2001 ZAP Forms Fuel
Cell Partnership With DCH Technology Subsidiary - ZAP/PRNewswire
ZAPWORLD.COM (Nasdaq: ZAPP) today announced an agreement
with Enable(TM) Fuel Cell Corporation, the wholly owned subsidiary of DCH Technology, Inc. (Amex:
DCH), to develop an electric-assist bicycle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. According to
ZAP and DCH/Enable(TM), the goal of the relationship will be the introduction of the
world's first commercially available fuel cell powered electric bicycle. The joint
development partnership is scheduled to introduce its first units by 2002. DCH/Enable said
it would demonstrate a prototype of an entirely new fuel cell for the bicycle application
at the ZAP shareholder meeting, June 16 in Sebastopol, California. The new fuel cell
incorporates aspects of DCH's higher-wattage fuel cells with the compact packaging of
Enable's portable family of fuel cells. This unique power pack has more than twice the
power density of previous portable Enable designs. . more
6/5/2001 Proton Energy
Systems Announces Hydrogen Energy Storage Accomplishments Under Department of Energy
Cooperative Agreement - Proton Energy/PRNewswire
Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRTN), a leader in practical applications of Proton Exchange
Membrane (PEM) electrochemical technology, announced today four key accomplishments, which
have been reported to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in the field of hydrogen energy
storage. Proton has been working closely with the DOE Hydrogen Program since 1998 to
advance PEM electrolysis towards commercial viability for industrial purposes and energy
storage and refueling applications. The multi-phase program began with a highly successful
demonstration of a renewable solar device coupled with a hydrogen generator and an
advanced Stirling heat engine. This demonstrated the technical viability of linking a PEM
electrolyzer to a renewable device and generating power from the gas generated by the
process. The second phase of the program has progressed into a strategic engineering
enhancement program aimed at critical elements of the hydrogen generator. more
6/1/2001 Hydrogenics Awarded Contract for
Chemical Hydride Fuelled Portable Fuel Cell - Stockhouse
Hydrogenics Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of
proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems, announced the successful contract award
by the Department of National Defence Canada (DND) to develop a portable power generator,
for delivery in the 3rd quarter of 2001. The power generator will be fuelled by
Hydrogenics' proprietary chemical hydride system. This contract follows Hydrogenics'
successful completion of three previous DND-sponsored projects that evaluated various
hydrogen storage and generation technologies. The most recent project involved
Hydrogenics' HyPORT portable fuel cell power generator that was demonstrated in the 4th
quarter of 2000.
5/31/2001 FuelCell Energy,
Inc. Announces 100 Percent Stock Dividend
- FuelCell Energy/Business Wire
Stockholders of record on June 12, 2001, will be entitled
to one additional share of common stock for each share of the Company's common stock held
on that date.
5/31/2001 QUANTUM Ships
Hydrogen Storage System to SunLine Transit
- IMPCO/PRNewswire
QUANTUM Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO
Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMCO) announced today that it developed a state-of-the-art
hydrogen storage system for a SunLine Transit Agency
public transit bus. QUANTUM also provided system integration expertise by installing the
12-hydrogen tank roof-mount system at QUANTUM's Advanced Technology Center in Irvine, CA.
Upon completion of the system integration, the bus was driven 95 miles back to SunLine's
facilities in Thousand Palms, CA. SunLine selected QUANTUM to replace the existing
compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system on the bus with QUANTUM's ultra-lightweight
all-composite, polymer-lined, Type IV "TriShield" hydrogen storage tanks. The
system was developed to meet the challenging requirements of a hydrogen and natural gas
fuel blend used by SunLine in its Hythane(R)-powered bus. SunLine views Hythane(R) as a
practical and viable bridge from CNG vehicles to zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell
vehicles. The addition of a small quantity of hydrogen dramatically reduces CNG's
already-low emissions. QUANTUM's polymer-lined storage tanks are ideally suited for
SunLine's Hythane(R)-powered bus because the tanks are not susceptible to the corrosive
nature of hydrogen blend fuels. According to Syed Hussain, President and CEO of QUANTUM,
"SunLine has emerged as the premier showcase for alternative propulsion and
alternative energy, including technologies from Ballard,
Cummins,
DCH, HbT, Stuart Energy, QuestAir,
Xcellsis, and many others. We are pleased to be working with SunLine and applaud the
agency's innovative efforts which have a powerful impact on the environment." Richard
Cromwell III, SunLine's general manager and CEO, added, "Since converting to a fleet
powered 100 percent by alternate fuels seven years ago, SunLine has become a popular beta
test site for new technology. We're excited to test QUANTUM's new storage system. We think
it may play a vital role in our interim conversion from natural gas to a natural
gas-hydrogen blend, en route to a zero-emission fleet powered by fuel cells." With
the QUANTUM hydrogen storage system in place, the bus has 360 liters of additional
volumetric capacity, is 1080 pounds lighter in total tank weight, and has over 50
US-equivalent gallons of additional fuel capacity. QUANTUM's ultra-lightweight, high
capacity fuel storage technology thus extends the range of the bus between refueling
intervals. QUANTUM's TriShield tanks are uniquely designed and manufactured with a
one-piece permeation-resistant seamless liner, a carbon composite over-wrap for strength,
and a tough impact-resistant shell. This rugged, low-cost, ultra-lightweight storage tank
improves range and safety of hydrogen and hydrogen blended gas-powered vehicles and
removes the barriers to more rapid commercialization of vehicles incorporating alternative
propulsion systems. The tank is designed to meet all applicable regulatory standards and
additional OEM-specific validation tests. SunLine demonstrates a full range of advanced
fuel technologies including offering hydrogen, Hythane(R), CNG and LNG motor fuel to the
general public, 24 hours a day, at its innovative Clean Air Mall. Since opening the
world's first hydrogen generation, storage and dispensing facility to be built and
operated by a public transit agency in April of 2000, SunLine has hosted more than 5,000
representatives from international businesses and government agencies. SunLine's fleet of
buses are powered entirely by clean-burning fuels including hydrogen, Hythane(R), CNG and
LNG.
5/31/2001 Global Thermoelectric Delivers
Prototype Residential Fuel Cell System to Enbridge - Global
Thermoelectric/Canada Newswire
The system delivered to Enbridge in Toronto generates 2.3
kW of electricity and runs on natural gas. The base load requirement of an average North
American home is approximately 2 kW. This system has several improvements over earlier
units demonstrated by Global. For example, it includes an integrated microprocessor based
control system and a simpler and more compact natural gas processor which captures fuel
cell stack exhausts to assist in the production of a hydrogen rich flow of gas for the
fuel cell.
5/31/2001 H Power
Announces the Order of Six Beta Units by Gaz de France - H Power/Business
Wire
As previously announced in November 2000, Gaz de France
had installed an H Power residential cogeneration fuel cell system, powered by natural
gas, in a model house on Gaz de France's research and development campus in La Plaine
Saint-Denise, a suburb of Paris. The background to the cooperation of the two companies
includes the growing global need for continuous, reliable primary and backup electric
power and the mounting desire of utilities to avoid costly operating expenses. In this
environment, H-Power and Gaz de France strongly believe that France and other European
territories are an ideal market for H Power's leading fuel cell technology.
5/23/2001 EMEX Designs
Hydrogen Processor for Fuel Cells - EMEX/Business Wire
The Blue Star Fuel Cell Systems are being designed as
energy generating appliances for both grid connected and off-grid applications. These
systems will ultimately give homeowners and others a choice of economic energy sources.
The Blue Star units incorporate a versatile catalytic design that combines a thermally
integrated hydrogen generator with a subsequent gas cleanup unit to generate a hydrogen
feed. The unit is designed for flexible fuel capacity, using natural gas and propane, as
well as Blue Star S-2 fuel. The overall fuel processor, known as a "reformer",
will be compact, safe, and will include features for rapid startup.
5/22/2001 QUANTUM and
Thiokol Establish World Class Hydrogen Test Facility - IMPCO/PRNewswire
QUANTUM Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq: IMCO) and Thiokol Propulsion Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Alliant
Techsystems Inc. (NYSE: ATK), today announced that the world's most advanced hydrogen
storage testing facility is scheduled to open soon at Thiokol Propulsion's NASA Space
Shuttle rocket booster manufacturing facility in Promontory, UT. The testing facility is
owned and operated under a teaming agreement between QUANTUM and Thiokol and will be
accessible to manufacturers of compressed gas storage tanks for applications in the
automotive, industrial, aerospace and defense industries. Hydrogen cycling testing through
repeated fast-fills will be performed on compressed gas storage tanks and subsystems. The
fully instrumented fast- filling tests will determine temperature rise and confirm the gas
thermodynamics experienced during filling. These critical data are required for the
design, manufacture, testing and validation of compressed hydrogen storage tanks. While
the initial focus of the testing will be on hydrogen storage and handling for vehicle
applications, the facility's testing capabilities directly apply to storage systems for
hydrogen refueling stations. The need for this facility was spurred, in large part, by
requests received by QUANTUM from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for hydrogen fuel
storage and subsystem testing. The DOE has contracted with QUANTUM for over $5 million of
research and development of ultra-lightweight, high capacity fuel storage technology
designed to extend the range of the vehicle between refueling intervals.
5/22/2001 Ballard to
Acquire Carbon Products Division of Textron Systems - Ballard/Business Wire
The acquisition is expected to close on May 25,
2001. This business unit develops and manufactures a variety of carbon materials for
automotive and fuel cell applications, including a gas diffusion layer (GDL) for use in
proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. A GDL allows the even diffusion of gases
against the membrane at the heart of a PEM fuel cell. A GDL must have good electrical
conductivity and be suited to volume manufacturing techniques. The acquired business
unit, to be known as Ballard Material Products, Inc., will be a wholly owned subsidiary of
Ballard Power Systems. It
will employ over 50 people and be located in a 137,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility on
eight acres in Lowell, Massachusetts (a suburb of Boston). The acquisition includes
intellectual property comprising 66 patents issued and pending worldwide, covering 14
distinct inventions.
5/21/2001 SunLine to
Showcase, Distribute, and Sell DCH Hydrogen Sensors - DCH/PRNewswire
DCH
H2SCAN(TM) sensing systems can be used as both hydrogen leak detectors or process monitors
to detect hydrogen levels down to a little as 0.5% in air. The sensing of hydrogen at
these extremely low levels on hybrid and fuel cell vehicles is popularly viewed as
absolutely critical to their safety and public acceptance. "We've been tracking DCH's
progress for some time and last week had the opportunity to test their new
hydrogen-specific sensor," said Sunline Services Group
Executive Director Bill Clapper. "We found the sensor very suitable for vehicles in
terms of size, weight, and packaging. And its performance is state-of-the-art. It's a key
component in making hydrogen the alternative fuel of the future." SunLine Services
Group is a world hub for demonstrating the latest in alternative energy vehicles,
including the latest technologies from Stuart Energy,
Teledyne, Siemens, Quest Air, Hydrogen Burner, and many
others. These technologies are showcased in a "Clean Air Mall" at their Thousand
Palms, California headquarters. More than 5,000 representatives from international
businesses and government agencies visited the mall last year, which also serves as a test
site for Ballard, Cummins, John
Deere, and Xcellsis. "DCH sensors will now also be showcased and demonstrated with
these companies and their technologies," said Clapper.
5/17/2001 Quantum Ships
World Class Hydrogen Storage - IMPCO/PRNewswire
QUANTUM Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
IMPCO Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMCO) announced today that it has shipped its
state-of-the-art, Type IV, all-composite "TriShield" hydrogen storage tanks --
the most advanced, ultra-lightweight hydrogen storage tank technology in the world --
equipped with QUANTUM's H2R5000 In-Tank Regulator, to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
for use in the FutureTruck 2001 competition scheduled for later this summer.
5/16/2001 UTC's
International Fuel Cells to Deliver PC25 Power Plant to Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power - IFC/PRNewswire
The fuel cell, which will be installed at the Playa Vista
Project in West Los Angeles, will be the 17th PC25 unit IFC has delivered to California
since it began producing the PC25 in 1991. The Playa Vista Project is a large commercial
and residential development near Marina Del Rey and Los Angeles International Airport. The
fuel cell will operate on pipeline natural gas and will initially be connected to the
(LADWP) electric grid. Ultimately, the power plant may provide electricity and heat to
tenants of the Playa Vista Project.
5/15/2001 DCH Fuel Cells
to Power MeteoStar Systems for Environmental, Military Markets - DCH
Technology/PRNewswire
MeteoStar's customers include the United States Air
Force, the United States Navy, and several state environmental agencies. A MeteoStar
monitoring system powered by a 12W/12V DCH Enable(TM) brand fuel cell is currently being
used by the State of Texas for monitoring water quality. Its success has resulted in
requests for similar systems from at least two other states and led to the mutually
exclusive agreement signed by the two companies yesterday. MeteoStar (http://meteostar.com/)
plans to aggressively sell the fuel cell-based system to expand present markets as well as
generate new niches in Europe and at airports.
5/14/2001 Breakthrough in Advanced
Hydrogen Storage - IMPCO/Canadian Newswire
QUANTUM Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO
Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: IMCO), announced today that Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratories (LLNL) was awarded the prestigious Technology Innovation Award by the
Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel (HTAP) for achieving a breakthrough in advanced hydrogen
storage technology as a collaborative effort with QUANTUM and ATK Thiokol Propulsion, an
operating company of Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK). HTAP was established by Congress to
review U.S. Department of Energy programs and to be an advisory committee to the Secretary
of Energy. In August 2000, a team of scientists from QUANTUM, LLNL, and Thiokol
successfully hydroburst-tested a high performance prototype hydrogen storage cylinder
designed for Fuel Cell Vehicle applications (FCVs) and achieved a performance record of
11.3% hydrogen storage by weight at 5,000 psig (350 Bar). Once commercialized, this
breakthrough in technology extends the range of fuel cell vehicles to the equivalent of
gasoline vehicles. HTAP singled out the work of this team for the significant advances of
this project toward the development of high cycle-life energy storage systems for various
applications including zero emission vehicles, pushing the envelope for lightweight
compressed hydrogen storage tanks, and developing products for commercial use. "DOE
has been funding and reviewing hydrogen production, storage, and distribution programs
since the early 1990's, and now, by virtue of this award, it is evident that the HTAP
recognizes the strides made in direct on-board hydrogen storage that are cost-effective,
durable, and safe for automotive use," according to Dr. Neel Sirosh, Director of
QUANTUM's Advanced Fuel Storage Group. "We are now translating this innovative
technology into fully validated commercial products for our automotive OEM customers"
said Dr. Sirosh. QUANTUM's TriShield hydrogen storage tanks are uniquely designed and
manufactured with a one-piece permeation-resistant seamless liner, a high-performance
carbon composite over-wrap for strength, and a proprietary, tough impact-resistant shell.
The tank is designed to meet all applicable regulatory standards and OEM-specific
validation tests.
5/14/2001 Intelligent
Optical Systems and Boeing Demonstrate World's First Successful Fiber Optic Hydrogen Leak
Detection System on Delta IV Rocket - IOS/Business Wire
Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc. (IOS), a privately held
R&D company specializing in the design and development of proprietary optical
communications, monitoring and signal processing technologies, announced today that a team
of scientists from IOS and The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) has successfully demonstrated the
world's first fiber optic hydrogen leak detection system during a static fire test on a
Delta IV orbital rocket at the NASA Stennis Space Center.
5/10/2001 H Power To
Market Residential Fuel Cells For California Market - H Power/Business Wire
H Power Corp., a leading fuel cell development company,
today announced that it is working jointly with its partner, Energy Co-Opportunity, Inc.
(ECO), to market a residential fuel cell system for the rapidly-growing California
market. These units will be designed to meet the needs of California consumers who
are particularly concerned about power quality in the face of possible brownouts and
blackouts. H Power expects to start manufacturing and shipping these units on a limited
basis within the next several months.
5/8/2001 QUANTUM Supplies
New Gaseous Fuel Injectors and Controller To DaimlerChrylser for Concept Vehicle
- IMPCO Technologies/PRNewswire
QUANTUM
recently announced that the company has been awarded a patent for its innovative fuel
injector technology. QUANTUM's fuel injector has been designed for use with hydrogen,
compressed natural gas and propane and has extensive applications in both fuel cell and
alternative fuel vehicle markets.
5/7/2001 FuelCell Energy
Partner to Begin Operating Direct FuelCell Power Plant In Germany -
FCE/Business Wire
FuelCell Energy's (Nasdaq: FCEL) partner in Europe, the
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH unit of DaimlerChrysler, today began operating a 250 kW Direct
FuelCell(TM) (DFC(TM)) power plant at the Rhon-Klinikum Hospital in Bad Neustadt. The
power plant will be connected to the internal power supply system of the hospital, and
will also provide heat energy. It contains DFCs manufactured by FuelCell Energy and
configured in a power plant design by MTU.
5/2/2001 GM's "HydroGen1"
Establishes Eleven Endurance Records - General Motors
General Motors set a number of international records for
vehicles powered by fuel cells in a 24-hour endurance run completed Tuesday night at the
company's desert proving grounds, exposing the vehicle to record heat in the process.
Using a modified Opel Zafira, a minivan GM sells in Europe and other international
markets, test engineers and journalists covered 862 miles, averaging 36 miles per hour.
The vehicle, dubbed the "HydroGen1," is the first fuel cell vehicle to cover
more than 500 miles in one day and to be driven in 100 degree Fahrenheit heat, according
to GM test engineers.
5/2/2001 Ballard Signs
Exclusive Joint Development Agreement with MicroCoating Technologies -
Ballard/Business Wire
Under the joint development agreement, Ballard has acquired the
exclusive rights, for a defined period, to licence MCT's proprietary CCVD technology for
use in catalyst application for BALLARD(R) fuel cells. Ballard will also fund a portion of
MCT's related development costs. "MCT's proprietary CCVD technology has the potential
to decrease our catalyst loading and assist in reducing costs and improving performance,
while providing manufacturing flexibility," said Kip Smith, Ballard's President and
Chief Operating Officer. "This collaboration with MCT supports our long-term strategy
to reduce costs and simplify manufacturing processes for BALLARD(R) fuel cell
products."
5/2/2001 Auburn Riverside
High School of Washington State Wins Chrysler Group's 'Dream' Vehicle Contest -
Chrysler/PRNewswire
The next generation of automotive vehicles took center
stage this week at the Chrysler Group's North American Headquarters as nine student teams
from throughout the U.S. competed for design awards at the annual Build Your Dream Vehicle
(BYDV) contest in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The winning design, Mojave, a hydrogen fuel-cell
electric vehicle with zero emissions, earned Auburn Riverside High School of Auburn,
Washington, a cash award of $5,000.00. According to the student designers, the Mojave is
built to accommodate a consumer's lifestyle changes. Drawing inspiration from a snake, the
vehicle's three-in-one body is able to transform from a coupe into a convertible or a
wagon. The design team from Los Altos High School of Hacienda Heights, California, earned
second place with Serenity, a sleek, aerodynamic concept powered by a methanol fuel cell.
The Serenity was designed to compete in the luxury sports sedan market segment.
5/2/2001 Praxair
Increases Prices and Adjusts Surcharges - Praxair/Businesswire
Price increases from 7%-13% for nitrogen and oxygen, and
12%-18% for argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and helium are being implemented.
Additionally, surcharges will be increased for nitrogen and oxygen to help recover
escalating energy costs. These surcharge adjustments, effective immediately, will vary
depending on local plant conditions.
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