October 2004

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BEND, OR/SACRAMENTO, CA - IdaTech’s proprietary multi-fuel processing technology has been selected by German carmaker Volkswagen for an integrated fuel processor system running on diesel for an auxiliary power unit (APU).

The Bend-based fuel cell systems provider was selected because of the company’s technical performance in diesel fuel reforming, the company said in its release. It will be part of a VW demonstration project. It didn’t provide any other details other than to say that the system will incorporate IdaTech’s patented metal membrane hydrogen purification system.

IdaTech’s system is a modular design that supports systems with an output range of up to 50 kW. IdaTech is a subsidiary of the Boise, ID-based energy and technology holding company IDACORP, Inc.

Diesel engines are fast becoming the power plants of choice for many European cars in production now, and a diesel-fueled APU to provide onboard electrical power instead of traditional alternators seems like a logical extension of the concept

In California, meanwhile, the carmaker rolled out another fuel cell prototype, the Touran Hy-Motion minivan, during the California Fuel Cell Partnership’s third annual road rally from Los Angeles to San Diego in mid-September. The HyMotion is really a hybrid, with a nickel metal hydride battery augmenting the fuel cell. With 1.9 kg of gaseous hydrogen stored at 350 bar (5000 psi), the car has a range of 160 km (100 miles). The commercial gasoline and diesel versions were launched in Europe in early 2003.

Earlier this year, VW announced its first fuel cell vehicle project, a PEM-powered Audi dubbed A2H2 at this year’s Hannover hydrogen and fuel cell exhibit (H&FCL May 04), after years of conspicuous silence on the subject of fuel cells. Contacts: IdaTech (media), Katy Bowles, kbowles@idatech.com; VW (media), Tony Fouladpour, tony.fouladpour@vw.com.