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Smart Fuel Cell enhances product mix with most powerful EFOY 2200

Brunnthal/Munich– SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG, technology and market leader for mobile and off-grid power solutions based on fuel cells, is debuting its new fuel cell, the EFOY 2200, at this year’s Caravan Salon in Duesseldorf.efoy_2200

The EFOY 2200 represents the latest power class in the EFOY fuel cell product line. With 38% more output than the EFOY 1600 and a charging capacity of 2,200 watt hours per day, it provides even more off-grid convenience and independence. At the same time it reduces the user’s energy costs – compared to the EFOY 1600 the costs per watt-hour are 7% less. The EFOY is being offered at a suggested retail price of EUR 4,999 (incl. 19% VAT; recommended retail price). It is the latest addition to SFC’s fuel cell portfolio, which consists of the EFOY 600, EFOY 900, EFOY 1200 and EFOY 1600, sales of which have topped 14,000 units worldwide. EFOY fuel cells function as a reliable and environmentally friendly power source not just for motorhomes, but for sailboats and cabins, as well. They operate economically, silently and free from emssions for comfortable energy supply far from the grid. With a consumption of less than one liter per kilowatt hour EFOY fuel cells are one of the most the eco-friendly energy supply for leisure markets.

“In the new EFOY 2200 we are offering our customers a mobile power supply solution with unmatched convenience and grid independence,” notes Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG. “By meeting the growing demands for off-grid energy without sacrificing the expectations for convenience, the EFOY 2200 complements our existing product mix perfectly.”

With the latest power class, consumers can now choose from five EFOY fuel cells. The EFOY 600, EFOY 900, EFOY 1200, EFOY 1600 and EFOY 2200 are the ideal power solution for a wide range of individual energy needs, including for motorhomes, boats and cabins. Ultimate convenience for growing energy demands, even in the remotest of locations, is the hallmark of the new, highest-powered model. The fuel cell will be on offer by leading motorhome manufacturers in Europe by model year 2010. Prospective buyers can use the EFOY energy calculator at www.efoy.com to find the right fuel cell for their personal energy needs. All EFOY fuel cells draw their fuel from EFOY M5 or M10 fuel cartridges, which are available at over 1,200 retail outlets in Europe.

SFC Smart Fuel Cell will be exhibiting its EFOY fuel cells at the Caravan Salon in Duesseldorf from August 29 to September 6, 2009, Hall 13, Booth A36.

Additional information is available at efoy.com and sfc.com

Note: For professional users in the fields of traffic and security technology as well as remote sensors the new EFOY Pro 2200 will be available in October.

About SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG

SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG (www.sfc.com) is market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and defense markets.  As one of Germany’s technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards.  SFC has alliances with leading companies in a wide range of industries.  Unlike most other fuel cell manufacturers, who are in the research and development phase or run subsidized demonstration projects, SFC has shipped more than 14,000 fully commercial products to industrial and private end users for more than five years, and has created a convenient fuel cartridge supply infrastructure. SFC is DIN ISO 9001:2000 certified. SFC is based in Brunnthal, Germany, and has a U.S. sales and technical service office in Atlanta.

July 17, 2009 - 8:00 AM No Comments

The Future of Hydrogen Fuel

(2009-07-16)

(WUSF)It’s a promising weekend for hydrogen fuel enthusiasts. The annual HHO Games and Expo are scheduled Friday through Sunday at the USF St. Petersburg campus. From feathers to polymers, there have been some recent breakthroughs in hydrogen fuel technology.

Hydrogen is often touted as “the energy of the future.” But storing hydrogen has never been easy. That’s because it’s the lightest element and very difficult to compress.

Scientists have long experimented with nanotubes to solve the storage problem. Nanotubes are tiny, hollow cylinders of carbon with large surface area that gas molecules can cling to.

It costs thousands of dollars to manufacture synthetic tubes for a hydrogen car fuel tank. But, University of Delaware professor of engineering, Richard Wool, has a cheaper alternative — making nanotubes out of carbonized chicken feathers.

Wool’s chicken feather nanotubes reduce the cost of a hydrogen tank to a couple hundred dollars.

University of South Florida scientists are making some innovations of their own. Engineering professor Sesha Srinivasan and researcher Michael Neimann have had success using polymers as storage material.

Srinivasan says they have applied for a patent and hopes to interest the auto industry.

Neiman, his student, sees a future for hydrogen vehicles, though he acknowledges there are hurdles. Srinivasan is more optimistic and thinks hydrogen cars will be commercially available in the next few years.

July 17, 2009 - 7:31 AM No Comments