Hydrogen Hits the Roads

Following the national H2Mobility initiatives that have been started across Europe in Germany, UK, France, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal. The US Department of Energy (DOE) on May 13, 2013 launched H2USA. Structured as a public-private partnership, H2USA,  will focus on advancing hydrogen infrastructure to support more transportation energy options for US consumers, including fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). David Danielson, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy indicated that “fuel cell technologies are an important part of an all-of-the-above approach to diversify America’s transportation sector, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase our competitiveness in the global market. By bringing together key stakeholders from across the U.S. fuel cell and hydrogen industry, the H2USA partnership will help advance affordable fuel cell electric vehicles that save consumers money and give drivers more options.” The new partnership brings together automakers, government agencies, gas suppliers, and the hydrogen and fuel cell industries to coordinate research and identify cost-effective solutions to deploy infrastructure that can deliver affordable, clean hydrogen fuel in the United States.Current members of the H2USA partnership include the American Gas Association; Association of Global Automakers; the California Fuel Cell Partnership; the Electric Drive Transportation Association; the Fuel Cell [...]

A report of the U.S. Department of Energy indicates, that in warehouses operating for two or three shifts a day, hydrogen-powered forklift trucks can be used at a lower cost than conventional battery-powered material handling equipment. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a unit of the Department of Energy of the United States, published an evaluation of the total cost of ownership of fuel cell-powered material handling equipment (MHE). In the report, the operating costs of fuel cell MHE and battery-powered MHE were assessed and compared. The assessment included the capital costs of fuel cell and battery systems, as well as the costs of supporting infrastructure, maintenance, warehouse space and labour. The evaluation was for three classes of MHE: Class I and II forklift trucks (three- and four-wheel, sit-down, counter-balanced forklifts) and Class III forklift trucks (so-called pallet jacks). The Department of Energy provided funds for the deployment of fuel cell forklift trucks at eight commercial warehousing and distribution centres of large companies, such as Coca-Cola, FedEx and Kimberly Clark. More than 500 MHE units were deployed this way and tested in the conditions of intensive operation at 2-3 shifts per day, 6-7 days a week. In addition, more than 100 [...]

Dick Benschop, President and CEO of  Shell Nederland, on the occasion of the launch of the  29th edition of the Shell Eco-marathon, indicated that Shell is reviving its hydrogen actvities in view of the fuel cell vehicle roll out of the main car companies in the coming years.  Team H2A, the Dutch record holder in the hydrogen category of the Ecomarathon joined 200 teams from 24 European countries in Rotterdam this year to try to accumulate as many km with one liter of petrol. EHA member Linde is supplying hydrogen to all hydrogen cars at the event.