September 2004

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A new Iowa company staffed by veterans from Ballard Power Systems and Ford Motor Co. has introduced what it says is the world’s first production-ready hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. The Hydrogen Energy Center (HEC), of Algona, IA, says its HEC-F-C649 is a highly modified Ford 4.9 liter engine that produces 74 HP using commercially available hydrogen. Coupled to a generator, the engine could produce as much as 30 kW of electrical power. The company is also working on more powerful versions. Expected applications including pow generators, luggage tugs for airports, pumping stations, man-lift systems that must operate inside closed buildings, forklifts, and subterranean mining equipment. Ted Hollinger, founder and president of HEC and former director of engineering at Ford, said, “we wanted to build a system that was cost effective in today’s market and could be maintained by the same people who maintain gasoline-fueled engines.” Hollinger says current production capacity is 10 engines a week, expected to reach 20/week by the end of the year. Hollinger was responsible for the development of the hydrogen engine gensets at Ballard. Other management team members include sales vice president Tom Daly, formerly marketing and sales director for the power conversion business unit at Ballard, and r&d vice president Tapan Bose, formerly director of the Hydrogen Research Institute at the University of Quebec at Trois Riviere. Bose is head of the Canadian Hydrogen Association. Contact: Tom Daly, 734/525-3855, www.hydrogenenginecenter.com.