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Fuel cell hybride bus will start regular operation Neratovice, Czech Republic

March 31, 2010

After rounding up the test operation the TriHyBus, the fuel cell triple hybrid bus will provide regular operations in and around the city of Neratovice in the Czech Republic from this spring on. In addition to the fuel cell, the bus will also use batteries for storing energy during braking, and vice versa to support the fuel cell during the energy-intensive modes of operation. This bus will be refueled at the first hydrogen station in the Czech Republic.

Introduction

March 31, 2010

Spring seems to have arrived in Brussels, especially with regards to new actions on cleaning transport in the EU. Several recent proposals of the EU Spanish presidency, the new Commission and EU Parliament call to speed up support for co-called Clean and Energy Efficient Vehicles. The EHA took action and submitted a position paper as contribution to the consultation of the EU Enterprise and Industry Directorate on an EU Clean and Energy Efficient Vehicles strategy, emphasizing the need for a coordinated, energy efficient electric transport infrastructure build-up for electric battery and fuel cell electric vehicles. In addition we co-organized, together with HyER (formerly HyRaMP) and the West Midlands in Europe office and with the support of ERTRAC and the FCH JU, a very successful policy event on this topic on March 23, during the EU Sustainable Energy Week. The new EHA/DWV Strategy Paper was presented at this event to the director of Automotive in the Commission, Philippe Jean, who is responsible for the new strategy. The paper outlines the role of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the new global energy system, pointing to the need of the efficient use of primary energy sources in electric transport infrastructure planning. The paper [...]

Energy Infrastructure 21 – Role of Hydrogen in Addressing the Challenges in the new Global Energy System

March 31, 2010

We are happy to present the third publication of the EHA/DWV series of strategy papers on the role of hydrogen as an energy carrier in a changing energy and climate landscape. The first paper dealt with the status of supply of different primary energy sources for hydrogen production, clearly indicating that renewable energy sources will be the most secure and sustainable source for future hydrogen production. The second paper demonstrated the role of hydrogen and fuel cells to facilitate large scale renewable energy deployment. This third paper explains the role of hydrogen in developing an intelligent and efficient infrastructure for electric mobility as we will need to gradually replace depleting fossil fuels with more renewable sources.

Greenland´s first hydrogen plant for renewable energy storage inaugurated

March 30, 2010

The three year old Andreas Anuik Hardenberg, had the honor of placing the key in the lock of the first hydrogen plant  in Greenland. It is the national energy company, Nukissiorfiit, that has procured the mobile plant which is now installed and in operation outside the company headquarter in Nuuk, the capital of the country. The plant has been developed by H2 Logic A/S from Denmark. Purpose of this  test plant is to gain experiences with production, distribution and use of hydrogen as energy carrier and investigate the opportunities for increasing the renewable energy share in the energy production from Nukissiorfiit. Today around 60% of the energy – electricity and heat – that Nukissiorfiit produces  for the entire country comes from hydro power. The remainder is produced by use of expensive and polluting diesel. With a continuous increase of production capacities of hydro power plants in combination with hydrogen and fuel cells, it may in the long term be possible for Nukissiorfiit to completely avoid use of diesel for electricity and heat production. Hydrogen could then also be used as fuel for the transportation sector and using the extra potential of hydro power. Even the export of hydrogen may be [...]

H2 oldies: Jack Nicholson in Hydrogen Chevy

March 30, 2010

Back in the seventies Jack Nicholson promoted one of the first hydrogen fuelled combustion cars, a Chevy.  The event was video taped and is now circulating on you tube. For your enjoyment: please click here

EU Intelligent Energy for Europe 2010 Call for proposals is out

March 30, 2010

Some € 56 million will be made available, supporting up to 75% of the eligible project costs.The programme will be funding capacity building; building and spreading of know-how, skills and methods; exchanges of experience; development of market and intelligence; policy input; awareness raising and information provision; and education and training. Any public or private organisation from the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Croatia can apply. Deadline for submission is 24th June, 17:00 local Brussels’ time. More information on the call can find here.

EHA presents its Energy Infrastructure 21 Paper at Electric Transport Event at EU Sustainable Energy Week March 23, 2010

March 24, 2010

The vice president of DWV, the German hydrogen and fuel cell association, Andreas Ziolek, and EHA’s executive director Marieke Reijalt presented the third EHA/DWV strategy paper “Energy Infrastructure 21″ to Philippe Jean, responsible director for the new EU Clean and Energy Efficient Vehicles Strategy of DG Enterprise and Industry at the EHA/HyER (formerly HyRaMP) Electric Transport Infrastructure seminar in Brussels. Local initiatives to integrate electric transport applications in urban transport systems are accelerating throughout Europe. Electric vehicles powered by batteries and fuel cells require the development of a new sustainable refuelling infrastructure that makes the most efficient  use of local primary energy sources including renewables. The EHA, in collaboration with HyER (formerly HyRaMP), the West Midlands in Europe office and with the support of ERTRAC and the Joint Undertaking for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, organised a seminar on March 23 presenting an update of activities in EU programmes that support the development of both battery and fuel cell powered vehicles and infrastructures. Presentations of  local and regional initiatives included insight in local activities that are already integrating both technologies into their public fleets. A panel of EU officials responsible for EU’s transport policy and industry experts addressed how to best [...]

EHA organised Session on Electric Transport at EU Sustainable Energy Week March 23, 2010

23 Mar - 23 Mar, 2010

Local initiatives to integrate electric transport applications in urban transport systems are accelerating throughout Europe. Electric vehicles powered by batteries and fuel cells require the development of a new sustainable refueling infrastructure that makes the most efficient  use of local primary energy sources including renewables. HyER (formerly HyRaMP) teamed up with the West Midlands in Europe office and the European Hydrogen Association, EHA to organise a seminar that included an update of activities in EU programmes on the development of both battery and fuel cell powered vehicles and infrastructures and presented local and regional initiatives that are already integrating both technologies into their public fleets. The event was part of the programme of the EU Sustainable Energy Week (www.eusew.eu) The seminar went very well with excellent speakers from the Commission and regional initiatives as well as the main EU programmes ERTRAC for electric battery car development (see roadmap at www.ertrac.org) the EIB and the JTI. Please find all presentations given on the top of the page.

EHA position paper on a EU Clean and Energy Efficient Vehicles Strategy.

March 15, 2010

The EHA presented its views on the need for a coordinated and accelerated approach to electric transport infrastructure build-up for both battery and fuel cell electric vehicles at the Commission’s Hearing on the new EU Clean and Energy Efficient Vehicles Strategy on March 11. The EHA in addition submitted a contribution to the EU consultation on this topic referring to the importance of sustainable electric transport infrastructure build-up to accelerate the roll-out of battery and fuel cell electric development and the efficient use of primary energy sources, both fossil and renewable, in transport. The EHA position paper can be downloaded below. The Toyota FCHV-adv its newest FC model was presented at the EHA seminar on March 23 in Brussels. Two Toyota FCHV – adv are currently cruising the centre of Berlin.

International Regulation on Electric and Hybride Car Safety adopted

March 10, 2010

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted the first international regulation on safety of both fully electric and hybrid cars.  The regulation adopted ensures that cars with a high voltage electric power train, such as hybrid and fully electric vehicles, are as safe as conventional cars.

Typically, electric vehicles operate at very high voltages, in the range of 500 Volts. Therefore it is essential to require protection against the risk of electric shocks. The revised UNECE Regulation 100 will ensure the safety of electric cars by setting out how users of cars shall be protected from the high voltage parts of cars. For example, it prescribes a test procedure that uses a standardized ‘test finger’ to check protection all over the car.