FuelCellsWorks

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA–Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE: AIM: PTX and PTXU), a leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems for portable, remote and mobile applications, today announced that it has received a $265,000 contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for advanced development of highperformance fuel cell systems for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This award expands upon a series of efforts by Protonex to miniaturize fuel cells for use in smaller UAVs.

Under the terms of this AFRL contract, Protonex will integrate a miniaturized high performance fuel cell system into development partner AeroVironment’s (NASDAQ: AVAV) “Raven” UAV to demonstrate first flight capabilities for this plane under fuel cell power. The resulting UAV, powered by the Protonex fuel cell system, would be targeted at longer duration mission capabilities. AeroVironment’s Raven is the highest volume production UAV and is a battle proven, lightweight UAV designed for rapid deployment and high mobility for both military and commercial applications.

The advanced fuel cell power system designed for this smaller UAV is a scaled-down version of a system that was previously integrated into AeroVironment’s “Puma” UAV platform. By incorporating a Protonex power system, the Puma UAV was able to demonstrate three to four times the flight endurance capability of advanced batteries.

“We are very pleased that, with the continued support of the AFRL, we are finding new, mission-critical opportunities for our technology within UAVs,” commented Dr. Paul Osenar, Chief Technology Officer for Protonex. “Optimizing our advanced fuel cell systems for smaller, higher volume production UAVs will help us broaden our access to other military and commercial markets.“

Federal Funds Will Be Used To Support Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Work

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative John Boccieri (D-Alliance) today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded nearly $1.4 million to the Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (US) Inc.

“It’s critical we support and encourage the forward-looking research conducted at Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems if we are to reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil,” said Boccieri. “These federal funds to Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems continue Ohio’s support to advance fuel cell technology which has great promise for a clean, reliable, and affordable source of alternative energy.”

These dollars will specifically fund solid oxide fuel cell durability work, a key component to the Rolls Royce 1 mega watt solid oxide fuel cell power system concept of high efficiency and ultra low emissions.

“These funds will have a significant impact in our efforts to reduce technical risk for the long term performance of our 1 mega watt systems,” said Mark Fleiner, president of Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (US) Inc. “We are very pleased with this support.”

Within the past week a number of ambitious politician plans for electric and hydrogen cars in Copenhagen & Denmark have been published. The new climate plan for the municipality of Copenhagen sets the target that 85% of all cars in the municipality service are electric and hydrogen powered in 2015 corresponding to 600 cars. A new energy plan from the Conservatives government party in Denmark suggest a continuation of the present registration tax exemption on electric & hydrogen cars throughout 2015, thus avoiding the normal taxation on up to 180% of the base car price. The plan also calls for strong investments in hydrogen refuelling stations allowing for all new car sales in 2025 to be electric and hydrogen only. Further public funding for energy R/D/D are to be doubled to €134 million annually, where 1/3 of the funds in the past have been spent on hydrogen and fuel cells.

The political plans continue and significantly support the strong efforts of the Hydrogen Link Denmark as well as the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership to ensure the region as one amongst the first in the world where hydrogen fuel cell cars are market introduced.

Today four hydrogen refueling stations and around 20 vehicles are in operation in Scandinavia with ongoing activities to ensure further 9 stations in the coming year together with up to 50 vehicles. Earlier this year the Municipality of Copenhagen signed a contract on supply of 15 fuel cell vehicles to be put in operation onwards the United Nations Climate Meeting in December together with plans for a hydrogen refueling station.

Onwards 2015 it is the ambition to further increase number of vehicles and stations in Denmark as well as Scandinavia enabling market introduction. The political plans for electric and hydrogen vehicles are an important step towards ensuring the necessary market frame conditions and political support for such development.

Below are summarized the main electric & hydrogen car initiatives in the political plans:

Electric & hydrogen car initiatives in Conservatives government party

• Target that all new car sales in Denmark in 2025 are electric and hydrogen

• Continuation of registration tax exemption on electric & hydrogen cars throughout 2015 (avoiding up to 180% tax on base car price)

• Roll-out of national network of hydrogen refueling stations & infrastructure by 2011

• Initiation of tests with hydrogen busses in the major cities

• Free public parking for electric & hydrogen cars

• Doubling of annual national support for R&D and demonstration of new energy technologies from €67 million to €134 million, including support for fuel cell vehicles & hydrogen refueling stations (1/3 of all annual public funding in the past have been spent on hydrogen & fuel cells)




Electric & hydrogen car initiatives in Copenhagen Municipality Climate Plan

• From 2011 all new car procurement in the municipality are to be electric & hydrogen

• In 2015 85% of all municipality cars are to electric or hydrogen, corresponding to 600 cars

• Free parking in Copenhagen for electric & hydrogen cars

• CO2 emissions from busses to be reduced with 25% through use of electricity & hydrogen

• Vision of becoming a CO2 neutral municipality in 2025