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Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Connection
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Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Headlines
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Hyundai Leases First Commercial Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
On June 10, a California resident signed the first ever commercial lease of Hyundai's fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), the Tuscon Fuel Cell. The occasion was marked by Dave Zuchowski, President and CEO of Hyundai North America, as well as senior officials from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CAFCP).
Hyundai Tucson FCEV being driven off by the first ever customer. Source: Keith Malone/CAFCP
The Tuscon Fuel Cell looks identical to its gasoline counterpart, providing the same utility along with the additional environmental benefits provided by the FCEV.
Customers can lease the Tuscon Fuel Cell for $499 a month, with a down payment of $2,999, including unlimited free hydrogen refueling and At Your Service Valet Maintenance.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Toyota Announces Official Launch of FCV in Japan and U.S., Reveals Final Production Exterior
 On June 25, Toyota Motor Corporation announced the official launch of their fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and unveiled the final production exterior. Toyota will officially launch the FCEV in Japan sometime in March, 2015. The European and U.S. launch will occur in the summer of 2015.
Toyota FCV, revealed in Tokyo City, Japan. Source: Toyota
The commercial launch of the Toyota FCV comes after 20 years of research and development by the automaker. Toyota stated that the vehicle will retail for approximately 7 million yen, or $69,000 U.S.
Toyota will begin commercial production of their FCEV in December of this year.
For a link to Toyota's official press release and video, click here.
FuelCell Energy Receives $3.5 Million Award from ARPA-E to Develop a Methane Fuel Cell
On June 19, the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) Office announced 13 new awards totaling $33 million in funding for its Reliable Electricity Based on Electrochemical Systems (REBELS) program. The projects are aimed at developing transformational fuel cell technologies for distributed generation.
FuelCell Energy was a recipient of a REBELS award, receiving $3.5 million to develop an intermediate-temperature fuel cell that will directly convert methane to methanol and other liquid fuels using metal catalysts. The fuel cell manufacturer will also employ a new spray technology to manufacturer fuel cells at a lower cost.
For a list of all 13 awards in ARPA-E REBELS, click here.
To read the full press release, click here.
Ballard Fuel Cell Powered Buses Delivered to SunLine Transit Agency in California
 On June 9, two new fuel cell powered buses, featuring Ballard FCvelocity�-HD6 fuel cell modules, were unveiled by the SunLine Transit Agency of Riverside County, California.
Sunline's fuel cell electric bus, decorated by local students for its debut source: SunLine
Significant benefits of earlier models of Ballard fuel cell powered buses deployed with the SunLine Transit Agency were identified in a report published by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in June 2013. According to the report, the earlier models achieved exceptional availability, as downtime was limited. Furthermore, the fuel cell buses achieved significant fuel economy compared to their diesel burning counterparts.
To read the full press release, click here.
Plug Power Demos New Fuel Cell Powered Baggage Handling Equipment
On June 26, Plug Power posted a blog entry introducing their fuel cell-powered ground support equipment (GSE), which is designed to handle luggage at airports. Plug Power designed and prototyped the technology in partnership with FedEx and the Department of Energy (DOE).
Plug Power and FedEx Officials with the new GSE prototype. Source: Plug Power
Plug Power received a $2.5 million grant from the DOE earlier this year to demonstrate fuel cell GSE technology. The company hopes to apply the technology to airport tuggers, belt loaders and auxiliary power units at airports to comply with tightening emission standards.
Plug Power plans on delivering 15 prototype units to FedEx at their Memphis airport hub by the end of the year.
For a link to Plug Power's full blog post, click here.
Intelligent Energy Joins H2USA
On June 19, Intelligent Energy announced that it would be joining H2USA. H2USA is a public-private partnership co-launched by industry and the Energy Department last year to promote the commercial adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and develop hydrogen infrastructure across the United States.
Intelligent Energy states that it will contribute the knowledge and experiences gained from its involvement in similar European hydrogen programs to H2USA efforts in the United States.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Hydrogenics Partners with CommScope to Provide Indoor Backup Power Solution for Data Centers
On June 10, Hydrogenics and CommScope Partners announced a partnership for indoor hydrogen fuel cell backup power solutions. Customers with data centers and computing systems can install the indoor fuel cell backup to retain power that can last from hours to days during blackouts and system interruptions.
The backup solution's compact size allows customers to easily store the fuel cell without taking up valuable space in data center facilities. Additionally, hydrogen tanks that power the backup system can be stored outside, to further conserve space.
The unit can be configured for 10, 20, and 30 kWs of sustained alternating current power, when paired with an appropriate uninterruptable power supply. The fuel cell backup power solution is available through the CommScope PartnerPRO Network.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Air Liquide Installs Four New Hydrogen Filling Stations in Denmark
On June 24, Air Liquide announced that it is going to install four new hydrogen filling stations in Denmark in the cities of Copenhagen, Aalborg, and Vejle. By the end of 2014, these four new stations will join two pre- existing hydrogen fueling stations in the country as part of the Copenhagen Hydrogen Network.
These stations, commissioned with Air Liquide's partner H2 Logic, will allow fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to refuel across the country in less than five minutes. Each station will be fitted with an electrolyser to produce hydrogen on site.
For a link to the full article, click here.
NREL and General Motors Announce R&D Partnership to Reduce Cost of Automotive Fuel Cell
On June 25, The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) partnered with General Motors (GM) to collaborate on research and development that could accelerate the reduction of automotive fuel cell costs.
GM and NREL will be conducting research on reducing platinum loading, achieving high power densities, understanding the implication of contaminants on fuel cell performance and durability, and accelerating manufacturing processes to achieve the benefits of increased economies of scale.
GM is also working with Honda to create next-generation fuel cell and hydrogen storage systems for vehicles.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Nuvera Fuel Cells Selected by U.S. Department of Energy to Enable Hydrogen Dispenser Solution
On June 25, Nuvera Fuel Cells announced that it was selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) to receive $1.5 million to design an intelligent high-pressure hydrogen dispenser for fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) refueling.
The DOE will work with Nuvera to improve hydrogen refueling system costs, metering inaccuracies, and component resiliency to create an intelligent hydrogen dispenser.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
FuelCell Energy Announces Combined Heat and Power Fuel Cell Solution for University of California, Irvine Medical Center
 On June 20, FuelCell Energy announced their plan to install a 1.4 MW fuel cell power plant to provide both electricity and usable heat to the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. The combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) fuel cell will generate about 30 percent of the electricity needs for the facility as well as providing heat to a direct exhaust absorption chiller that will produce 200 tons of cooling.
This power plant is also fuel flexible and will be capable of operating on natural gas, on-site renewable biogas, or directed biogas.
To read the full press release, click here.
Ballard Progresses Licensing Strategy Through Telecom Backup Power Agreement in China
On June 19, Ballard Power Systems (Ballard) announced the signing of a definitive agreement with Azure Hydrogen in relation to an assembly license for Telecom Backup Power systems for the China market. The agreement has a value of approximately $6 million over the 2014-15 period.
In addition to the payment for the assembly license, under the agreement Ballard will be the exclusive supplier of subsystems - including FCgen-1020ACS air-cooled fuel cell stacks and fuel processors.
To read the full article, click here.
Hydrogenics Signs Agreement to Create "Kolon Hydrogenics" Joint Venture for Power Generation in South Korea
 On June 23, Hydrogenics announced its plan to sign a joint venture with Kolon Water and Energy to capitalize on the renewable energy opportunities available in South Korea. For Hydrogenics, the joint venture represents an important step toward megawatt and multi-megawatt installations of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products.
The contract marks Hydrogenics' first participation in power purchase agreements with local businesses in South Korea. The first megawatt-scale fuel cell delivery is set for 2015.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Ballard Power Systems and Partners Receive CUTA Award for Whistler Fuel Cell Bus Fleet
On June 17, Ballard Power Systems along with BC Transit, New Flyer and PW Transit were awarded the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) 2014 Corporate Leadership Innovation Award for the Whistler fuel cell bus demonstration.
During the 2009-14 period, the Whistler, B.C. 20-bus hydrogen fuel cell fleet demonstrated the provision of regular operational service in an urban transit system. Ballard's FCvelocity�-HD6 fuel cell modules, which powered each bus, performed to a high availability standard, exceeding 98 percent.
CUTA is a national association representing public transit systems, suppliers to the industry, government agencies, individuals and related organizations in Canada. The Corporate Leadership Award for Innovation is presented for transit innovations that break with conventional processes and extend beyond marginal improvements in products and services.
For a link to the full article, click here.
CSU Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Makes Debut at 2014 EcoCar Competition
On June 12, Colorado State University (CSU) displayed their fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) at the Washington, D.C. Ride N' Drive portion of the EcoCAR competition, a three-year collegiate engineering competition in which 15 universities across the country compete to reduce the emissions of a Chevrolet Malibu.
During the competition, teams follow a model that was developed from General Motors Vehicle Development Process. The U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors developed EcoCAR in order to give students a hands-on experience in developing and accessing vehicles with green technology, including fuel cells.
CSU's Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle at EcoCar's Washington D.C. Ride and Drive Event
The CSU team used fuel cell technology in order to reduce the environmental impact of their Chevrolet Malibu. In addition to developing the mathematics and mechanics behind the fuel cell vehicle, the CSU team focused on connecting with businesses and the public to grow awareness and support for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
For a link to the competition schedule, click here.
For a link to the full article, click here.
CTE Successfully Completes Department of Defense Hydrogen Fuel Cell Pilot Program
On June 2, a team led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) successfully completed a hydrogen fuel cell pilot program at the Defense Depot San Joaquin in Tracy, California.
The project team consisted of Air Products, Plug Power, Proton Energy, and Pap� Material Handling. The team successfully designed, installed, operated, maintained, and decommissioned an electrolytic hydrogen generation and dispensing station and 20 fuel cell powered forklifts.
Through a 24-month demonstration period, the team collected, analyzed, and reported forklift and fueling operations and maintenance data leading to significant advancements for the equipment.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Detroit News | June 15, 2014
Senator Hirono | June 16, 2014
GM Fast Lane | June 17, 2014
MarketWatch | June 17, 2014
Reuters | June 19, 2014
Representative Esty | June 20, 2014
The Japan News | June 22, 2014
U.S. Hybrid | June 23, 2014
New York Times | June 25, 2014
Bloomberg Businessweek | June 25, 2014
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Upcoming Events
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17th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Expo & Forum
On July 31, the Sustainable Energy Campaign will be hosting the annual expo in cooperation with the House and Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus. The event will take place from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM in the Cannon House Office Building, Caucus Room 345.
The expo & forum bring together nearly fifty businesses, sustainable energy industry trade associations, government agencies, and energy policy research organizations to showcase the status and near-term potential of the cross-section of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
For more information, visit the website here.
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DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office Holds 2014 Annual Merit Review Awards
During the week of June 16, the Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program held awards for contributions to the overall efforts of the DOE program and recognized achievements.
Representatives from FuelCell Energy and Air Products and Chemicals received an award for the development of the world's first tri-generation fuel cell system, which generates heat, hydrogen and power simultaneously, in Fountain Valley, California.
Officials from a variety of DOE's national labs were recognized as well. For a full list of awards, click here.
DOE to Renew Energy Frontier Research Center at PNNL
On June 19, the Department of Energy's (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) announced that it would be one of 32 recipients to accept DOE funding of $100 million for Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC). As a renewal of a 2009 EFRC project, the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis has been identified as a frontier research center for funding.
This DOE Office of Science initiative funds Energy Frontier Research Centers in order to advance energy production, storage, and use. With the new funds, theCenter for Molecular Electrocatalysis aims to develop and experiment with new technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells, in order to reduce global carbon emissions.
For more information, click here.
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Request for Papers, Proposals, and Information
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DOE Announces up to $4.6 Million to Support Innovations in Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Fuel Technologies
 On June 5, the Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support innovations in fuel cell and hydrogen fuel technologies.
The FOA is intended to identify potentially impactful technologies that are not already addressed in FCTO's strategic plan or project portfolio. The FOA is open to ideas which will significantly advance the mission of the FCTO and that are relevant to its Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP).
The DOE will make available up to $4.6 million for 12-24 month projects with industry and academia.
Concept Papers are due by July 7, 2014. The full application submission deadline is September 3, 2014.
For a link to the full FOA, click �here.
Governor Corbett Announces $12.5 Million Available for Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority Grants and Loans
 On June 12, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) will offer $12.5 million in grants and loans for alternative and renewable energy projects, including fuel cells and alternative fuel generation.
There will be a webinar for potential applications on June 24 at 2:00 PM EST. To register for the webinar, click here.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
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Click here for an archive of previous issues of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Connection.
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
(202) 261-1331
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1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington D.C.20036 | 202-261-1331
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