The EHA and HyER (formerly HyRaMP) were present at teh World Hydrogen Energy Conference Exhibition in Essen May 16 -19, 2010 in Essen. The joint EHA-HyER (formerly HyRaMP) stand featured information of the Flemish/Dutch WaterstoNet regional initiative, the Italian Hydorgen and Fuel Cell Association and the Bulgarian Hydrogen Association who is joining the EHA this year. Bringing together 140 exhibitors, including a South African, Korean, Canadian and Dutch pavilion, as well as the very succcessful Drive and Ride event according to many visitors this WHEC edition demonstrated the passage to commercilaisation. Pictured are Liesbet Vanhoof, communications manager and Pascal Meyvaert, Projectleader of WaterstoNet. More information on the WHEC website.
EHA industry members acted swiftly to provide the EU Commission with detailed input on their operations to sustain the joint EHA/EIGA request to adapt the tresholds for onsite hydrogen storage in view of hydrogen refeulling infrastructure requirements . The Commission is expecting to finalize the impact study of various proposed amendments to the Directive before the summer. The EHA in collaboration with EIGA has stepped up its monitoring of various EU policy proposals on hydrogen developments. The European Parliament’s environment committee on May 4 adopted a proposal to recast the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive, which combines seven existing directives into a single directive on industrial emissions (IED). The proposal seeks to reinforce the implementation of the legislation, which obliges industrial installations to obtain permits from national authorities to release pollutants into the air, soil and water. MEPs strengthened the proposal by limiting the instances where public authorities can issue permits for installations that do not follow best available techniques (BATs). The Parliament did not however adopt an amendment suggested by the EHA to facilitate the authorisation of small hydrogen reformers in view of the development of the infrastructure for hydrogen as a clean energy vector. The proposal will be voted in [...]
The EU Competitiveness Council on May 25, 2010 indicated in its conclusions on the EU Clean and Energy Efficient Vehicles Strategy that “hydrogen vehicles remain a valid ultra-low-carbon mobility option in the mediumterm perspective, as affordability of the car and of the fuel is achieved; also NOTES that hydrogen vehicles and electric vehicles are mutually complementary”. It also referred to hydrogen vehicles, together with electric batterty vehicles as a highly promising ultra-low-carbonpower-train technologies, as they have the potential, according to the Council, to: a. address the challenges of climate change and fossil fuel dependency; b. cut local air pollution and noise from transport and contribute to improving the air quality, in particular in cities and urban zones; c. enable synergies with smart grids and therefore promote renewable sources of energy and offer a possibility of energy storage; d. offer an opportunity to revitalise the industrial fabric in Europe by fostering innovation,growth and jobs; e. offer, in particular if combined with electricity generated from safe and sustainable sources of energy, including renewables, a superior well-to-wheel energy efficiency and can therefore contribute significantly to the objective of transport decarbonisation.The Council also stressed the need to focus on research excellence in order to ensure that [...]
On May 18, 2010 the European Union published the implementing Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of hydrogen-powered motor vehicles that includes measures regarding hydrogen propulsion, hydrogen components and hydrogen systems and for the installation of such components and systems. Regulation (2009/79) allows car manufacturers to apply for the EC whole-vehicle type-approval of hydrogen-powered vehicles on a voluntary basis. The regulation also provides for harmonised rules on hydrogen tanks, including for liquid hydrogen, is necessary in order to ensure that hydrogen vehicles can be refuelled throughout the EU in a safe and reliable manner. The implementing regulation can be downloaded here.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and top executives of the country’s main carmakers and energy companies have met in Berlin to launch a new initiative to develop electric vehicles.
The so-called “national platform for electric mobility” being started Monday 3rd of May comes after Merkel pledged to have one million electric vehicles on the road within the next decade.
Merkel says there needs to be greater independence from natural resources. She is pushing sustainable technologies that will help limit the effects of climate change.
The National Electric Mobility Platform creates seven working groups for technological cooperation between industry and government, which is due to present an interim report by the end of 2010.
Sources said “The automobile industry will be investing a likely 20 billion Euros per year in research and development over the next several years, a significant portion of which will be into electric mobility, fuel efficient vehicles and other energy-saving measures”.
“We will be dealing intensively with all of the technological, energy and industrial questions in order to make the electric mobility sector and the German auto sector ready for the future,” Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said.
During the WHEC 2010 May 16-20, 2010 in Essen one of the largest Ride & Drive-events for fuel cell and hydrogen vehicles took place. Well-known manufacturers provided more than 15 vehicles for test rides. The Ride and Drive Event was free for all participants. The vehicles available were: – Daimler (B-Klasse F-CELL, Citaro FUELCELL-Hybrid Bus) – Fiat H2 and CNG Mixture Cars – Ford (Ford Focus Fuel Cell) – GM/Opel (Hydrogen 4) – Honda (FCX Clarity) – Hydrogenics Fuel Cell bus – Hyundai/Kia (Borrego) – HyTruck (Fuel Cell truck) – Toyota (FCHV adv) – Van Hool Fuel Cell Hybride Bus – Volkswagen (HyMotion)
Berlin, 12 May 2010. Germany in the Year of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2010: In the lead up to the World Hydrogen Energy Conference (WHEC) in Essen, the Clean Energy Partnership, a syndicate of thirteen global corporations, sends an important signal. CEP partners Linde, Statoil and TOTAL expand the hydrogen infrastructure in Germany by opening a new H2 fuelling station on Holzmarktstrasse in Berlin.
The high-tech fueling station is equipped to offer long-term fuel supply to over 40 cars and commuter buses presently being tested by the CEP.
Toyota has managed to cut the cost of making a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle by 90% in the past five years. “Our target is, we don’t lose money with introduction of the vehicle,” said Yoshihiko Masuda, Toyota’s managing director for advanced autos. In result the automaker plans to offer a $50,000 hydrogen-powered vehicle by 2015.
The hydrogen announcement from Toyota, which has had a nearly singular focus on hybrids, is the latest move in a high-stakes chess game regarding green auto technology.
Toyota has cut hydrogen fuel cell costs by reducing platinum use to about one-third the previous level and finding cheaper ways to produce the thin film used in the fuel cells and the carbon-fiber hydrogen fuel tanks.
Some experts point to range and efficiency advantages that fuel cell cars have over gasoline or battery-powered vehicles. Nonetheless, high costs and lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure remain major obstacles to affordable and practical fuel cell cars.
