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Ener1 Files Two Patents for New PEM Fuel Cells

Ener1, Inc. (OTC: ENEI), a developer of advanced lithium batteries and fuel cell technologies, announced it has filed a U.S. patent application for a new method and apparatus that enables the rapid start-up of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell in sub-zero temperatures without the use of external devices. Cold start performance capabilities are crucial to the development of fuel cells for automotive applications. "Ener1's goal is to provide fuel cells that are safe, reliable and comparable in performance to conventional combustion engines, three factors that will contribute to the commercial success of electric vehicles," said Kevin P. Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Ener1. "Our design and method in cold-starting adds to our growing intellectual property portfolio in fuel cell technology and will make Ener1's fuel cells more attractive to the automotive industry." Ener1's approach for cold starting is to heat the fuel cell by a self- regulating exothermal chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen that takes place uniformly over the cathode catalyst. The process is designed to provide controlled, safe and fast heating of the fuel cell without the use of additional external devices. Ener1's cold-start technology was developed to work with the company's patent-pending fuel […]

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Monsanto Drops GMO Wheat!

Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON), the world's largest biggest marketer of genetically modified (GMO) seeds, quietly and unexpectedly stated today they are stopping all further efforts to commercialise their controversial GMO wheat. Monsanto started field testing its GMO wheat in 1997. In 2002 it applied to commercially grow the GMO wheat in the US and Canada. Monsanto's wheat has been modified to resist the company's own herbicide, called RoundUp. The GMO wheat has faced worldwide opposition from farmers, food manufacturers, environmentalists and consumers. Monsanto failed to get GMO crops approved for import or cultivation in Europe for the past six years because of consumer and farmer concerns. In its announcement the company said it "is realigning research and development investments to accelerate the development of new and improved traits in corn, cotton, and oilseeds. As part of this realignment, the company is deferring all further efforts to introduce Roundup Ready wheat, until such time that other wheat biotechnology traits are introduced. "As a result of our portfolio review and dialogue with wheat industry leaders, we recognize the business opportunities with Roundup Ready spring wheat are less attractive relative to Monsanto's other commercial priorities," said Carl Casale, executive vice president of Monsanto. […]

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Calpine Commits to Low Carbon Future

In what is thought to be a first-of-its-kind move in the energy sector, Calpine's (NYSE:CPN) CEO Peter Cartwright announced it will address global warming by voluntarily limiting the company's investments to only low carbon power generation. Calpine's Board of Directors unanimously backed the decision. Calpine is the world's largest producer of geothermal power and operates the largest, fleet of natural gas-fired power plants in North America. Based in San Jose, Calif., the company is among the nation's largest electricity generators, capable of producing enough energy to power more than 23 million homes. "It may be decades before we will know with complete certainty the full ramifications of global warming, but we do know that the risk is significant," said Cartwright. "But by the time we do have total certainty, it may be too late to take remedial action. Our Board of Directors' decision merges a sound business strategy with essential national and global environmental goals." The Board resolved to minimize and limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its current and future power plants. To achieve this, Calpine will work to improve its fuel efficiency and will only invest in new baseload power plants with an output-based CO2 emissions rate (pounds/megawatt-hour) […]

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Casio Develops World's Smallest Fuel Cell for Laptop PCS

Casio Computer Co. (TSE:6952) has developed the world's smallest fuel cell for use in laptop personal computers, and plans to market it in 2007. The polymer electrolyte fuel cell, which is being developed for use in automobiles and home appliances, has been miniaturized to almost the same size as a conventional lithium ion battery. Its capacity is almost four times higher than that of a conventional battery, and it can power a typical laptop computer for eight to 16 hours. The unit features a device that extracts hydrogen from methanol and sends the hydrogen to the main fuel cell. Casio, working jointly with Akira Igarashi, an engineering professor at Kogakuin University, succeeded in making the device as small as a 500 yen coin so that the entire unit would fit in a laptop PC. The device that extracts hydrogen reaches very high temperatures, but Casio solved this problem by wrapping it in a heatproof case, among other methods. Fuel cells that use methanol are also under development, but they require pumps to handle liquid methanol, making the entire unit too large to be used in laptops. Under current law, methanol is treated as a dangerous substance because it is flammable. […]

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