FuelCellsWorks

MAPLE CROSS, UNITED KINGDOM –-On Tuesday 23rd June 2009, Nissan European R&D hosted a meeting at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Bedfordshire to launch the UK Hydrogen Network (UK-HyNet) project.

UK-HyNet is an initiative that aims to position the country as one of the world’s leading hydrogen economies by 2015, by creating a network of hydrogen infrastructure throughout the UK.

While the UK already has clusters of world-leading knowledge and technological innovation in hydrogen, fuel cells and low-carbon energy systems, efforts have until now remained localised- and so dwarfed by national projects abroad. Under UK-HyNet, all these activities will become part of a coordinated national programme that can compete on the international stage.

The majority of automotive manufacturers plan to start the commercial mass deployment of hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles (HFCVs) in 2015. It is the intention of UK-HyNet to create the conditions by which the UK becomes the country of choice for the car makers to launch their first HFCV fleets. This will provide a platform for the regeneration of the UK’s car industry, a showcase and test bed for its innovative technologies and a launch pad for a potentially huge and sustainable clean technology industry with enormous domestic and export market, wealth-generating and job-creation potential – in short, part of the ‘green route out of recession’.

In parallel with UK-HyNet, a UK Hydrogen Roadmap is being developed which will set out a strategic plan for the emerging hydrogen industry. UK-HyNet puts in place a practical mechanism for the implementation of the strategy articulated in the UK Hydrogen Roadmap.

Nissan continues to draw attention to the growth of the UK infrastructure and support for low carbon mobility – acting as a catalyst to bring together like-minded organisations including local and national government, academic institutions, regional development agencies, technology suppliers and potential end-users in order to assure a clean future for mobility in the UK.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance will introduce zero-emission vehicles in the United States and Japan starting with electric vehicles from 2010. The Alliance aims to take the leadership of zero-emission mobility in the automotive industry and will start mass-marketing electric vehicles globally in 2012. To date the Alliance has signed two final agreements in Europe with Portugal and the Principality of Monaco. The two agreements formulate concrete proposals – ranging from incentives and infrastructures to education programmes – creating the right conditions for mass availability and acceptance of electric vehicles.

Along with this near-term plan to introduce electric vehicles to the mass-market globally by 2012, the FCV work is a longer-range programme designed to enhance practicality and reduce costs of the technology, and includes the plan to release newer generation, developmental FCVs in the 2010s. Nissan are now developing a third generation of their proprietary fuel cell stack, with increased longevity, greater power and further weight reductions.

BOTHELL, Wash., June 25, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NEAH Power Systems, Inc. (OTCBB:NPWS), the Company developing fuel cells for the military and portable electronic devices, announced today it has successfully demonstrated a new type of low cost, high reliability and power, liquid electrolyte based direct methanol fuel cell that does not require air to operate. This is the first major innovation in fuel cell technology in over 20 years, where a repeatable, reliable non-PEM based system has been successfully introduced and demonstrated in sustained operation.

The prototype was self contained and sized to generate 8W of gross power, fuel cartridges were replaced multiple times and repeatable performance demonstrated. A video of the technology, markets that NEAH serves, and demonstration of the technology will be posted on YouTube, as well as on the company’s website, www.neahpower.com, and NEAH has invited any interested parties to visit the company to see the system in operation.

“We are thankful to the Office of Naval Research for funding significant portions of this research. This technology is singular in that it can operate in places where air isn’t available,” Dr. Chris D’Couto, NEAH’s President and Chief Executive Officer, noted. “This system can service many specialized markets, such as underwater and surface water manned and unmanned vehicles, as well as numerous aerospace applications, and will be the building block for fuel cell solutions for Hobie Cat and other key customers.” NEAH fuel cells operate in both an aerobic and anaerobic manner. “Our micro fuel cells may eventually replace batteries for most uses,” D’Couto said, “meaning that cost-efficient and ‘green’ technology is at hand to not only preserve the environment, but to provide nearly perpetual power to the military, manufacturers of almost any product that require an energy source, and to the millions of consumers who require energy on the go.”

About NEAH Power

NEAH Power Systems, Inc. (NPWS) is developing long-lasting, efficient and safe power solutions for the military and for portable electronic devices. NEAH uses a unique, patented, silicon-based design for its micro fuel cells that enable higher power densities, lower cost and compact form-factors. The company’s micro fuel cell system can run in aerobic and anaerobic modes.

Ford Motor has divested its stake in its fuel-cell development joint venture to its partner Daimler, reported Bloomberg.

Ford’s withdrawal from the joint venture is expected to lead to the elimination of approximately 65 jobs as Daimler suspends work on Ford-related projects and integrates the business.

According to the report, Ford plans to test fuel cells internally. In addition, it will continue to cooperate on fuel cell research through its stake in Automotive Fuel Cell, which is 50.1% owned by Daimler, 30% by Ford and 19.9% by Ballard Power Systems.

Ford reportedly plans to concentrate its resources on mid-term and mature technologies by focusing on hybrids, electric vehicles, and improving combustion engines.

BANGALORE, INDIA: PCB manufacturer Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board (NPC) has lined up plans to invest up to US$5.9 million in its efforts to develop fuel cell and lithium iron phosphate cell materials.

The company, which has forecast a revenue ratio between the first and second halves of the current year between 30:70 and 40:60, is likely to post second-half revenues with an increase of 50 per cent.

According to a report, the PCB maker will in all likelihood see a nominal sequential growth in June and July, and a 40 per cent in the second quarter. It has been pointed out that demand for consumer electronics, such as games consoles and digital TVs (DTVs), has been relatively strong.

However, it added that order visibility of PC products is still unclear for the third quarter. It is being foreseen that demand for PC products is likely to go up in the fourth quarter.

Keeping in line with the expectations, the company has kicked off volume production of thin films for fuel cells. This, in fact, would be bringing in a revenue share of about 3 per cent. The PCB maker has its lithium iron phosphate cell component business on track of development too.

Besides, it also plans to expand its flip-chip (FC) monthly capacity to 40 million units by 2010. A report pointed out that NPC will initially add as much as 105,000 sq ft capacity for FC ball-grid array process, which would make about six million units each month.

This is expected to be complete by the end of November 2009. This apart, NPC would also add 80,000 square feet for flip-chip substrate production, to make about five million units each month, at a later stage.