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Energy Department Awards $45 Million to Deploy Advanced Transportation Technologies, Source: DOE

September 4, 2013 in Battery Energy Storage, Electric Vehicles, EV News

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz Photo courtesy of DOE

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz
Photo courtesy of DOE

WASHINGTON — Building on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to build a 21st century transportation sector and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Energy Department announced today more than $45 million for thirty-eight new projects that accelerate the research and development of vehicle technologies to improve fuel efficiency, lower transportation costs and protect the environment in communities nationwide.

“By partnering with universities, private industry and our national labs, the Energy Department is helping to build a strong 21st century transportation sector that cuts harmful pollution, creates jobs and leads to a more sustainable energy future,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “By improving the fuel economy of our cars and trucks, we can save families and businesses money at the pump and better protect our air and water.”

The Obama Administration has taken unprecedented steps to improve the fuel efficiency of American vehicles, establishing the toughest fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles in U.S. history. These standards are expected to save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump — or more than $8,000 in costs over the lifetime of each vehicle – and eliminate six billion metric tons of carbon pollution. Innovative technologies and manufacturing are helping U.S. automakers achieve the goals of this historic agreement, and the investment announced today will help provide new technologies and innovations to enable automakers to continue to improve vehicle fuel efficiency.

Through the Advanced Vehicle Power Technology Alliance between the Energy Department and the Department of the Army, the Army is contributing an additional $3 million in co-funding to support projects focused on lightweighting and propulsion materials, batteries, fuels and lubricants. “Working with the Energy Department, we are accelerating the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies to strengthen our military, economy, and energy security,” said Dr. Paul Rogers, director the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.

The 38 projects announced today span five major areas critical to advanced transportation technologies, such as lightweighting and propulsion materials as well as affordable, efficient batteries, power electronics, fuels and lubricants, and efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and include:

  • Advanced lightweighting and propulsion materials (15 projects; $10.2 million): Advanced materials are essential for boosting the fuel economy of cars and trucks while maintaining and improving safety and performance. Next generation lightweight materials can reduce passenger car weight by up to 50 percent. Reducing a vehicle’s weight by just10 percent can improve fuel economy by 6 to 8 percent. These projects will conduct research on lightweight materials — such as advanced high-strength steel, magnesium and aluminum – that allow vehicle manufacturers to include electric drive components, electronic systems and emissions control equipment without increasing vehicle weight.
  • Advanced batteries (13 projects; $22.5 million): In the last four years, the cost of a plug-in electric vehicle battery has come down by nearly 50 percent. The awards announced today will help improve cell chemistry and composition, develop advanced electrolytes and create new battery design tools – helping to further reduce costs. Broadly, the projects aim to cut battery size and weight in half, while improving efficiency and performance.
  • Power electronics (Four projects; $8 million): Compared to silicon-based technologies, wide bandgap semiconductors – such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride – can operate at higher temperatures, have greater durability and reliability, and can lower the cost and improve performance of plug-in electric vehicle inverters. Separately, new approaches to enable high-temperature operation and cost reduction for capacitors in these inverters will also help to reduce the cost of vehicle power electronics. These projects will contribute to reducing the cost of a plug-in electric vehicle inverter by more than 30 percent.
  • Advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (Two projects; $4 million): Reducing the impact of heating and cooling on plug-in electric vehicles can significantly increase all-electric driving range.  These two projects are focused on developing innovative heating and cooling technologies that reduce battery demands and improve range by 20 to 30 percent.
  • Fuels and lubricants (Four projects; $2.5 million): These projects will develop advanced fuels and lubricants that can reduce friction losses and increase the efficiency of cars already on the market and next generation passenger vehicles.

Read the full list of the thirty-eight projects announced today.

These new projects support the goals of the Energy Department’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, a broader initiative to make plug-in electric vehicles as affordable and convenient to own and drive as today’s gasoline-powered vehicles within 10 years.

This article is a repost, credit: US Department of Energy, http://energy.gov/.

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Largest Federally-Owned Wind Farm Breaks Ground at U.S. Weapons Facility, Source: DOE

August 13, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech, Wind

Two Pantex Plant employees examine the final B53 bomb (October 25, 2011 prior to its dismantling. | Photo Courtesy of NNSA. Courtesy of DOE

Two Pantex Plant employees examine the final B53 bomb (October 25, 2011) prior to its dismantling. | Photo Courtesy of NNSA.
Courtesy of DOE

WASHINGTON – Building on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which calls for steady, responsible steps to reduce carbon pollution, the Energy Department today broke ground on the nation’s largest federally-owned wind project at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. Once completed, this five-turbine 11.5 megawatt project will power more than 60 percent of the plant with clean, renewable wind energy and reduce carbon emissions by over 35,000 metric tons per year – equivalent to taking 7,200 cars off the road. The Pantex Plant is the primary site for the assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of the United States’ nuclear weapons stockpile.

Under the Obama Administration, federal agencies have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15 percent – equivalent to permanently taking 1.5 million cars off the road. To build on this accomplishment, the Administration has established a new goal: the federal government will consume 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020 – more than double the current goal of 7.5 percent.

“As the largest energy user in the country, the federal government has a tremendous opportunity to lead by example in taking actions to improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy usage to save taxpayers dollars and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman. “Responsible development of America’s wind energy resources is a critical part of our all-of-the-above energy strategy, and the Pantex wind project furthers our commitment to lead by example and to advance a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.”

Located on 1,500 acres east of the Pantex Plant, the wind farm will generate approximately 47 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – more than 60 percent of the annual electricity used for Pantex, or enough electricity to power nearly 3,500 homes. The project is expected to complete construction and start generating electricity in summer 2014.

Siemens will construct the wind farm under a performance-based contract that uses long-term energy savings to pay for the project costs, avoiding upfront costs to taxpayers. In 2011, President Obama challenged federal agencies to enter into $2 billion worth of performance-based contracts within two years. Federal agencies have since committed to a pipeline of nearly $2.3 billion from over 300 reported projects, including the Pantex wind project.

Last week, the Energy Department released two new reports showcasing record growth across the U.S. wind market, increasing America’s share of clean, renewable energy, and for the first time representing the number one source of new U.S. electricity generation capacity. The 2012 Wind Technologies Market Report found that Texas is the country’s largest and fastest growing market. With 12,214 megawatts of total wind capacity installed at the end of last year, Texas has more than twice as much wind power capacity as the next highest state and more wind capacity than all but five countries worldwide.

The Energy Department and the National Nuclear Security Administration worked with interagency partners, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as Texas Tech University to launch this project.

Additional information on the Pantex Renewable Energy Project is available HERE.

This article is a repost, credit: US Department of Energy, http://energy.gov/articles/largest-federally-owned-wind-farm-breaks-ground-us-weapons-facility.

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America’s Wind Industry Reaches Record Highs, Source: DOE

August 6, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech, Wind

Our latest Infographic highlights key findings from the 2012 Wind Technologies Market Report. | Infographic by Sarah Gerrity. Infographic courtesy of DOE

Our latest Infographic highlights key findings from the 2012 Wind Technologies Market Report. | Infographic by Sarah Gerrity.
Infographic courtesy of DOE

Dr. Ernest Moniz Secretary of Energy Photo courtesy of DOE

Dr. Ernest Moniz
Secretary of Energy
Photo courtesy of DOE

Today, the Energy Department released two new reports highlighting record highs for U.S. wind energy production and manufacturing and demonstrating America’s continued leadership in this rapidly growing global industry. Wind energy is now the fastest growing source of power in the United States – representing 43 percent of all new U.S. electric generation capacity in 2012 and $25 billion in new investment. The reports were prepared in partnership with the Department’s Lawrence Berkeley and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories.

In the first four years of the Obama Administration, American electricity generation from wind and solar power more than doubled. President Obama’s Climate Action Plan makes clear that the growth of clean, renewable wind energy remains a critical part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that cuts carbon pollution, diversifies our energy economy and brings the next generation of American-made clean energy technologies to market. The Administration has committed once again to doubling renewable electricity generation from energy resources like wind power.

As the graphic above illustrates, America’s wind industry is booming. In 2012, over 13 gigawatts of new wind power capacity was added to the U.S. grid – nearly double the wind capacity deployed in 2011. This tremendous growth helped us surpass 60 gigawatts of total capacity at the end of 2012 – enough capacity to power all the homes in California and Washington State combined.  As energy production goes, so does manufacturing. The 2012 Wind Technologies Market Report estimates that 72 percent of the wind turbine equipment – including towers, blades and gears – installed in the U.S. last year was made in America. This growth in domestic wind manufacturing is creating thousands of new jobs across the country. Industry estimates the wind sector employs more than 80,000 American workers across a variety of sectors, including finance, engineering, construction and project development .

Nine states now rely on wind for more than 12 percent of their total annual energy consumption, and in Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas, wind is contributing more than 20 percent. At the same time, technological innovation and lower maintenance and hardware costs are spurring near-record low prices for wind power. In 2011 and 2012 the price of wind under long-term power purchase contracts averaged just 4 cents per kilowatt hour.

Still, as these reports make clear, wind energy projections for future years are uncertain, due in part to policy uncertainty. That’s why the Obama Administration has called for the extension of the production tax credit which has played a vital role in the development of this clean, renewable energy source.  We’re also working to upgrade our electric grid to provide reliable, affordable clean energy to more and more Americans.

This Thursday, at 3pm ET, the Energy Department is hosting a special Google+ Hangout on wind energy in America where you can ask the experts how wind energy projects, technologies and policies are driving U.S. leadership in this competitive industry. I invite you to join the conversation and learn more at energy.gov/windreport.

This article is a repost, credit: US Department of Energy, Dr. Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, http://energy.gov/articles/americas-wind-industry-reaches-record-highs.

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Florida Project Produces Nation’s First Cellulosic Ethanol at Commercial-Scale, Source: DOE

July 31, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz Photo courtesy of DOE

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz
Photo courtesy of DOE

WASHINGTON – The Energy Department today recognized the nation’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol production at INEOS Bio’s Indian River BioEnergy Center in Vero Beach, Florida. Developed through a joint venture between INEOS Bio and New Planet Energy, the project uses a unique hybrid of gasification and fermentation technology – originally developed with Energy Department support starting in the 1990’s – to convert wood scraps, grass clippings and other waste materials into transportation fuels as well as energy for heat and power.

“Unlocking the potential for the responsible development of all of America’s rich energy resources is a critical part of our all-of-the-above energy strategy,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “Today’s announcement of commercial-scale cellulosic production represents an important benchmark for American leadership in this growing global industry. It also demonstrates the need for early-stage investment in innovative technologies that will help diversify our energy portfolio, reduce carbon pollution and lead to tomorrow’s energy breakthroughs.”

As the President’s Climate Action Plan made clear, biofuels have an important role to play in increasing our energy security, fostering rural economic development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. The Energy Department’s research and development efforts are helping to bring innovative, cost-cutting biofuel technologies on line, test the latest engineering advancements and accelerate commercial production.

The Indian River County BioEnergy Center (Center) will have an annual output of eight million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year from vegetative, yard and municipal solid waste as well as six megawatts of clean, renewable power annually – enough to run the entire facility and provide excess power to the local community.

The project’s gasification-fermentation technology – which produces fuel, heat and power – has its roots in a University of Arkansas research project, supported by a $5 million Energy Department investment over fifteen years. The Department’s early support helped this technology obtain a number of patents, with the core intellectual property purchased by INEOS Bio in 2008.

In 2009, the INEOS Bio-New Planet Energy joint venture was awarded a $50 million Energy Department grant to design, construct, commission and operate the Indian River BioEnergy Center. With a $130 million total project cost, the Center created more than 400 direct construction, engineering and manufacturing jobs during its development and has 65 current full-time employees. More than 90 percent of its equipment was sourced by U.S. manufacturers across 10 states. The Vero Beach project will serve as a test bed for producing commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol with this innovative conversion technology – helping to inform future INEOS Bio facilities as well as other advanced biofuel projects across the country.

Find more information on the Energy Department’s broader efforts to grow America’s biofuels industry at www.bioenergy.energy.gov.

This article is a repost, credit: US Department of Energy, http://energy.gov/articles/florida-project-produces-nation-s-first-cellulosic-ethanol-commercial-scale-0.

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Taking Battery Technology from the Lab to the Big City, Source: DOE

July 29, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech, Large Energy Storage

Watch the video to learn how Urban Electric Power is taking battery technology from the lab to the market. | Video by Matty Greene, Energy Department.

Matty joined the Department of Energy as a videographer in May 2013, producing, filming and editing online video content for Energy. Prior to joining the Department of Energy, her other video pursuits included interning at the White House in the Office of Digital Strategy, where she filmed the President and First Lady, and making short films that played at festivals including South by Southwest. A native Austinite and avid live music fan, Matty is also a graduate of the improv program at the Second City Training Center in Chicago. Photo courtesy of DOE

Matty joined the Department of Energy as a videographer in May 2013, producing, filming and editing online video content for Energy. Prior to joining the Department of Energy, her other video pursuits included interning at the White House in the Office of Digital Strategy, where she filmed the President and First Lady, and making short films that played at festivals including South by Southwest. A native Austinite and avid live music fan, Matty is also a graduate of the improv program at the Second City Training Center in Chicago.
Photo courtesy of DOE

Urban Electric Power — a small New York City startup — is hoping it has the next big solution in energy storage.

Formed last May by researchers from the City University of New York (CUNY) Energy Institute, Urban Electric Power is taking breakthroughs in battery technology from the lab to the market — technology that was initially developed with funding from the Energy Department. The company’s low-cost, lead-free zinc anode rechargeable batteries are designed for a wide range of applications in the growing energy storage market — from reducing peak energy demand in urban areas to storing variable renewable energy for future use.

Inexpensive, non-toxic and widely available, zinc has long been known to be an excellent electricity storage material because of its high energy density. Invented more than 100 years ago, the zinc anode battery is still used today. Yet, for all its benefits, zinc has one major shortcoming — dendrite formation develops over the battery’s life, causing the battery to short after a few hundred cycles. This dendrite formation — or buildup of zinc deposits — significantly reduces the life of zinc batteries, making them too expensive for large-scale applications like grid storage.

With industry and government funding — including a grant from the Energy Department — the CUNY Energy Institute began developing innovative solutions for this problem in 2008. The result: a zinc-nickel oxide battery in which the electrolyte circulates constantly, eliminating dendrite formation and preventing battery shortages. This breakthrough helped the CUNY Energy Institute create a zinc battery that has a round trip efficiency of 85 percent, and can be charged and discharged more than 5,000 times.

Over the past year, Urban Electric Power has worked to scale up manufacturing of this technology while driving down its price — making the zinc-nickel oxide battery a quarter of the cost of conventional lead-acid batteries per cycle. In June, the CUNY Energy Institute and Urban Electric Power unveiled part of a 200 kilowatt installation of their zinc-nickel oxide batteries at the City College of New York’s Steinman Hall. The batteries will be used to reduce the building’s peak electricity demand by 10 percent.

Building on lessons learned from the zinc-nickel oxide battery, the CUNY Energy Institute received funding from ARPA-E to develop a zinc-manganese dioxide battery for grid-scale storage — essentially a larger, rechargeable version of the disposable alkaline batteries we use in our daily lives. The CUNY Energy Institute researchers were able to create a zinc-manganese dioxide battery that is half the weight and five times the life of a lead-acid battery, without the manufacturing, handling and recycling costs of lead-acid batteries. Urban Electric Power hopes to offer these batteries on an industrial scale by 2014, and once fully scaled up, the zinc-manganese dioxide battery will be even more cost-effective than the company’s zinc-nickel oxide batteries.

Watch the video above to learn how researchers overcame the technical challenges with making zinc rechargeable, and what this breakthrough means for the future of grid-scale energy storage.

This article is a repost, credit: US Department of Energy, Rebecca Matulka, Digital Communications Specialist, Office of Public Affairs, http://energy.gov/articles/taking-battery-technology-lab-big-city.

Video courtesy of US Department of Energy, Matty Greene, Videographer

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Energy Department Releases Updated eGallon Prices as Electric Vehicle Sales Double, Source: DOE

July 19, 2013 in Electric Vehicles, EV News

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz Photo courtesy of DOE

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz
Photo courtesy of DOE

WASHINGTON — U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz today highlighted the continued growth of electric vehicle sales – doubling in the first 6 months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 – as the Energy Department released its most recent pricing data showing the low cost of fueling on electricity.  The eGallon, a quick and simple way for consumers to compare the costs of fueling electric vehicles vs. driving on gasoline, rose slightly to $1.18 from $1.14 in the latest monthly numbers, but remains far below the $3.49 cost of a gallon of gasoline.

“More and more Americans are taking advantage of the low and stable price of electricity as a transportation fuel, and that’s very good news for our economy as well as the environment,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.  “As the market continues to grow, electric vehicles will play a key role in our effort to reduce air pollution and slow the effects of climate change.”

Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales Figures

Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) sales tripled from about 17,000 in 2011 to about 52,000 in 2012.  During the first six months of 2013, Americans bought over 40,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PEV), more than twice as many sold during the same period in 2012.

The latest numbers also show how the early years of the PEV market have seen much faster growth than the early years of the hybrid vehicle market.  Thirty months after the first hybrid was introduced, monthly sales figures were under 3,000.

By comparison, PEVs – which were first introduced in December 2010 – report nearly 9,000 cars sold in the last month. At the same time, thanks to technology improvements and growing domestic manufacturing capacity, the cost of a battery has come down by nearly 50 percent in the last four years, and is expected to drop to $10,000 by 2015.

The Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory provides regular updates on monthly sales reported by automakers.  Because Tesla Motors has not yet reported its second quarter sales figures, the site uses independent market estimates from the Hybrid Market Dashboard as a placeholder until the final sales numbers come in from the company.

eGallon

Last month, the Energy Department launched the eGallon to let consumers compare the cost of fueling with electricity vs. gasoline.  Since electricity prices vary from state to state, the page allows consumers to get information specific to their own state.  For example, an eGallon is $1.53 in California (compared to $3.98 for gasoline) and $1.13 in Texas (compared to $3.33 for gasoline).  eGallon prices are available for all 50 states and the District of Columbia on Energy.gov/eGallon.

This article is a repost, credit: US Department of Energy, http://energy.gov/articles/energy-department-releases-updated-egallon-prices-electric-vehicle-sales-double.

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NREL Drives Toward the Future with Fuel Cell EVs, Source: NREL

June 29, 2013 in Electric Vehicles, EV News, Toyota

An NREL employee test drives one of the Toyota Highlander fuel cell hybrid vehicles at the lab's Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Ride and Drive Event. The event was part of Earth Week festivities at NREL. Credit: Dennis Schroeder Courtesy of NREL

An NREL employee test drives one of the Toyota Highlander fuel cell hybrid vehicles at the lab’s Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Ride and Drive Event. The event was part of Earth Week festivities at NREL.
Credit: Dennis Schroeder
Courtesy of NREL

Efforts currently underway at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are contributing to rapid progress in the research, development and testing of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Building from more than 10 years of support from the Department’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office on these topics, NREL has received four Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles — Advanced (FCHV-adv) on loan from Toyota. These vehicles will help NREL enhance its research capabilities related to hydrogen fueling infrastructure, renewable hydrogen production, and vehicle performance.

Zero-Emission Fuel Cell Vehicles are Rapidly Evolving

The Toyota vehicle represents another step toward the commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Hydrogen fuel is most often produced using domestic resources and can also be produced using clean renewable energy technologies. When hydrogen is used to power an FCEV, the vehicle has zero tail pipe emissions.

The fuel cells in the Highlander FCHV-adv are representative of the FCEV designs being demonstrated today by automobile companies around the world, making this design an excellent platform for NREL’s research activities. Toyota also plans to introduce an FCEV sedan to the U.S. commercial market in 2015.

The zero-emission FCHV-adv, based on a mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) platform, has an expected driving range of 325 miles and a fuel economy estimated at 60 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent (GGE). GGE is a method for measuring the fuel economy of alternative fuels compared to gasoline and represents the amount of an alternative fuel equal to the energy in one liquid gallon of gasoline.

The vehicle is powered by a fuel cell system with light weight, high-pressure hydrogen tanks, an electric motor, a nickel hydride battery, and a power-control unit that determines the split of power from the battery or fuel cell stack to power the vehicle.

Refuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory Program Manager Keith Wipke, (in red) explains what's under the hood of the Toyota Highlander fuel cell hybrid vehicle at the NREL Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Ride and Drive Event. These vehicles will help the lab enhance its research capabilities related to hydrogen infrastructure, renewable hydrogen production, and vehicle performance. Credit: Dennis Schroeder Courtesy of NREL

Refuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory Program Manager Keith Wipke, (in red) explains what’s under the hood of the Toyota Highlander fuel cell hybrid vehicle at the NREL Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Ride and Drive Event. These vehicles will help the lab enhance its research capabilities related to hydrogen infrastructure, renewable hydrogen production, and vehicle performance.
Credit: Dennis Schroeder
Courtesy of NREL

NREL to Explore Wide Research Platform

The four FCEVs, on a two-year loan from Toyota as part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NREL, will be put through a wide platform of testing and analysis at the lab. The vehicles were originally deployed in California in 2009 and have been redeployed to NREL as part of this CRADA.

“We’re looking at the whole system — from renewable hydrogen production and vehicle fueling equipment to the impact of driving patterns and behavior on vehicle performance,” said Keith Wipke, NREL Laboratory Program Manager for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies. “Because the vehicles will be four or five years old by the time our loan period ends, we will be able to observe extended durability and reliability, which are critical to the commercial success of these types of vehicles.”

Testing will include observing how the vehicles interact with fueling infrastructure and fueling stations that operate at different pressures. While most hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas, at NREL, the vehicles will be fueled with renewable hydrogen made from wind and solar energy as part of the Wind-to-Hydrogen project at the lab’s National Wind Technology Center. This project uses wind turbines and solar arrays to power electrolyzers that split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

“These vehicles are emission free, but in most scenarios you still have emissions during the hydrogen production,” Wipke said. “If you can make the hydrogen using renewable resources you have the potential for this to be a truly zero-emission fuel source. We’re pleased to have the opportunity to further investigate this potential.”

Other tests will investigate how drivers interact with the vehicles and influence performance over the test period. Researchers will look at the effects of environment and driving patterns on the vehicles’ energy storage and propulsion systems, and demonstrate the vehicles operational capability in real-world activities.

On behalf of the Energy Department, NREL is also planning public outreach and education efforts to better prepare the market for the deployment of these types of vehicles. NREL will offer first-hand exposure to hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle technologies to a variety of audiences, including the general public, academia, and the automotive industry.

NREL employees investigate a Toyota Highlander fuel cell hybrid vehicle at the lab's Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Ride and Drive Event. Credit: Dennis Schroeder Courtesy of NREL

NREL employees investigate a Toyota Highlander fuel cell hybrid vehicle at the lab’s Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Ride and Drive Event.
Credit: Dennis Schroeder
Courtesy of NREL

Getting Ready for Our Transportation Future

FCEVs use hydrogen, stored in high-pressure tanks made of carbon fiber resin, which is fed to the fuel cell stack where it combines with oxygen from the air. The electricity produced by this chemical reaction is used to power the electric motor and charge the battery.

“For someone like myself who is not an electrochemist, it’s truly a fascinating technology,” Wipke said. “Hydrogen atoms interact with a membrane coated with small amounts of platinum, which splits the hydrogen into protons and electrons. The protons pass through the membrane, and the electrons go around a different path and do the useful electrical work. Eventually, they meet on the other side with oxygen from the air, and form water, which along with a little heat is the only byproduct of the process.”

Fuel cell technologies and the use of hydrogen as a transportation fuel are becoming more visible as automotive manufacturers move these concepts closer to market.

But while these fuel cell technologies are proven and effective, there are still challenges in deploying them, particularly in terms of reducing cost and increasing durability. NREL’s long-term durability testing for FCEVs will provide important data toward solutions to these two interrelated challenges.

Another significant issue with deploying these technologies is the need to develop infrastructure around hydrogen production, delivery, and fueling stations.

“We need a lot of infrastructure in place for FCEVs to have widespread consumer acceptance,” Wipke said. “Most hydrogen fueling stations use delivered hydrogen instead of on-site production. That is the most economical pathway right now, but with our capabilities here at NREL we are able to fully explore the opportunities for on-site production.”

Despite the challenges, Wipke sees a strong future for the FCEV technology.

“Most automakers are committing to get to market with these vehicles before this decade is out. That is encouraging,” Wipke said. “The biggest reasons that they are so excited about this option for the future is that range and refueling time are not a concern compared to other new transportation technologies. This makes it a potentially very consumer-friendly transportation technology, one that will function much like what drivers use today.”

“It’s an exciting opportunity to help move these technologies forward, and we’re pleased to have an important role here at NREL.”

Learn more about NREL’s hydrogen research.

This article is a repost, credit, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, http://www.nrel.gov/news/features/feature_detail.cfm/feature_id=2223.

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