FuelCellsWorks

CHV-adv achieves 431 mile estimated range

TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) announced today the results of a recent collaborative fuel cell hybrid vehicle range and fuel economy field evaluation. The Toyota Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle – Advanced (FCHV-adv) achieved an estimated range of 431 miles on a single full tank of compressed hydrogen gas, and an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent) during a day-long trip down the southern California coast.

In mid-2008, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), approached Toyota to participate in a collaborative evaluation of the real world driving range of the FCHV-adv. On Tuesday, June 30, two fuel cell vehicles, two Toyota Technical Center engineers, an SRNL engineer and a NREL engineer completed a 331.5 mile extended round trip drive between Torrance, California and San Diego.

“This evaluation of the FCHV-adv demonstrates not only the rapid advances in fuel cell technology, but also the viability of this technology for the future,” said Jared Farnsworth, Toyota Technical Center advanced powertrain engineer.

The drive began at TMS headquarters in Torrance, traveled north to Santa Monica, turned south to San Diego and finally retraced the route back to Torrance. The route encompassed a variety of drive cycles, including high speed highway driving, moderate highway driving and stop and go traffic on surface streets, in an effort to capture a typical commute. Each vehicle was outfitted with a data collection system that captured vehicle speed, distance traveled, hydrogen consumed, hydrogen tank pressure, temperature and internal tank volume.

Driving range data from each vehicle was calculated by SRNL and NREL engineers. The results were averaged for an estimated range of 431 miles, with an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg.

For comparison, the 2009 Toyota Highland Hybrid achieves an EPA-estimated rating of 26 mpg combined fuel economy and has a full-tank range of approximately 450 miles. With premium grade gasoline currently priced at about $3.25, the gasoline-powered V6 Highlander hybrid is estimated to travel approximately 26 miles at a cost of about $3.25. Currently, hydrogen gas pricing is not fixed, but DOE targets future pricing at $2 to $3 per kilogram. Therefore, the FCHV-adv is estimated to travel approximately 68 miles at a projected cost of about $2.50 – more than double the range of the Highlander Hybrid, at equal or lesser cost, while producing zero emissions.

SRNL and NREL analyzed all data gathered during the evaluation and prepared a formal report to DOE verifying range results and miles per kilogram achieved. This report will assist regulators and government research programs to accurately assess the status of the fuel cell industry and viability of the current technology.

“Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology has advanced rapidly over the last two years,” said Irv Miller, TMS group vice president, environmental and public affairs. “In 2015, our plan is to bring to market a reliable and durable fuel cell vehicle with exceptional fuel economy and zero emissions, at an affordable price.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that the Senate approved legislation including $6.8 million in funding for Rhode Island alternative energy, flood prevention, and water restoration initiatives he requested as part of the 2010 Energy and Water Development spending bill.  This kind of research holds the potential for Rhode Island to begin creating new “green” jobs.

“Reliable, affordable energy is critical to the economic well-being of our nation and central to our national security.  This bill contains $1.5 million in federal funding to help researchers at URI develop smart energy solutions that could eventually provide consumers with greater access to cheaper, cleaner, renewable energy solutions as well as $1.5 million for clean fuel research,” said Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.  “I am also pleased that this bill will help restore Rhode Island’s coastal habitats and clean up our waterways.  It will help ensure that our communities have infrastructure in place to protect local business and homes from flooding.”

Reed secured funding in the 2010 Energy and Water Development spending bill for several key Rhode Island projects, including:

$1,500,000
Fuel Cell Research
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

This federal funding will enable Brown University’s Department of Energy and Science to partner with Draper Laboratories of Cambridge, Massachusetts to develop a prototype fuel cell that does not contain expensive or potentially toxic heavy metals.  Senator Reed worked with Senator Whitehouse to secure this funding.

The Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (EFCEV) is going prime time tomorrow night on a new ABC Family TV sitcom called Ruby and the Rockits. The sitcom made its debut July 21, 2009 and is produced by former teen idol Shaun Cassidy. The show ironically is about another former teen idol and his niece, Ruby.

General Motors has provided a sneak peek of the episode that airs at 8:30 / 7:30 Central. What is striking is that the Equinox is both unusual and usual at the same time. It is presented to the family as a hydrogen car and there are only 100 of them in the world.

And, of course the teenagers want to drive it for the weekend (who wouldn’t?). In a way this reminds me of General Motors’ product placement advertising in the movie Transformers where practically all vehicles were made by GM.

But, on the other hand, instead of placing the Equinox in a science fiction setting, GM has chosen to show off the hydrogen SUV in a mainstream family TV show. This normalizes the car (as it should be) showing the public this vehicle is like every other car except that it runs on hydrogen.

KALPAKKAM (TN): India has joined the league of countries like South Africa, China, US and Germany which are trying to develop a high temperature reactor for generating hydrogen on a large scale. Hydrogen can be used as fuel for vehicles, besides other scientific applications in the future.

The technology demonstrator reactor would be ready by 2015 and work is currently in progress on the project, Anil Kakodkar, Atomic Energy Commission chairman told reporters here on Sunday.

Srikumar Banerjee, director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), said the reactor would generate hydrogen by splitting water. The reactor’s operational efficiency would be very much enhanced. Already efforts are on in countries to develop such a reactor, he said.

“The programme is on course. Technology development is on, we are developing the reactor design, materials, material processing capabilities. The actual construction of the reactor will take some time,” he said.

Kakodkar said India would have sufficient uranium to meet the requirements of the already existing reactors and those in the process of being commissioned.

“By 2012-13, we would overcome the problems for all the reactors currently operating and those that will come on stream. We are looking at launching four 700 Mw units, for which in-principle approval has been granted. We want to get the approvals at the earliest and start construction soon. That is where the new mines will come in handy. We also want to construct another four 700Mwe units,” he said.

Uranium production in India was going up, he added. “We earlier had one mill in Jadaguda in Jharkhand. Now we have augmented the capacity there. Simultaneously expansion of mines in Mohudih in Jharkhand and a mill in Tummalapalli in Andhra Pradesh is going on, Kakodkar said, adding that Gogi in Karnataka would be explored for uranium presence.

Also, in a couple of years all the reactors (both operational and the ones that are being commissioned) would reach a plant load factor of 90%. “We are adding capacity for our reactors. Rajasthan V and VI and Kaiga IV will come online in a phased manned this year and next year,” the AEC chairman said.

“In terms of production of enriched uranium fuel, we would be able to meet the national requirments,” he added.

For electricity production, trhe immediate plan would be to acquire this technology from outside. “While we are building the PHWRs and FBRs and later on the thorium reactors, we would, in parallel, develop the PWRs on the basis of our own strengths.” Kakodkar said.