GM Unveils Volt as First Example of Electric Drive Train System for both I.C.s, Fuel Cells DETROIT, MI - Call it the Mix-&-Match Principle of Automotive Architecture: General Motors Corp. this month unveiled a new concept electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, at the North American International Auto Show here Jan. 7-21 as the first embodiment of a new family of interchangeable power plants - including hydrogen fuel cells - and fuels powering a common electrical drive train, called the “E-Flex System,” with “E” standing for “electric” and “Flex” symbolizing flexibility.
DoE News: NREL, Excel Energy Launch Experimental Wind-to-Hydrogen Energy System GOLDEN, CO – Excel Energy, the large Minneapolis-based Midwestern gas-and-electricity utility, last month joined forces with researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory here in an experimental wind-to-hydrogen energy production system.
Research Centers in Europe, Americas, Asia Launch World Wind Energy Institute HURUP THY, DENMARK - Seven existing universities and research centers on five continents have joined forces and launched the new decentralized World Wind Energy Institute (WWEI), the institute’s secretariat here and the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE) in Bonn announced last month.
FuelCell Energy Bids on Big Conn. Project, Launches Hybrid Project with Enbridge DANBURY, CT - More and Bigger Fuel Cell Plants: FuelCell Energy, Inc. here reported last month it had submitted bids for fuel cell power projects totaling 98.6 MW to the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) for its Project 100, the Fund’s plan to install 100 MW of electricity in the state to be generated by renewables by 2008.
We Must Do Much More To Stem Global Warming, UC-Davis’ Dan Sperling Says BERKELEY, CA - While Arctic ice thaws, weather extremes become more frequent and Midwest tornadoes and Gulf Coast hurricanes become more violent, too little is done to stem the drift towards higher global temperatures to halt or reverse the problem, a respected transportation and environment expert believes.
Briefly Noted: USABC/A123 Systems What a difference an “r” could make: As General Motors is working with lithium ion battery developers to come up with one for its concept “Volt” electric car, the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) has awarded a $15 million contract to develop lithium iron phosphate battery technology.
Briefly Noted: Jadoo Jadoo Power Systems, Inc.’s N-Gen Fuel Cell Power Unit has been named as a Product of the Year by the trade magazine Electronic Products.
Briefly Noted: Wal-Mart FC Truck Trials Two Ohio-based Wal-Mart distribution centers have successfully completed beta trials of twelve fuel cell-powered pallet trucks.
Briefly Noted: NY FC Plans More fuel cells for cops: New York plans to install 5 kW Plug Power GenCore backup power fuel cells at 22 public safety communications sites.
Briefly Noted: Global FC Survey The 2006 Worldwide Fuel Cell Industry Survey shows reported sales last year were up 7% to $353 million in 2005 over 2004, and research and development outlays were up 11% to $796 million.
Briefly Noted: US FC Availability Survey Earlier, the US Fuel Cell Council in its first-ever survey of what’s actually commercially available, said that more than 40 fuel cell products can be bought from manufacturers in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Briefly Noted: "In" Products Survey Hydrogen fuel cell technology ranks No. 8 in the list of 70 “in” products, services and trends that will help define this new year.
Briefly Noted: South Carolina Tax Credits South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell has announced plans for legislation that would make available $15 million in state grants and tax credits for companies working with state research institutions to support hydrogen and fuel cell initiatives.
Briefly Noted: PEMEAS PEMEAS, the Frankfurt-based developer of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for high temperature PEM fuel cells with manufacturing and r&d operations both in Germany and the United States, has been acquired by BASF Future Business GmbH, Ludwigshafen.
Briefly Noted: Green Video Website A new website launched last month that aims to show environmentally benign energy video clips worldwide.
Briefly Noted: New DWV H2 Brochure “Hydrogen - that’s the stuff you make from natural gas, and with electricity from the grid,” and “That’s what the nuclear lobby is backing to build new reactors,” and “It’s all about the car lobby wanting to avoid fuel consumption and emissions reductions,” and “Diesel and biomass fuels solve our problems much better”.
Events The “Clean Energy Resource Teams” conference will be held Jan. 17, 2007 at the St. Cloud, MN Civic Center, preceded by “In-Depth Energy Workshops” and reception Jan. 16 at the Kelly Inn, St. Cloud.
