The three Ballard fuel cell buses that have been piloted in Chicago for the past two years have been pronounced a success by the company and the Chicago Transit Authority. The buses performed well in both summer and winter conditions, carrying a total of over 100,000 passengers. Another three bus, two-year pilot begins in Vancouver, Canada this year. As a result of the Chicago pilot, XCELLSIS (Ballard and DaimlerChrysler joint venture) will be able to produce a fuel cell engine that is simpler in design, easier to maintain, and half the weight. The feedback from bus drivers indicates the buses ride smoothly and quietly and accelerate well.
Meanwhile in Germany, DaimlerChrysler announced the first sale of fuel cell vehicles. Its subsidiary, EvoBus GmbHwill, will sell 20-30 Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell buses by the end of 2002. The $1.2 million (1.25 million euros) price includes comprehensive technical consulting and maintenance for two years.
“This first production step demonstrates that fuel cells have reached a stage of technological maturity,” says Professor Dr. Ferdinand Panik, head of the DaimlerChrysler Fuel Cell Project. “At the same time, we are aware that we have to reduce the cost, volume and weight of the fuel cell systems in order to become competitive with internal combustion engines. We have decided to begin a dialog with our future customers at this early stage so that they can gain experience with this new technology.”
Siemens Westinghouse is transporting the worlds first hybrid fuel cell power plant (natural gas and fuel cell) to its test site at the National Fuel Cell Research Center, University of California-Irvine. Developers expect the system to generate electricity at 55 percent efficiency, compared to natural gas alone, which operates at 50 percent efficiency, or coal, which achieves only 35 percent efficiency.
Lastly, researchers at Case Western Reserve University are developing fuel cells modeled on the manufacture of integrated circuits. Using mini-fabrication techniques they have produced a fuel cell that is the size of a pencil eraser – five cubic millimeters. They are able to print multiple layers of fuel cell components onto a substrate that opens the door to inexpensive, mass production. Fuel cells of this size can be used in a very wide range of applications, from cars to cell phones and computers.
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