Fuel Cell Power : No 37 Summer 2009

Headline News

As the world is changing from oil to electric powered vehicles, there is a growing role for hydrogen fuel cells to power transport. The UK Government sponsored New Automotive Innovation Growth Team (NAIGT) recommends that a joint industry/UK Government Automotive Council should be set up to provide cash based as well as tax incentives to facilitate the introduction of low carbon vehicles. The EU’s targets for C02 reductions by the automotive sector include penalties for high emissions and ‘super credits’ for low emission vehicles, which will encourage the introduction of fuel cell powered cars. In the USA, President Obama was joined by ten of the world’s largest auto manufacturers when he announced an historic agreement to free America from its dependence on oil and to provide incentives to create the technologies that will provide smarter ways to power our vehicles.

A new concept has been unveiled by Riversimple in London. As the old automotive industry declines, a more flexible pattern of manufacturing will emerge, based upon small scale production, in the region of 5,000 vehicles per annum. The power requirement of Riversimple’s two-seater car is only 20% that of a conventional car, so it has a 6kW fuel cell, compared with about 100kW for the average four-seater fuel cell car. Riversimple employs lightweight carbon fibre bodywork and the fuel cell is rated to provide the average power, with ultra-capacitors giving the short bursts of energy required for acceleration.

In order to expedite the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell powered cars, the technology will be shared with similar ventures around the world. The aim of Riversimple is to work towards a benign form of personal transport. Their vehicles are designed to last for twenty years and to be completely recyclable. Small batches of vehicles will be leased out in 2010 and it would be possible to commence full production in three years time. BOC will build up hydrogen refuelling stations around the country.

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