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Company Hopes to Mass Produce Fuel Cell Vehicles by 2010General Motors recently introduced a fuel cell stack that is 60 percent more powerful than any competitor, sources from GM announced. The new GM stack generates 1.75 kW per liter, setting an industry benchmark for volumetric efficiency. The highest power density announced by any other fuel cell manufacturer to date is 1.1 kW per liter, according to GM scientists. In addition to improving fuel cell power output, GM was able to reduce the size and weight of the stack. Reducing the size helps to create more space for other vehicle components and enables the fuel cells to be used in smaller models. It also requires less material, providing an opportunity for cost savings. According to a recent Reuters report, a senior GM executive announced that the company expects to be mass-producing fuel cell vehicles by the year 2010. Matthew Fronk, GM's chief engineer of fuel cell systems, spoke of volume production at a recent fuel conference in London. He said the company would be prepared to ramp-up probably around 2008-2010. Infrastructure has been a major hurdle in the race towards fuel cell reality, which is why GM has also been testing a gasoline-based fuel system called the Gen III. The Gen III uses an onboard reformer unit to extract hydrogen from gasoline (see EnviroFleet Volume I – Issue 5). GM sees gasoline-fed fuel cells as an interim step until hydrogen fueling stations are established. |
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According to an Associated Press report, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied petitions by industry groups requesting a re-evaluation of clean diesel rules initiated by the Clinton administration. The Bush administration and the EPA have said they would uphold the rules. The new standards will require the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel to be reduced from its current level of 500 parts per million to 15 parts per million - a 97 percent reduction. Significant lead-time has been provided in the rule for the introduction of cleaner fuel into the marketplace to ensure no disruptions in fuel supplies. Engine manufacturers will have flexibility to meet the new standards through a phase-in approach between 2007 and 2010. The fuel provisions will go into effect in June 2006. This action will reduce 2.6 million tons of smog-causing nitrogen oxide emissions each year, once the program is fully implemented. Emissions of soot, or particulate matter, will be reduced by nearly 110,000 tons. The American Trucking Associations, the American Petroleum Institute and Mack Trucks/Volvo Powertrain petitioned the EPA with concerns that the rules would drive the cost of diesel engines up by anywhere between $1,200 - $1,900. It also would increase the price of diesel fuel by around 4 cents per gallon |
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For the 2002 model year, GM has added an alternative fuel option to its Chevy Tahoe lineup. One of four new GM alternative fuel models added in 2002, the Tahoe features an optional 5.3L Vortec V8 flexible fuel engine (L59), which runs on either ethanol (E85) or conventional gasoline. The (L59) flexible fuel engine carries an MSRP of $700 when ordered with the (1SJ) LS model or (1ST) Commercial Décor Fleet Package. It is no-charge when ordered with packages 1SK, 1SL, 1SM or 1SN. Many items that were optional on the 2001 base Tahoe are now standard for 2002, including:
The 2002 Tahoe 2WD with flexible fuel engine has a 7,800-lb towing capacity - the 4WD model has a 7,600-lb towing capacity. All models come with a standard trailer hitch platform, 7-lead wiring harness, transmission oil cooler and trailer brake pre-wire harness.
ARI is currently accepting orders for the 2002 Chevy Tahoe with the flexible fuel engine option. Approximate lead-time for the model is 8-10 weeks. To find out if there is an ethanol (E85) station in your area, please visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center at http://afdcmap.nrel.gov/nrel/. |
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Millennium Cell Inc., a development company that has created a propriety technology to safely generate and store hydrogen, has delivered its Hydrogen on Demand™ prototype to Ford Motor Company for evaluation. The system will be tested at Ford Research Laboratories to validate its capabilities to deliver hydrogen to either a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine. Hydrogen on Demand™ safely generates pure hydrogen or electricity from environmentally friendly raw materials such as borax and water, which are in abundant supply worldwide. In the process, the energy potential of hydrogen is carried in the chemical bonds of sodium borohydride, which in the presence of a particular catalyst either releases hydrogen or produces electricity. The technology can be applied in transportation and portable power, including long-life batteries. |
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According to reports in the New York Times and Associated Press, Denver has gone from second-worse polluted major U.S. city to possibly the first to achieve Clean Air Act compliance in 2001. The EPA has approved a request to designate Denver as an ozone "clean air city" and tentatively agreed to move the city off the list of 'nonattainment' areas for six major pollutants: sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrous oxides, carbon monoxide, lead and particulate matter. Colorado was the first state to use reformulated gas to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. |
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Cummins Westport Inc., a joint venture company owned by Cummins Inc. and Westport Innovations, recently announced plans to offer a low emission natural gas option on a complete range of commercial truck fleets. The company has three engine platforms in production or in customer trials and plans to add two more to the lineup. The first of the new platforms under development is a natural gas version of the Cummins 8.9L L diesel. The 300-hp engine is scheduled for introduction in late 2002. The other new platform is a natural gas version of the Cummins 10.8 L ISM diesel with up to 350-hp, which is slated for introduction in 2004. Cummins Westport currently offers a 5.9L 230-hp natural
gas engine and an 8.3L 280-hp natural gas engine. A 15L 400-hp engine
is undergoing customer trials, with commercial production expected in
2003. |
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What is Natural Gas? Found in reservoirs of rock beneath the earth's surface, natural gas was formed when large quantities of organic matter were buried in layers of sediment and subjected to high heat and pressure for millions of years. Depending on the amount of heat, time and pressure, a hydrocarbon such as natural gas or oil was formed. Natural gas is extracted from the earth using the same method that is used for oil, by drilling wells thousands of feet deep. Natural gas can be produced from gas reservoirs, which contain only gas, or oil reservoirs that usually contain a water layer, topped by an oil layer and then a gas layer. All three layers are contained by a cap rock acting as a seal. Once extracted, natural gas is processed to remove CO2, nitrogen, heavy hydrocarbons and other impurities. The gas is then transported to markets through extensive pipeline networks.
Reserves of natural gas are distributed more evenly worldwide then those of oil. Natural gas reserves in the US are predominately located in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico with the two regions accounting for 39% of the USA's supply in 1999. North America is the largest producer and consumer of natural gas on a regional basis. World natural gas consumption continues to grow steadily.
Information Source: Cummins Westport Inc. and World Oil.
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