October 2006 | Vol. XXI No. 10

GM Announces 100-Plus Fuel Cell SUV Fleet, Rolls Out Driveable FC Sequel FC Vehicle
DANA POINT, CA - Letting it all - okay, almost all - hang out in a week-long press event, General Motors last month announced 2007 plans for producing and placing a fleet of 100-plus Equinox hydrogen fuel cell SUVs, and it let a bunch of reporters take a first crack at driving its million-dollar - give or take a few hundred thousand - concept Sequel fuel cell SUV.

Honda Shows Off New Fuel Cell FCX Concept, Expects Customer Leases in 2008
HAGA, JAPAN - Honda Motor Co. has taken another step toward bringing a fuel cell car to market, and it looks like a winner.

European Vehicle Manufacturers & Energy Companies Announce Joint H2 Plans
BRUSSELS – On the eve of the Paris Motor Show, six European car and truck manufacturers and two energy companies last month declared their intent to cooperate in efforts to advance hydrogen as a transportation fuel.

BMW to Build, Deliver Production H2 Luxury Cars Next Year to Hand-Picked Customers
LOS ANGELES, CA/MUNICH – Following up on its promise first made five years ago, German carmaker BMW announced it will introduce a limited production version of what it calls the world’s first hydrogen-drive luxury performance car, the “BMW Hydrogen 7,” next year.

Quantum Signs Preliminary Agreement with Norwegian Group to Build Electric Cars
STAVANGER, NORWAY/IRVINE, CA – Following up on its recent sale of a batch of hydrogen-fueled i.c. Priuses to Norway’s Hydrogen Highway, Irvine-based Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., is now gearing up for more.

Opinion California’s Bold Plan to Protect the Planet:Global Warming Legislation That Could Revolutionize How The World Addresses Climate Change
Curtis Moore
Editor’s Note: This is another in a series of occasional columns intended as a forum for readers. Contributions are welcome. The editor reserves the right to reject suggestions and edit material to fit our format without, of course, changing the author’s basic views. This article is adapted from a Sept. 2 Op-Ed piece in the “Los Angeles Times” by Mr. Moore.

Canada Roundup: BC Opens Fuel Cell R&D Lab; New SOFC Group; Nuclear Utility Joins H2 Group
VANCOUVER, BC/CALGARY, AB – Providing a home base for British Columbia’s developing Hydrogen Highway and for fuel cell vehicle r&d, Canada’s National Research Council in mid-September opened the doors of its new Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI) in Vancouver.

Briefly Noted: Global Wind Power
More than a third of the world’s electricity - including industry requirements - can realistically be supplied by wind energy by mid-century.

Briefly Noted: Hydrogen Engine Center/Ammonia
Growing Interest in Ammonia as Fuel.

Briefly Noted: Dutch Greenhouse Levels
Holland’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by about 2% in 2005 compared to 2004 and were at about the same level as in 1990.

Briefly Noted: Topsoe Fuel Cell
Denmark’s Topsoe Fuel Cell together with integrator Wärtsilä Corp. have been awarded a EUR 4.8 million grant from the EU LIFE Environment program to develop and demonstrate manufacturing and operating SOFC fuel cells.

Briefly Noted: Quantum/Synthesis Energy Systems
Irvine, CA-based Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., and Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc., (SES) Houston, TX announced they have successfully operated what they claim is the world’s first engine generator running on synthesis gas - “syngas” - as fuel.

Briefly Noted: Fuel Cell R&D at Chemical Society
Fuel Cell R&D advances at the American Chemical Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco.

Events
The National Hydrogen Association will hold its first “Renewables to Hydrogen Forum.”

Transitions
Rivard, Seagram, Dinkel, Morley, Rehmanji, Winand, Lawson-Statham, Mitchell, Kim, Ceasar, Sullivan, Holcroft, Beyer, Clark, Lee, Liang, Abraham, Intwala, Lannutti, McGrath, Santurri, Wilshire, Dawson, Mohammed, Pistorio, Schreiber, Jr.