Green Energy News | April 25, 1999

April 25, 1999 – Vol.4 No.4

ENERGIES... week of April 25, 1999

BMW ENTERS FUEL CELLS. The German automaker will work with Delphi Automotive Systems to pursue the development of Solid Oxide Fuels Cells (SOFC) to be fueled by gasoline. BMW will consider the SOFC as an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and not attempt to propel the car on electricity from the fuel cell. The APU will instead power electrical equipment (except the starter motor) plus air conditioning when the car is at a standstill.

The SOFC works by first evaporating gasoline then extracting hydrogen in a reformer operating at about 800 degrees Celsius (1470 F). Hydrogen then mixes with oxygen from the air in a high temperature zirconium oxide ceramic transformer to release electricity and waste water.

The company claims it is choosing the SOFC APU route because it does not require a drastic change in current on-board technologies, such as switching to an electric drive motor. Nor would changes in the network of refueling stations be needed to provide hydrogen, or perhaps methanol, as preferred for proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cells being pursued by other manufacturers. Also, compared with PEM’s, SOFC’s are less sensitive to impurities in the reforming process and do not need expensive precious metal electrodes.

BMW is standing firm on combustion engines to drive automobiles. Starting next year BMW will offer hydrogen-powered combustion engines in a limited number of 7 series sedans. Since liquid hydrogen will be on board, those cars will come with a PEM fuel cell for generating electrical power. SOFC’s could take five years to develop. Visit BMW at http://www.bmwusa.com/ .

HONDA EXITS EV’S. After selling only 300 or so EV Plus electric cars in California, the company has given up on pure electric vehicles. Honda claims its sole entry in the EV market was unpopular, expensive and an inconvenient mode of transportation.

HIGH WIND IN TEXAS. Atop a 600 foot mesa, the first 19 of 107 wind generators is now being connected to the power grid. When complete, FPL Energy’s Southwest Mesa Wind Project will be largest in Texas, producing 75 megawatts of renewable energy to be sold to Central and South West Corporation (CSW) for distribution. The $82 million project is to be finished in June and will have employed 200 people at the height of construction. Landowners will receive annual royalties for use of their property. The Project utilizes 700 kilowatt NEG Micon USA turbines with a rotor diameter of 157 feet. Visit FPL at http://www.fplgroup.com/ .

SIGNS OF PROGRESS. Energy hungry illuminated signs are some of the best known inhabitants of the American retail strip. Now, with a simple innovation, merchants can save energy each time they switch on their beacon of free enterprise.

3M has introduced its 3M (tm) Light Enhancement Film, designed to increase the brightness of illuminated signs. The white, highly reflective self-stick film can be applied inside a sign enclosure to reduce energy requirements for the same brightness. The Film also creates a more evenly illuminated sign.