Green Energy News | July 9, 2000

July 9, 2000 – Vol.5 No.15

ENERGIES... week of July 9, 2000

THE POWER OF ALUMINUM. You may have heard about the ongoing development of a zinc-air fuel cell from a company called Metallic Power. Now there’s a competitor in the field of metal-air fuel cells - Aluminum-Power.

After five years of development, Aluminum-Power, of Toronto, Ontario has announced the results of testing by University of Toronto scientists of their aluminum-air fuel cell. And the results look promising.

When considering fuel cell or battery design, what happens at the atomic level is crucial to power output. High energy output from the aluminum-air fuel cell is the result of three electrons being released for each atom of aluminum that reacts with oxygen. Magnesium, zinc and iron release only two electrons per atom. When compared with state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries, the aluminum fuel cell is 75 times more energy dense according to Aluminum-Power. Researchers also concluded that the cells would be environmentally benign. In use, the aluminum electrode would be removed, replaced and presumably recycled.

The low weight of the cell - because of the light-weight aluminum - makes it attractive for portable and vehicle applications. For vehicles - particularly on a global scale - the supply and cost of aluminum would have to be considered. So too, would the energy required to extract aluminum from bauxite ore be balanced against the much lesser amount of energy used to it. Further, the amount of energy provided by the fuel cell over the long term must weigh in the consideration along with the source of energy used to recycle the metal. However, these considerations are no less complex than those for other energy technologies.

The company considers the metal-air technology as the next step in the evolution of fuel cells. For now, Aluminum-Power is focusing on applications for portable electronics.

METAL POWERED BUS. Electric Fuel has announced a successful first phase of actual driving tests of its all-electric battery-battery hybrid bus. The first of its kind, the bus carried enough power in its ZincAir (tm) energy system for a full day’s driving in urban conditions while in revenue service - including a full load of passengers and with air conditioning running.

The Electric Fuel hybrid design includes a zinc-air battery pack that is removed and replaced with a recycled, fully-charged unit. An additional battery is on-board which is recharged via the regenerative braking system. Both batteries work in tandem to propel the bus; the additional battery extends its range. The 40 foot bus carried 320 kilowatt hours of energy. Electric Fuel claims their system has a specific energy output of 200 watt-hours per kilogram.

The bus was driven on a test track and will undergo additional testing including on-road driving. Visit Electric Fuel at http://www.electric-fuel.com/ .

HYBRID-ELECTRIC POWER YACHTING. Two long slender hulls need less energy to be pushed through the water than one fat one. Typically, a power catamaran can use half the fuel than an same sized mono-hull in the same conditions and used for the same purpose. Add a hybrid-electric drive system to the already efficient power cat and you’ve got fuel efficient yachting that's both clean and quiet.

Unique Mobility will be supplying UQM (tm) hybrid-electric drive systems to Atlantis Yachts to be used in the company’s Manta 52 Power Catamaran. The drive system will include twin marine diesels, battery packs and electric drive motors. The diesels and electric motors are coupled together on the propeller shafts and can work in unison or separately. On diesel alone, the 52 foot yacht can reach 28 knots and cruise at 20. On electric power, the catamaran should cruise at 9 knots without noise and pollution. The diesels will also recharge the battery packs.

Visit Unique Mobility at http://www.uqm.com/ .

ELECTRIC MAIL DELIVERY. Ford has delivered the first two electric postal delivery vehicles - out of at least 500 - to the United States Postal Service (USPS). The vehicles will be put into immediate service by the Fountain Valley Post Office in California.

If the first 500 vehicles meet performance requirements and are cost effective, the USPS has an option to purchase 5500 more. The vehicles are based on Ford’s Ranger EV chassis and are being built jointly by Ford and Baker Electromotive. Of the initial order, most will go to California, the remainder to Washington, DC.

Typical postal delivery vehicles travel 15-20 miles per day, and return to the same location every day - perfect for plug-in rechargeable electric vehicles. Follow the Ford/USPS program through TH!NK Mobility at http://www.thinkmobility.com/ .

MONEY FOR FUEL CELLS. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded an increase of $40 million in funding to FuelCell Energy for development of its Direct Fuel Cell (tm) power plants. The money will be used to bring FuelCell’s 300 kW, 1.5 MW and 3 MW class fuel cells closer to commercialization planned for 2001-2002. FuelCell will continue work on cost reduction, extended life testing and other improvements.

FuelCell recently ran a 250 kW grid connected generator for 11,800 hours and produced more than 1.9 million kilowatt hours of electricity. The company also plans to build a new combination fuel cell/gas turbine hybrid. Visit FuelCell Energy at http://www.fce.com/ .

SEATTLE WANTS GREEN POWER. City-owned utility, Seattle City Light, is now accepting proposals from renewable power marketers to provide up 100 megawatts of green electricity to the utility - enough for 82,500 homes.

The request-for-proposal comes on the heals of the city government’s Earth Day Resolution to meet increases in power demand with a combination of energy conservation and the purchase of electricity from renewable resources. If fossil fuels must be used to meet demand, Seattle City Light must find ways to offset any addtional greenhouse gas emissions.

Proposals are due by August 25. Visit Seattle City Light at http://www.cityofseattle.net/light/ .