Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. (TSE: 6702) today announced the development of a new fuel-cell material 
technology that enables the use of 30% methanol - highly concentrated methanol - as a fuel source, as well as a prototype power unit that incorporates the technology. This technology enables much higher power capacities for passive micro fuel cells (*1) and realizes longer runtimes for mobile devices such as notebook PCs, PDAs and mobile phones. 

As notebook PCs, PDAs and mobile phones evolve to deliver higher performance and greater functionality, they have also come to demand more electrical power. But the lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries commonly used today have already approached the limits of their capacity, which has made the development of a higher-capacity power source a matter of greater urgency.

Micro fuel cells, envisioned for use in mobile devices, generally use alcohol solutions as fuel. In terms of energy density, these fuel cells offer up to 5-10 times the power per unit weight of a Li-ion battery. From the user's perspective, micro fuel cells have advantages in that they offer cheap and easy means to power electronic devices by simple refueling, enabling continuous use when traveling with no access to the power grid. 

Technological Challenges
Passive systems are best suited for micro fuel cells to help keep the package compact and light, as they do not require fuel pumps or circulatory fans. Thus, in order to obtain long runtimes without such functions, the fuel cells must be able to handle concentrated methanol as its fuel. 

To date, micro fuel cells mainly have employed fluorinated polymers for their solid electrolytic material. But fluorinated electrolytes are too readily permeated by the methanol molecules in the fuel, so that when concentrated fuels are used, fuel is lost in the generating process and power capacity suffers, and the sub-reaction of methanol and air drastically reduces wattage, creating a problem known as methanol crossover. 

Fujitsu's New Technology
Fujitsu developed a new material technology for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (*2). An aromatic hydrocarbon solid electrolyte material, which allows slow methanol permeation, is covered with a high density of highly active platinum-based nano-particle catalyst with methanol blocking properties. This reduces the total MEA methanol crossover effect to one-tenth that encountered with typical fluorinated polymers.

Benefits
This new material technology for MEA enables the direct use of methanol concentration of 30%, previously too high to use, resulting in greater capacity from passive fuel cells. Applying this technology in a prototype micro fuel-cell system with 300ml of 30% methanol enables a notebook PC to run for eight to ten hours. Furthermore, the prototype fuel cell has been slimmed down to a thickness of a mere 15mm, while delivering power output levels of 15 watts. 

Future Development
Fujitsu plans to continue developing high-performance materials and refining its manufacturing techniques to develop micro fuel cells that are even more compact and deliver even longer operational run times.

[Notes]
*1. Passive fuel-cell system
A fuel-cell system that uses no fuel-supply pumps or circulatory fans, relying entirely on gravity and natural convection to circulate fuel and air, this is ideal for small, lightweight systems 

*2. Membrane electrode assembly
A composite power-generation unit consisting of an electrode catalyst layer and a film (membrane) of a solid electrolytic material, which is the basic unit of a fuel-cell system

* All company names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are used for identification purpose only.

About Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.

Founded in 1968 as wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories Limited is one of the premier research centers in the world. With a global network of laboratories in Japan, China, the United States and Europe, the organization conducts a wide range of basic and applied research in the areas of Multimedia, Personal Systems, Networks, Peripherals, Advanced Materials and Electronic Devices. For further information, please visit the Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. home page at: www.labs.fujitsu.com/en/

2.) FuelCell Energy Sells Direct FuelCell(R) Power Plant to Salt River Project

Utility's First High Temperature Fuel Cell Installation to Support Local Grid

FuelCell Energy, Inc.(Nasdaq: FCEL), a leading manufacturer of stationary fuel cell power plants for distributed generation, has signed an agreement with Arizona-based Salt River Project (SRP) to provide and service a 250-kilowatt Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) power plant.  The DFC300A power plant will be owned and operated by SRP and will be located at the Arizona State University East Campus in Mesa, Ariz.  The unit will feed the electricity output into SRP's local grid. Delivery is expected in late 2004 or early 2005.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

"This new order is consistent with our goal of developing sustainable markets for our DFC products," said Herbert T. Nock, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales of FuelCell Energy, Inc.  "Municipal utilities have been early adopters of environmentally friendly and efficient technologies, investing in projects that deliver broader benefits in addition to electricity. We are very pleased to be working with SRP to gain additional experience for our DFC products in utility applications."

This installation is the fifth DFC power plant installation by FuelCell Energy for a municipal utility customer.  The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power currently operates three DFC300A power plants within its city limits and the Company is expected to deliver a 250-kilowatt unit to American Municipal Power -- Ohio for a substation in the city of Westerville, Ohio in the first calendar quarter of 2004.

"This fuel cell power plant installation will be our first generating unit that produces clean, efficient and reliable base load electricity without the combustion of fuel," said Herjinder Hawkins, Manager of Renewable Energy and Technologies, SRP.  "We are excited to be working with FuelCell Energy as we continue to establish energy programs that help protect the environment and provide reassurance for today's families and future generations." 

3.) Quantum Awarded Contract for Asian Fuel Cell Bus Program

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq: QTWW) announced today that it has been awarded a contract from a major transit bus manufacturer in Asia to supply hydrogen fuel systems for the production of a fleet of fuel cell buses.
    
Each bus will incorporate seven Quantum ultra-lightweight, composite TriShield(TM) hydrogen tanks, pressure regulators and associated hardware, all integrated into a roof-mounted support structure.  The Quantum hydrogen
systems are certified to Asian, European, and U.S. regulatory requirements. The Asian bus manufacturer will operate these vehicles in commercial service on public streets.
    
"Our TriShield(TM) tanks have attracted significant interest throughout the entire transportation marketplace.  Our lightweight advantage is very important to bus manufacturers because they typically install the tanks on the roof of the vehicle," said Alan P. Niedzwiecki, president and CEO of Quantum.

"Our technology improves fuel efficiency, performance and handling of a bus when compared to buses equipped with heavier metal-based tanks.  This is critical as most transit operators are trying to maximize ridership and are pushing the limits on allowable gross vehicle weight."
    
"We started providing tanks to bus manufacturers on a prototype basis back in 2001.  This limited production program is an important step to establish our position in the early adopter market for hydrogen fuel cell technologies,"
added Niedzwiecki.  "In addition, this program will provide the opportunity to gain real-world field test data, which is invaluable to the advancement of all of our hydrogen storage systems."

4.) Westport Innovations joins Fuel Cells Canada

PRNewswire- Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT) announced today that it has joined Fuel Cells Canada in an effort to advance the development and use of hydrogen among transportation and industrial users.
    
Fuel Cells Canada also named Dr. Michael Gallagher, Westport's Chief Operating Officer, to its Board of Directors at a meeting on January 23, 2004. "We are eager to begin working with the members of Fuel Cells Canada to galvanize interest in and use of hydrogen among Canadians and the international community," said Dr. Gallagher. "We at Westport have always maintained that the internal combustion engine represents a wonderful platform to advance the hydrogen cause by providing short-term demand for hydrogen and helping pave the way for the emergence of fuel cell technologies."
    
Ron Britton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fuel Cells Canada, said the goal of his association is to accelerate the development of Canada's world leading hydrogen and fuel cell industry. "Westport is a tremendous
addition to our coalition particularly as we undertake the creation of the Hydrogen Highway and build towards the 2010 Olympics here in Vancouver and Whistler," said Mr. Britton. "To do this will require a broad coalition of hydrogen consuming technologies to help develop a fueling infrastructure."
    
Dr. Gallagher referred to the recent work performed by Westport on the use of hydrogen/natural gas mixtures in transit bus engines as a case in point. Even blends with relatively small amounts of hydrogen (20% by volume and 7% on an energy basis) showed dramatic reductions in harmful pollutant emissions, even compared to already very clean CNG buses.
    
"Heavy-duty commercial users of these blends (like transit fleets) create an economic pull for hydrogen infrastructure while at the same time helping alleviate urban air pollution problems," added Dr. Gallagher. "This infrastructure growth will provide important real-world experience with hydrogen and speed the development and awareness of the necessary codes and standards for deploying hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles in light-duty markets."

    
Westport Innovations Inc. is the leading developer of gaseous fuel engine technologies. It develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of engines for commercial transportation applications such as trucks and buses through Cummins Westport Inc., its joint venture with Cummins Inc. Technology development alliances are in place with a number of other leading engine manufacturers, including Ford, MAN, Isuzu, and BMW to develop engines that operate using cleaner-burning fuels such as natural gas, propane, hydrogen, and blended fuels such as HCNG.
 

5.) Medis Technologies Completes Private Offering 

Medis Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:MDTL) announced today that it has raised in a private offering to an institutional investor $2,587,500 through the sale of 225,000 shares of common stock. The securities offered have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. 

This is in addition to Medis' recent private offering in which institutional investors purchased 1,200,000 shares of common stock for aggregate proceeds of $12,000,000. Medis plans to use the proceeds from the offerings towards the costs associated with producing and marketing its fuel cell Power Pack products and refueling cartridges, as well as for additional working capital. 

This report may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statement involve risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the successful completion of product development, the success of product tests, commercialization risks, availability of financing and results of financing efforts. Further information regarding these and other risks is described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC.

6.) Trimol Group Names New CFO

Trimol Group, Inc. (OTC BB:TMOL) announced today that it has accepted the resignation of Shmuel 
Gurfinkel from its Board of Directors and as its Chief Financial Officer.

Filling the vacancy on its Board created by Mr. Gurfinkel's resignation and replacing Mr. Gurfinkel as the Company's CFO is Jack Braverman. Mr. Braverman has a degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario and has an extensive background in business and finance. "We are pleased that Mr. Braverman has agreed to join our executive management team and believe that his experience, business acumen and leadership qualities will be an asset to the Company" stated Yuri Benenson, the Company's Chief Executive Officer

7.) NanoSignal Corp Order With MGE UPS Systems and FuelCellStore.com For 
     Ballard AirGen Fuel Cell Generators

NanoSignal Corporation (OTCBB:NNOS) is pleased to announce agreement with MGE UPS Systems a worldwide distributor and service provider for Ballard Power Systems' Air Gen(R) fuel cell generators to purchase Air Gen products through MGE's e-commerce partner, Fuel Cell Store.com. The AirGen(R) fuel cell generator will provide continuous backup power for NanoSignal's new SLICES(TM) image processing workstations used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. 

The 1-kilowatt AirGen(R) models will be beta-tested at an initial MRI site operated by Desert Radiology in Las Vegas, Nevada. Upon successful completion of testing, NanoSignal will include an AirGen(R) system with each new SLICES workstation. MGE will provide service for all AirGen(R) units. NanoSignal's unit has been shipped and receipt anticipated by the end of the week for installation. 

NanoSignal's SLICES(TM) technology features groundbreaking software that manipulates raw data matrices obtained through the MRI scanning process. Through the use of advanced calculations, SLICES(TM) systems produce images that boast up to 10 times more clarity and resolution than standard MRI processing software. 

"Ballard's AirGen(R) fuel cell generator is the perfect solution for MRI applications because of its power conditioning and hours of backup time," stated Jack Pouchet, director of marketing for MGE UPS SYSTEMS, INC. Due to the precise nature of MRI scans, these systems are very susceptible to even the slightest blip in power. The AirGen(R) provides both line filtering and continuous power in a very compact and portable design. 

According to NanoSignal's engineering team, "We're seeing many critical applications where traditional battery-based backup systems are not the ideal solution due to limited backup time, space constraints and environmental concerns. The AirGen(R) units will provide NanoSignal's customers with the highest level of power quality and availability." 

The portable AirGen(R) generator, powered with Ballard's Nexa(R) power module, is easy to operate. Users simply plug electronic equipment such as the SLICES(TM) workstation or other sensitive systems directly into the AirGen(R) generator. During a power outage, the AirGen(R) fuel cell generator will automatically start protecting connected equipment. Unlike traditional battery backup systems that last just minutes, the AirGen(R) generator quietly generates electricity as long as hydrogen fuel is supplied. Ideal for sensitive electronics, the unit also features built-in surge suppression, insulating connected equipment from damaging surges and "brown-outs." 

MGE supports the AirGen(R) fuel cell generator with its network of 900 service specialists in 170 centers worldwide assuring customer satisfaction. For more information on the portable AirGen(R) generator, visit www.fuelcellstore.com or www.mgeups.com/us. 

8.) MTI Enters Into Agreement for Private Placement of Common Stock

A $10 Million Initial Investment at Market Price and up to $36 Million to Support Micro Fuel Cell Commercialization -

ALBANY, N.Y-Mechanical Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTY) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Fletcher International Ltd. (Fletcher), a leading institutional investor, for the purchase of $10 million of Mechanical Technology (MTI) common stock with two possible additional investments that may aggregate up to another $26 million in sales of MTI common stock before December 31, 2006.
    
The proceeds of the offering are to be used primarily to support the operations of MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (MTI Micro), a subsidiary of the Company, and a leader in the design, development and commercialization of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).  DMFCs are intended to be used as a wireless power source for portable devices in consumer, commercial and military markets.  MTI Micro plans to introduce its first product by the end of 2004.

"This initial $10 million investment will bring MTI's receivables from the sale of securities and cash position to a total of approximately $24 million. The Company believes the proceeds of this placement will support MTI Micro's efforts through its first product introduction by the end of 2004 and should also provide for the development of additional products.  MTI expects cash used in operations and capital expenditures to total approximately $1.5 million per month in 2004," said Dale W. Church, Chairman and CEO of MTI and Chairman of MTI Micro. "We are now well positioned to continue our strong progress towards the successful development and commercialization of DMFCs for portable devices," said Church.

Under the agreement, Fletcher, an accredited institutional investor, agreed to purchase 1,418,842 shares of MTI common stock at a purchase price of $7.05 per share, which was the volume-weighted average price for January 23, 2004.  This will result in aggregate proceeds to the Company of $10 million before placement fees and other offering expenses.

Also as part of the agreement, MTI granted Fletcher a one-time right to purchase up to $8 million in additional shares of MTI common stock at a price of $7.05 per share.  This additional investment must be made within 90 business days after the date the stock is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or all rights will expire.  MTI has agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC no later than February 25, 2004.

If Fletcher purchases the $8 million of common stock, bringing its total investment in the Company to $18 million, then Fletcher may purchase an additional $18 million of the Company's common stock at either $7.05 per share or a market price as defined in the agreement.  Fletcher may purchase stock under this right on one or multiple occasions until December 31st, 2006.
    
MTI has the right to request that Fletcher purchase the final $18 million worth of stock if the prevailing price of MTI stock, as defined in the agreement, exceeds $11.28 for two consecutive quarter-ends prior to June 30th, 2005, or for any quarter-end after June 30th, 2005.  If not exercised within 30 business days, the remainder of the right will be forfeited.

Also as part of the agreement, MTI granted Fletcher a one-time right to purchase up to $10 million worth of the Company's holdings in Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq: PLUG) common stock during the month of June, 2005, under certain circumstances.  In connection with this agreement, MTI will escrow 3 million shares of Plug Power common stock.

9.) Matsushita Ebara Clear Technical Hurdle To Home Use Of Fuel Cells

 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (TSE::6752) and Ebara Corp. (TSE:6361) have separately developed fuel cell stacks that can operate for longer than 10,000 hours, realizing the dream of using fuel cells as the power source in homes for electricity and hot water.

Although fuel cell systems for emergency power applications are already available for homes, such systems last for only around 1,500 hours.

With their new long-lasting technologies, Matsushita and Ebara both intend to commercialize residential fuel cell systems that can operate for three years before any parts need replacing.

Fuel cell systems for the home take advantage of the heat created during the generation of electricity to provide hot water for sinks and baths.

Considering the transmission loss that occurs when power is brought to the home over power lines, these fuel cell systems are more energy efficient and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Matsushita and Ebara are both developing fuel cell systems that provide around 1kw of power, which meets the basic power demands of a stand-alone home .

Their fuel cell systems are designed to extract hydrogen from city gas, so not surprisingly both firms plan to market their products via gas companies . Tokyo Gas Co. (TSE:9531) will begin sales in the greater Tokyo area in the first quarter of 2005, and Osaka Gas Co. (TSE:9532) plans to begin sales by March 2006.

10.) Platinum supplies sufficient to meet fuel cell demand

Platinum Today- A new study commissioned by the US Department of Environment has confirmed there are sufficient supplies and resources in the ground to meet the long-term demand for platinum from all applications, including fuel cells. 

Conducted by TIAX, formerly Arthur D Little's Technology & Innovation business, to specifically examine the availability of platinum for use in fuel cells, the report concludes that platinum supplies will not be a barrier to fuel cell commercialisation. 

The study also explained that the platinum industry is already expanding primary production at a rate required to meet platinum demand from fuel cell vehicles.

'We commend the US Department of Energy for commissioning an independent study on this very important technology development issue,' commented Marcus Nurdin, managing director of the International Platinum Association. 

'Platinum provides the necessary catalyst for low-temperature fuel cells of the type being developed for transportation and other uses in the future. These fuel cells will help usher in the coming hydrogen economy with its environmental and energy security benefits.'

According to the TIAX study, increased demand for platinum will probably increase platinum prices in the short term, but as platinum supplies are sufficient to meet expected demand, prices should stabilise over the longer term.

Mr Nurdin added: 'The statement that a little platinum goes a long way is true today and will be even more so tomorrow. 

'For example, the average amount of platinum required for use as a coating in an autocatalyst  has declined over the past decade. We expect the same to be true of fuel cells.'

11.) DTI blamed as UK falls behind Europe in fuel cell technology

Electronics Weekly- Britain is lagging both Europe and the US in research and development of fuel cell technology. 
"There's been a lack of Government funding and poor policies. The DTI has a very small programme; £1m to £2m a year," said Professor Kevin Kendall of the school of chemical engineering at Birmingham University, and supervisor of the UK's Fuel Cell Network. 

"Hopefully the DTI is pushing up the budgets, but it's got to compete with renewables," he added. Kendall made his comments following the European Commission's launch of a hydrogen and fuel cell group to promote the technology. 
By coordinating European, national, regional and local research, the EC hopes to accelerate development of fuel cells and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. 

Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, described the initiative as "a milestone for hydrogen and fuel cell stakeholders in Europe". 

"I am sure that it will be highly influential in bringing forward a radically new approach to the way we produce and use energy in Europe - and eventually worldwide," said Prodi. And while Britain is behind Germany and Scandanavia, so Europe lags the US, said Kendall. 

"Europe's always been very keen on the hydrogen economy," said Kendall. "The problem is that the exploitation and implementation is more difficult." 

The European programme will run for some ten years, drawing on 2.8bn in public and private money, said the EC. 
However, this is put into context by the US investment in fuel cells, which at its peak was $3bn in the year 2000 alone. Europe already imports over 50 per cent of its oil, a figure set to rise. 

"Current trends are clearly unsustainable. We have to act now in order to change them," said Prodi.

12.) $1.8 Million Grant Jumpstarts Kettering University's Fuel Cell Lab

AutoChannel- Kettering University will construct the Center for Fuel Cell Systems and Powertrain Integration on its campus in Flint, Mich., thanks to a $1.8 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

The EDA grant is the keystone of a funding package that totals $3 million and allows Kettering to create a world-class education in fuel cell engineering and help develop a trained workforce. Kettering will combine the EDA grant with $500,000 previously received from the State of Michigan and another $700,000 from industry and Kettering sources to begin the building project. 
The $1.8 million EDA grant announcement was made Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, by federal representative David Sampson, assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, during ceremonies in Kettering's new C.S. Mott Engineering and Science Center. "Today we can see first hand how a strong local partnership between the public and private sectors, working with the higher education community, can help a region create employment opportunities," Sampson said. 

"This investment is based on regional cooperation and will provide substantial direct benefits for high-tech economic development in Genesee County and the surrounding communities," Sampson continued. "The Industry Partnership Consortium supporting this investment includes Ford Motor Company, NextEnergy, Advance Measurements Inc., General Hydrogen, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command, and General Motors. These institutions have joined together in a true partnership for regional economic development." 

K. Joel Berry, professor and head of Kettering's Mechanical Engineering Department, said Kettering's new center, and the collaboration with the State of Michigan, ensures that Flint and Genesee County are partners in the next transportation and power generation revolution. 

Kettering will construct a new center that is approximately 8,600 square feet -- 5,452 square feet on the ground floor of laboratory space and another 3,150 square feet on the first floor to support business incubator office space for new and existing companies. 

"The funds will provide specialized equipment, instrumentation and infrastructure required to meet the vision, mission and goals of the center," Berry said. He noted that the center holds promise to accelerate the development and commercialization of fuel cells for stationary and mobile applications.
 

Asia Pulse - A highly efficient method for extracting hydrogen gas from a range of organic materials without releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere has been developed by a research team that includes members from Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Ltd. (TSE:7013), JGC Corp. (TSE:1963) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).

The new process can obtain hydrogen from coal and biomass, plastics, oils and petroleum products like polyethylene with a conversion efficiency of 75 per cent.

The hydrogen gas obtained from the process can be used as fuel for gas turbines and fuel cells.

In the new procedure, coal and organic waste materials are placed in a reaction chamber with supercritical water, where they decompose into hydrogen and CO2. Hydrogen generation is promoted by the addition of calcium oxide, which converts the CO2 into calcium carbonate.

The calcium carbonate is transferred to another chamber, where it is heated to regenerate CO2 and calcium oxide. The CO2 is trapped and the hot calcium oxide is returned to the reaction chamber, where its heat further boosts the efficiency of the hydrogen generation process.

The prototype system has only a tiny reaction chamber, but next fiscal year the research team aims to build a larger experimental system that can process 50kg of organic material a day.

14.) Japanese, U.S. officials meet to promote cleaner vehicles

WASHINGTON (AP) — United Parcel Service Inc. will be using a fuel cell vehicle to deliver packages to Ann Arbor, Mich., residents this fall, the director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's transportation office said Wednesday.

Margo Oge said the project — sponsored by UPS, DaimlerChrysler AG and the EPA — is one of many research efforts under way in the race to develop more environmentally friendly vehicles.

"There is a tremendous energy and excitement going on," she said, whether engineers are redesigning conventional engines, developing cleaner diesel fuel or developing hybrid and fuel cell systems.

"Our job is not to dictate a specific technology, but we're very interested to see those technologies compete in the marketplace."

Oge spoke at a daylong conference on environmentally friendly vehicles sponsored by two Japanese non-profits, the Japanese International Transport Institute and the Japan Automobile Standards Internationalization Center.

Officials said there is little time to waste. Japan will require vehicles to get 35.8 miles per gallon by 2010, a 3.4 percent improvement over current rates. The country also must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 11 percent between 2001 and 2010, said Kanji Nakayama, director of engineering and safety with Japan's Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport.

Nakayama said Japan wants to have 50,000 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the road by 2010 and 5 million on the road by 2020.

Oge and Alan Lloyd, who is the head of the California Air Resources Board, said there is also a growing market for environmentally friendly vehicles in the United States. Oge said around 50 percent of buyers say they're interested in green vehicles.

Lloyd said he expects Californians will buy 20,000 hybrids and 195,000 low-emission vehicles such as the Ford Focus this year. He said he expects there will be 1 million zero-emissions vehicles on California roads by 2020.

Lloyd praised automakers for making 37 different models of low-emission vehicles available in 2004.

"I think the job that has been done has been just outstanding, and the breathers benefit from that," he said.

Oge said a regulation going into effect this year that requires sport utility vehicles to meet the same emissions standards as cars will prevent more than 4,000 deaths, while a clean diesel standard for trucks scheduled for 2007 will make trucks 90 percent cleaner than they were in 1990 and will prevent approximately 8,300 premature deaths and 750,000 respiratory illnesses.

"We have absolutely no choice," she said. "I think we owe it to our generation, but more importantly, we owe this to future generations."

On the Net:

EPA, http://www.epa.gov

California Air Resources Board vehicle page, http://driveclean.ca.gov

Japan International Transport Institute, http://www.japantranspot.com

15.) Hydrogenics Prices Offering Of 11000000 Common Shares

Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq: HYGS - News; TSX: HYG - News) announced today that it has priced its offering in the United States and Canada of 11,000,000 common shares at U.S.$5.75 (Cdn.$7.63) per share. Closing is scheduled to take place on February 3, 2004. Hydrogenics expects to receive net proceeds from the offering of approximately U.S.$60 million, excluding the exercise of the over-allotment option.

Citigroup is acting as sole book-running manager, and National Bank Financial Inc. and TD Securities Inc. are acting as co-managers. The underwriters have been granted an option to purchase up to 1,650,000 additional common shares to cover over-allotments, if any.

These common shares are being offered only by means of a U.S. and Canadian prospectus. Accordingly, this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Copies of the U.S. final prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained when available from Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10013. Copies of the Canadian final prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained when available from National Bank Financial Inc., 130 King Street West, Suite 3200, P.O. Box 21, Toronto, Ontario M5X 1J9 or TD Securities Inc., 60 Wellington Street West, 8th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5K 1A2.

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a leading clean power generation company, engaged in the commercialization of fuel cell technology and test stations for fuel cells. The Company is building a sustainable business, in a potentially "game changing technology" for transportation, stationary and portable power. Hydrogenics, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has operations in British Columbia, Canada, Japan, the United States and Germany.

16.) Millennium Cell Adds to Its Patent Portfolio for Hydrogen Fuel System

 Millennium Cell Inc. (NASDAQ: MCEL), a leading technology development company that has created a proprietary process to safely store, generate and deliver pure hydrogen, has been awarded two patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. U.S. Patent number 6,670,444 describes a novel, economic approach for producing sodium borohydride, a key component in the Millennium Cell system, and U.S. Patent number 6,683,025 describes a unique supported catalyst system for controlled hydrogen generation. 

"We are pleased to continue the protection of our Hydrogen on Demand(TM) technology with these new patents," said Dr. Stephen S. Tang, Millennium Cell President and CEO. "Particularly noteworthy is Patent number 6,670,444 which addressed the core of our research activities in reducing the cost of manufacturing sodium borohydride and enabling recycling of discharged fuel from Hydrogen on Demand(TM) generators. 

"Millennium Cell's intellectual property strategy focuses on all aspects of the Hydrogen on Demand(TM) technology from fuel supply to hydrogen generators for use in consumer electronics, stand by power, military portable power and transportation. This strategy addresses the challenge of ensuring the economical availability and efficient manufacturing of sodium borohydride, and provides licensable technologies that will allow our customers to offer unique products," Tang said. 

In 2003, Millennium Cell was awarded five new U.S. patents, including a core technology platform patent covering Hydrogen on Demand(TM) technology (U.S. Patent 6,534,033) and several patents on improved syntheses of sodium borohydride. In addition, MCEL filed seven new U.S. patent applications, including one filed jointly with our partner, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., relating to electrochemical synthesis of sodium borohydride. 

The Hydrogen on Demand(TM) system generates hydrogen from sodium borohydride, which is derived from sodium borate, commonly known as borax. 

Dissolved in water and passed through a proprietary catalyst chamber, the sodium borohydride releases a perfect stream of pure hydrogen - on demand - to power a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine. The fuel's byproduct is water and borax. 
Hydrogen on Demand(TM) systems are scalable to applications from small (notebook personal computers, cellular phones and personal digital assistants) to medium (auxiliary power units for standby power to boats, scooters) to large (automobiles). Because Millennium Cell's hydrogen generation technology is safe, flexible and environmentally friendly, it is an attractive alternative to existing technologies for many applications, solving the critical problems related to the use of hydrogen as a fuel: safe, low-cost and energy dense storage and generation of pure hydrogen gas.

17.) IdaTech Receives CE Certification

IdaTech, fuel cell solutions provider, announced today that it has received CE (European Conformity) certification for its 5-kW natural gas, combined heat and power, proton exchange membrane fuel cell system. This is the first of IdaTech's new line of fuel cell systems named EtaGen(TM). 

Currently there are no formal CE certification standards in place for fuel cell systems in this power range. The CE certification allows sales and operation of IdaTech's fuel cell systems while permanent standards are being finalised. As part of the certification process, IdaTech complied with the CE directives identified by various certification agencies as being the most applicable to fuel cells. IdaTech's system was tested against the essential requirements as described in the Directive on appliances burning gaseous fuels (90/396/EEC) which includes the low voltage, electro-magnetic compliance, and the machine directives. 

"This certification marks the achievement of another key milestone in the product development and commercialisation process and demonstrates our commitment to meeting European market requirements," said Claude Duss, IdaTech president and chief executive officer. "As we continue to meet these important milestones, it further strengthens our ability to bring fuel cell technology to market." 

A unique feature of the system is its platform's dual-fuel capability, allowing it to operate on either natural gas or commercial propane. The EtaGen(TM) incorporates IdaTech's fuel processing technology and fuel cell power module and produces 4.6 kW net AC power, and 6 kW of thermal power, making it ideal for a number of multi-dwelling and light commercial applications. A number of these systems are undergoing evaluation and testing with various partnersin Europe, North America and Asia. 

IdaTech's fuel cell solutions are based on a flexible, modular design that supports the development of systems with a range of outputs up to 50 kW. These solutions incorporate IdaTech's proprietary multi-fuel fuel processing technology, fuel cell module, and fuel cell system integration expertise including automation and controls. With the support of strategic partners, the company's solutions are being deployed on a global scale for stationary and portable applications. IdaTech is a subsidiary of the Boise, Idaho-based energy and technology holding company IDACORP, Inc. (NYSE: IDA). 
Web site: http://www.idatech.com 
 

 HydrogenSource LLC, a leading developer of fuel processor systems, today announced that it hasdemonstrated the viability of new advanced noble metal Water Gas Shift (WGS) catalysts as cost effective components in fuel processor systems for fuel cell and hydrogen generation applications.

Fuel processing is one of the most economical and convenient approaches to convert hydrocarbon fuels, as well as oxygenates like ethanol, to hydrogen either to power fuel cells or for other hydrogen applications.  A critical step in fuel processing is water gas shift, which reduces carbon monoxide while boosting hydrogen content.

Conventional WGS catalysts use base metals like copper-zinc. Although commercially mature, they require large volumes and suffer from transportation issues due to their self-heating nature.

HydrogenSource evaluated new generation, proprietary noble metal water gas shift catalysts under a joint development agreement with Sud-Chemie Inc. and United Technologies Research Center.  The catalysts demonstrated high performance for both high and low temperature water gas shift reactors, and sustained performance over many thousands of hours, also in the presence of sulfur.
Endurance data shows that the noble metal WGS reactors will be very compact and cost competitive compared to base metal reactors, being 10 times smaller with a similar cost for a same capacity unit.  Furthermore, the new proprietary WGS catalysts will be safer and easier to handle, since they do not have the self-heating and handling issues associated with the base metal catalysts.
Recently, these advanced noble metal catalysts have been successfully incorporated into many of HydrogenSource's new products, including the 5 kWe Vega 5TM and the 150 kWe stationary platforms, which also employ HydrogenSource's proprietary Catalytic Partial Oxidation (CPO) technology.

"Our technology advancements allow us to offer fuel cell developers alower cost and compact FPS with outstanding durability," said Fran Kocum, Vice President of Technology at HydrogenSource. "HydrogenSource is proud of these accomplishments and pleased with the collaboration with Sud-Chemie, who has taken a non-exclusive license of HydrogenSource's noble metal WGS process technology.  The new WGS catalysts are an enabling technology for our new products including a compact and cost effective auxiliary power unit (APU)."

Jon P. Wagner, Global Industry Group Manager, Fuel Cell Catalyst Technologies at Sud-Chemie said, "Sud-Chemie is pleased with our collaboration with HydrogenSource and the successful demonstration of our new proprietary WGS catalysts under real FPS conditions is a significant milestone.  With this demonstration, Sud-Chemie continues to be a leading catalyst technology supplier to the emerging fuel processing market."

HydrogenSource LLC develops fuel processing solutions for the transportation and stationary fuel cell markets, as well as hydrogen generators for the merchant hydrogen and other non-fuel cell markets. Headquartered in South Windsor, Connecticut in the U.S., it also has research alliances in Japan and Europe. HydrogenSource is a joint venture company formed by Shell Hydrogen U.S., a division of Shell Oil Products U.S. and UTC Fuel Cells, a part of the UTC Power unit of United Technologies Corporation.

Sud-Chemie Inc., based in Louisville KY, is a member of the Sud-Chemie Group which consists of 60 production and sales companies throughout Europe, America, Africa and Asia.  The Sud-Chemie Group is active in the adsorbents, additives, catalysts and environmental technology sectors and has over sixty years of experience in the development and manufacture of catalysts for the production of hydrogen.

United Technologies Research Center is the central research organization for United Technologies Corporation.  The Research Center maximizes its contributions to the corporation's business objectives for increasingly profitable top line growth through a focus on innovation.

19.) Medis Technologies Files New Patents

Businesswire--Medis Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:MDTL) reported today that it has filed three new patents with the U.S. patent office. The first patent is for a system of independent orientation, describing a
unique, proprietary system that enables its fuel cell products to operate in any orientation - up, down or sideways. The second patent covers further improvements in the proprietary fuel used in the Medis fuel cells. Medis already has two patents issued relating to its fuel and has previously filed another patent for improvements in the fuel. The third patent covers new improvements in the cartridge system used to deliver fuel to the fuel cell. Medis has previously filed a patent for the cartridge system designed for its fuel cell
products and this patent reflects further improvements in that cartridge system.

"As we continue to improve the performance of our fuel cell components and the fuel cell products, our strategy is to file for new patents reflecting that improvement," said Robert K. Lifton, Chairman and CEO of Medis Technologies. "We continue to make progress towards our aim of having our Power Pack products capable of charging cell phones, digital cameras, MP3s and other portable electronic devices in the distribution channels by the end of this year. Our recent private placement, which generated gross
proceeds of $14,587,500, together with cash on hand and other funds available to us, provides the financial resources to make the transition from development activities to production. It will also help us continue to execute our marketing strategies which included developing distribution relationships and early orders for our products."

Energy Visions Inc. ("EVI" or "Company") (TSX-V: EVIS) and (OTC BB: EGYVE) announced today that it has changed its auditor and reports that it is making good progress in a number of areas of its new strategic plan.

The Company reports that it is on schedule with the sale of its NASD OTCBB listing. In relation to this sale, EVI's existing auditor, Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP, Certified Public Accountants, was replaced as auditor by Dohan and Company, CPA's, P.A., of Miami, Florida, on January 21, 2004. By exiting our NASD listing we will substantially reduce the administrative, legal and accounting costs of maintaining public company status in both the United States and Canada. It is our strong belief that creating a new single listing on TSXV in Canada will ultimately be positive for all of EVI's shareholders, including American shareholders," stated Dr. Phil Whiting, President of Energy Ventures Inc. (Canada).

EVI also reports that Pure Energy Visions Inc. ("Pure Energy") has made a further move towards its strategic objective of dramatically expanding its sales in the U.S. market. Recently, the American home shopping channel  ("QVC") successfully featured Pure Energy's new Music Mate™ FM radio, recording excellent sales for the time slot chosen. "In Canada we have sold close to 500,000 mini radios during the past few years and we look forward to using this experience to springboard our business into the U.S. marketplace. Our program with QVC and the sale of radios which include our cost-effective rechargeable batteries is a good example of the innovative ways we are marketing our products," stated Jeff Chalmers, Vice President, Sales for Pure Energy.
EVI also announced today that Pure Energy has successfully completed a third external ISO 9001:2000 Audit, with a perfect score from the auditors "A key component of Pure Energy's strategy is to position itself as a supplier that can be counted on to deliver high-quality, reliable products," stated Brian Melloy, Production Manager for Pure Energy. 

"We have worked hard to build and maintain a world-class battery production facility, and to use the ISO process as a tool to continuously improve product quality and eliminate defects. To have an external auditor report that he found "no major or minor non-conformances" is unique, and is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all of our employees."

Located in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Pure Energy's 38,000 sq/ft. facility currently maintains 2 battery manufacturing lines -- 1 AA and 1 AAA, each capable of producing 55 million batteries for a total of 110 million batteries annually. This equipment, along with processing, quality control, packaging andwarehousing equipment is capable of producing rechargeable alkaline ("RAM™") batteries and single-use alkaline batteries. As well, Pure Energy provides low-cost, high quality battery packaging services on contract to several companies.

About Energy Visions Inc.: EVI develops and commercializes advanced battery and direct methanol fuel cell technologies and products. EVI recently acquired a major interest in Pure Energy Inc. whose subsidiary, Pure Energy Visions Inc., manufactures and markets rechargeable and single-use alkaline batteries globally sold under the "Pure Energy", XL(tm) and "Pure Power" labels and to private label customers worldwide.

21.) EnerTad buys share of Ansldo Fuel Cells

AGI- Milan- EnerTAD and Gepafin, owned by Sviluppumbria, will buy a share of the corporate capital of Ansaldo Fuel Cells, which is owned by Iritech (Finmeccanica), by transferring a total amount of 3 million euro as part of the capital increase approved today by the shareholders. 

The agreement, which was signed in Rome on October 23 last year, states that EnerTAD Spa will have an initial 6.3 pct share in Ansaldo Fuel Cells Spa, jointly held with Gepafin. 

The development programme of Ansaldo Fuel Cells focuses on the setting-up of a series of plants with a total power of around 10 MW and on a parallel activity regarding the technological development and implementation of industrial processes for the production of the cells, as part of national and international agreements.

22.) Nippon Oil To Sell Kerosene-Based Hydrogen Fuel Cell '06

Dow Jones Businesswire- TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Nippon Oil Corp. (5001.TO), JJapan's largest oil refiner, said Thursday it plans to start selling its newly developed kerosene-based hydrogen fuel cell in the retail market in 2006.

The company will provide a 10-kilowatt pilot fuel cell to the New Energy Foundation, which will begin test-running it in February at a convenience store located in the Shinagawa area of Tokyo, a company official said.

The foundation, established in 1980, is a non-profit organization that conducts research on clean energy, including solar power generators and hydrogen fuel cells.

Nippon Oil developed the technology to extract sulfur from kerosene and then produce hydrogen from the kerosene. The company jointly built the pilot fuel cell with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.TO).

The 10-kilowatt fuel cell could cover electricity demand equivalent to the volume typically used at a small- or medium-sized commercial facility such as a restaurant or drugstore.

"In the future, we hope to sell the fuel cell at about Y2 million to Y3 million per unit in the domestic market," the official said.
Other Japanese refiners have also speeded up efforts to develop similar technologies to produce hydrogen from refined oil products, including naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas, in an effort to capitalize on expected demand for hydrogen fuel cells.

Fuel Cell Today- The European Virtual Power Plant project, partly funded by the European Union’s fifth framework programme, started last Friday with an official ceremony at fuel cell developer and distributor Vaillant in Remscheid, Germany.

The project will connect 31 decentralised residential fuel cell systems, which have been installed in houses and small commercial premises in Germany, Holland, Spain and Portugal, to a joint power plant to allow balancing the individual power needs. 

Apart from Vaillant, which has jointly developed the PEM fuel cell units (4.6kW electricity, up to 11kW heat) with Plug Power, other partners in this project include utility companies Ruhrgas, E.ON, EWE, EAM Energieplus (all Germany), Gasunie (Holland) and research organisations Cogen Europe (Belgium), University of Lissabon (Portugal), University of Duisburg (Germany), DLR (Spain/Germany) and Sistems de Calor (Spain). 

The total budget of the virtual power plant programme is about 8.6 million Euros, of which 30% are being paid by the European Union. Vaillant and Plug Power aim to run the project till March 2005. 

24.) German University of Weiden demonstrates fuel cell powered Go-Cart

Fuel Cell Today- Students of the University of Applied Science in the German southeastern town of Weiden demonstrated a fuel cell powered go-cart on Tuesday this week. The vehicle, equipped with a 1.2kW Ballard Nexa PEM module, was developed by students of the industrial engineering department in just 90 days. Everything apart from the fuel cell unit had to be designed, including drive train and the cart itself.

Small teams were working on individual tasks, using production and development methods such as rapid-prototyping and computer aided design (CAD). The vehicle was finally demonstrated this week in the presence of two-times rally world champion Walter Roehrl who was impressed by the University’s efforts.

25.) Hydrogen Era Begins in Scotland, Unst Partnership Contract Award

siGEN - Aberdeen, Scotland: siGEN is pleased to announce a £183k contract with the Unst Partnership for the installation of a renewable energy, hydrogen production and fuel cell project in Shetland.  The Unst Partnership, a community project in the UK's most Northerly Island, was formed to tackle jobs loss and depopulation from their community. The Unst Partnership Managed by Sandy MacAulay developed the PURE project (Promoting Unst Renewable Energy) devised by a local engineer. SiGEN were instrumental in assisting the shaping of the project and providing technical support. They will act as Host Company for a Knowledge Transfer Programme with an Scottish University.  The project will install 2 wind turbines, electrolyser, hydrogen storage facilities and a 5kW fuel cell system into the Hagdale Business Park on Unst in Shetland. The project has secured financial support from ERDF, Highlands and Island Enterprise and Shetland Islands Council. PURE is particularly innovative as a community inspired and driven project, how a local community can take control of energy initiatives and how it can empower the community.  This is the first such hydrogen project to be installed in Scotland.

The PURE project, recent winner of the best innovative Community project a the Green Energy awards, is a test and demonstration project on how renewable energy can be used to produce hydrogen as a means to displace local hydrocarbon use.  The concept H2ICETM Hydrocarbon to Hydrogen for Isolated Community Energy developed jointly by Unst Partnership and siGEN will demonstrate how imported hydrocarbons could be progressively displaced by locally produced hydrogen from local renewable energy sources.  This model can be applied to any remote or island community across Scotland. Sandy Macaulay, project manager of the Unst Partnership says "to be able to achieve this goal is tremendously liberating for local communities. It offers real prospects of breaking energy dependence on international oil markets. Of equal importance, is that it offers communities business and employment opportunities that may help stem the loss of young people from remote communities. We are referring to this process as the Hydrogen Liberation Movement."

Dr Daniel Aklil, Engineering Director of siGEN Ltd says, "We look forward to the technical implementation after all the talking.  It is extremely important to cut our teeth on real demonstration projects with these ground-breaking opportunities.  We will create a new full time engineering position within the company for this project.  We are very pleased with our collaboration with UNST Partnership and proud to have participated into the building of this project right from the beginning."

"This is a very significant step forward for siGEN," says Dave McGrath MD, "and a vindication of our vision and commitment to the development of a hydrogen economy in the North of Scotland.  The project has been in the planning for nearly 2 years and is being viewed with interest across the entire country and beyond.

About siGEN

SiGEN is currently Scotland's only commercial fuel cell systems integrator. SiGEN, based in Aberdeen, offers complete fuel cell system integration services for fuel cell products. Service includes design, build and installation and commissioning.   System products encompass hydrogen storage solution through to the power electronics to suit the load.  SiGEN acts as an expert distributor and authorised service agents for selected fuel cell systems manufacturers including, Avista Labs, Voller and Heliocentris. SiGen also acts as a system integrator for the Ballard fuel cell product NEXA into several prototype applications and is a UK agent form Neodym Hydrogen sensors. siGEN's strategy is to develop key relationships with fuel cell systems manufacturers, who have proven commercially available products, and are focused and responsive to customer needs. By having access to a range of non-competing products, siGEN is able to offer advice and system solutions best suited to customer needs.

About Unst Partnership

The Unst Community Council, Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Enterprise Company established the Unst Partnership in November 1999, in response to two major blows to the local Unst economy - the loss of 150 jobs at RAF Saxa Vord and 50 jobs when Unst Airport closed in 1996. The impact of these job losses on a remote island community was a population decline of 33% between the 1991 census and the 2001 census. The main aim of the Unst Partnership is to help reverse the recent decline in the Unst economy and population by encouraging, supporting and facilitating new opportunities for social and economic regeneration on the island. Renewable energy is regarded as offering the community precisely such an opportunity to make a major contribution to regeneration.

The Unst Partnership is constituted as a company limited by guarantee with charitable status, and has 8 Directors representing its main partners. 

It'sMemorandum and Articles of Association state three key objectives:
      1. To relieve poverty and unemployment amongst the residents of Unst.
      2. To promote and/or provide skills training of all kinds, particularly such
      skills as will assist residents of Unst in obtaining paid employment.
      3. To promote trade and industry for the benefit of the general public
 

AP- Citing sluggish sales and problems developing the technology, Siemens Westinghouse Power Corp. has pulled the plug on a $122 million fuel cell plant that would have employed 500 in this Pittsburgh suburb. 
Thomas Flower, head of the Orlando, Fla.-based company's fuel cells division, said Siemens was delaying plans for the plant in Munhall indefinitely and would instead invest $2 million at an existing plant in another suburb.
"We are convinced that fuel cell technology has a great future. ... My target is to make this a commercially viable business, to turn this around and make something out of this," Flower said Friday.
Fuel cells produce electricity using natural gas and are designed as a cleaner, more efficient energy alternative for industrial, hospital, office and military buildings.
When Siemens Westinghouse, a subsidiary of Siemens, based in Munich, Germany, announced plans in 2001 for the 180,000-square-foot plant in Munhall, a former steel town, politicians and economic experts called it a coup. Site Selection Magazine named called the plant the "Breakthrough Deal for 2001."
But the plant quickly began slipping away. In April, Siemens Westinghouse delayed plans to open the plant until 2006, joining several companies that backed away from fuel cell development.
Siemens Westinghouse said the fuel cells remain too expensive to compete with traditional sources of electricity production.

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