Fuel Cell Demonstrator vehicles powered

Allis-Chalmers being a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, they installed a battery in an experimental tractor from their product line. It actually was operated under field conditions for some time, and then was demonstrated in many exhibitions and fairs. This was the first use of fuel cells as the power source in an electrically powered vehicle. 

There is a major potential for energy conservation in transportation, by increasing the energy efficiency of automobiles. The recent commercialization of hybrid vehicles, which combine electric and gasoline motors, demonstrates how much more efficient automobile transport can be. Hybrid power systems deliver double the fuel efficiency of conventional engines. Moreover, as fuel cells are perfected, even greater energy efficiencies may be achieved. 

Compressed gas is being used in most current demonstration vehicles. But, the path to commercialization of any major new technology is a long one. In 2003 Toyota recalled some of its hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles when a leak was found in the fuel tank of one of the cars leased to Japan s Ministry of the Environment. The leak was found when a driver at the ministry heard a strange noise in the car when he was filling up the hydrogen tank. The problem was quickly identified and fixed a few weeks later. 

GM will also provide 13 fuel cell powered vehicles while Shell Hydrogen LLC established New York State s first hydrogen service station in the New York City metropolitan area in 2006. This is part of the U.S. Department of Energy s Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation project. 

Fiat has been working on its Fuel Cell Pandas. Centro Ricerche Fiat (CRF) delivered several Nuvera fuel cell powered Panda vehicles to the municipality of Mantova, Italy, as part of the Zero Regio demonstration project. The Pandas were presented alongside an ENI multi-fuel refilling station, offering pressurized hydrogen at 350 bar. 

In Japan, being completely dependant on fossil fuels imports, a long tradition exists in developing stationary and mobile fuel cell applications. Programs funded by the NEDO and METI departments have already resulted in hundreds of small scale micro Combined Heat and Power Units as well as fuel cell vehicles running in road demonstrations [4]. 

Early expectations of very low emissions and relatively high efficiencies have been met in power plants with each type of fuel cell. Fuel flexibility has been demonstrated using natural gas, propane, landfill gas, anaerobic digester gas, military logistic fuels, and coal gas, greatly expanding market opportunities. Transportation markets worldwide have shown remarkable interest in fuel cells nearly every major vehicle manufacturer in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East is supporting development. 

Several high-value niche markets drove early fuel cell technology development. These were the use of fuel cells for on-board electric power in space vehicles and to demonstrate that fuel cells are an efficient, environmentally-friendly technology for stationary on-site commercial power. 

Development of an Integrated Reformer/Fuel Cell Power System for Petroleum and Alcohol-Fueled Vehicles, Part I - Brassboard Demonstration," W. Mitchell, Epyx, Pg. 230, Fuel Cell Seminar Abstracts, Courtesy Associates, Inc., November 1998. 

Hydrogenics Fuel Cell Power Module. Hydrogenics Corporation is developing a 10 kW fuel cell power module for use in off-road vehicles and power generation applications. This design will demonstrate higher efficiency, lower cost, smaller size and improved manufacturability over previous designs. 

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