Green Energy News | February 13, 2000

February 13, 2000 – Vol.4 No.46

ENERGIES... week of February 13, 2000

MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO. If fuel cells are to become the power-plant-of-choice for tomorrow’s automobiles, car and oil companies want an easy and low-cost transition to the technology. For themselves, and for consumer acceptance, the best case scenario would be if fuel cells could be made to run on gasoline.

Gasoline fuel processors - which extract hydrogen from gasoline to fuel Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells - have previously been tested with limited results. Now, DaimlerChrysler has announced the successful development of a multi-fuel processor which, with some further engineering, could reform gasoline as a source of hydrogen.

Through the newly named Xcellis GmbH (formerly dbb fuel cell engines), a compact 50 kilowatt multi-fuel system has been built and is ready for commercialization. Since Xcellis is a joint venture of Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Ballard Power Systems, each will have commercial rights to the technology. Shell Hydrogen contributed their Catalytic Partial Oxidation (CPO) technology to the project. DaimlerChrysler will continue to develop methanol reformers. Visit DaimlerChrysler at http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/ .

PROVING HYBRID BUS EFFICIENCY. After year-long testing, hybrid-electric and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses outperformed conventional diesel buses for both fuel efficiency and emission reduction.

Testing, which was designed to simulate real-world urban driving cycles, was performed by the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium (NAVC). Two hybrid buses, three CNG buses and one conventional diesel were evaluated with various fuels over six different emission tests with average speeds ranging from 3-17 miles per hour. Duty cycles, to mimic revenue service, were 4-18 stops per mile.

Overall the hybrid buses had the best fuel economy, 30-65 percent better than the conventional diesel and as much as 100 percent better than the CNG. Other than greenhouse gases, the CNG buses had the lowest emissions. However, it was noted in testing that hybrid bus design is in its infancy and toxic emission improvements are expected over time. Visit NAVC at http://www.navc.org/ .

STATES FOR RENEWABLES. The State of New York has chosen AstroPower to help increase residential solar electric power through the New York $mart Photovoltaics Program. With $500,000 from state coffers, matching funds from AstroPower, and a $3750 per installation tax credit, AstroPower will market pre-engineered systems intended for grid connection. New York’s net metering laws will allow consumers to sell excess power back to the utilities.

System options will include back-up power supply packages to cope with outages and solar roof tiles which can take the place of conventional roofing. AstroPower will also develop a consumer education program through Pace University Law School.

The State of Oregon is promoting renewables and energy efficiency with a impressive variety of tax credits for anything from efficient appliances, to waste water heat recovery systems, to solar power, to alternative fuel vehicles, and more. Tax credit incentives, including qualifying products for the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit Program are at http://www.energy.state.or.us/res/tax/taxcdt.htm . Visit AstroPower at http://www.AstroPower.com/ .