Green Energy News | February 28, 1999

February 28, 1999 – Vol.3 No.48

ENERGIES... week of February 28, 1999

SUN POWERED CARS? Could these be available in the near future for everyday transportation? Technically the cars are feasible, although different, and people would probably buy them, but the political, economic and corporate realities that determine which new transportation innovations to offer to consumers - at least at this point in time - say “probably not.”

However, solar powered cars should not be ignored. These cars are excellent engineering research tools for solar panels, power and drive systems, materials and aerodynamics that can eventually find their way to the production line for any future car, or used in other applications. This being so, major corporations support their development.

Solar Motions, a Silicon Valley California solar car team, will unveil its entrant for the World Solar Challenge on March 18. The slick car is expected to reach a top speed in excess of 105 mph under the right conditions, according to the organization. The Challenge is a 2000 mile, five-day road race from Darwin to Adelaide starting October 17 this year. Typically there are up to 50 entrants and cars can easily exceed a million dollars apiece in development costs. Visit Applied Engineering at http://www.appliedengineering.com and the Challenge at http://www.wsc.org.au .

80 MPG CARS. The U.S. Department of Energy has announced an estimated $70 million in cost-shared awards to 16 firms for the further development of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and new combustion engine technologies, under the Partnership for New Generation Vehicles program.

Awards for fuel cell development will focus on improving start-up and acceleration response time of the fuel processor and reducing the cost of the membrane electrode assembly. These awards too, will be used to further develop fuel cells for use as cogeneration in buildings. Monies for advances combustion engine research will be used for emission controls for direct injection engines.

The awards went to...

- 3-M - manufacturing low cost fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies, http://www.mmm.com/ .

- Allied Signal - variable geometry turbo-compressor, carbon monoxide remediation for fuel cells, natural gas PEM power plant for buildings, http://www.alliedsignal.com/ .

- Analytic Power Corp. - 50 kW power generator for buildings.

- ARCADIS Geraghty & Miller - evaluation of partial oxidation fuel cell reformer emissions, http://www.arcadisgmi.com/ .

- Arthur D. Little - advanced fuel cell processor for transportation fuel cells, cost analysis of same, and 50kW fuel cell power system for buildings, http://www.arthurdlittle.com/ .

- Energy Research Corp. - high temperature fuel cell membrane, http://www.ercc.com/ .

- Foster- Miller - microcomposite fuel cell for cogeneration systems for buildings, http://www.foster-miller.com/.

- McDermott Technology - multi-fuel processor for transportation fuel cells.

- Plug Power - PEM automobile and building fuel cell power systems, http://www.plugpower.com/ .

- Southwest Research Institute - pilot plant for production of membrane electrode assemblies, http://www.swri.edu/ .

- University of Wisconsin - microporous inorganic membranes for fuel cells, http://www.wisc.edu/ . (keep visiting)

- Cummins Engine Company - exhaust after-treatment for compression engines, http://www.cummins.com/ .

- Detroit Diesel - emission controls for compression ignition engines.

- Ford - pressure reactive piston technology for compression ignition engines.

- Delphi Energy and Engine Management - non-impingement spark-ignition, direct injection combustion system, http://www.delphiauto.com/ .

- Michigan State University - spark-ignited stratified charge engines, http://www.msu.edu/ .