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Quantum to Develop Hydrogen Hybrid SUV for the US Army

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. has been awarded a contract to develop a hydrogen-fueled Ford Escape Hybrid vehicle for the U.S. Army National Automotive Center (NAC). Under this contract, Quantum will evaluate different hydrogen fuel system configurations, considering the feasibility of bi-fuel (switchable between gasoline and hydrogen) and dedicated hydrogen systems. Quantum will develop an advanced hydrogen storage system, fuel injection system, and electronic controls required for the Hydrogen Escape Hybrid. The work will be conducted by Quantum at its Advanced Vehicle Concept Center in Lake Forest, CA. This Hydrogen Escape Hybrid contract complements the Mobile Hydrogen Infrastructure program, which is funded in the FY 06 Department of Defense budget. The overall objective of the MHI program is to demonstrate the capability of Quantum’s HyHauler Plus(TM) transportable hydrogen refueling stations to meet emerging hydrogen fuel demand as hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are deployed throughout the military as part of the 21st Century Base initiative. This demonstration program includes supporting the deployment of hydrogen internal combustion engine administrative vehicles, including the Hydrogen Escape Hybrid, as well as fuel cell vehicles. “We are pleased that the U.S. Army has selected Quantum to develop the Hydrogen Escape Hybrid, as we continue […]

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Hoku to Manufacture 10 Fuel Cell Systems for US Navy

Hoku Scientific, Inc. has provided an update on the status of its contact with the U.S. Navy. Hoku announced on January 19, 2006 that, along with partner IdaTech, it would begin manufacturing 11 fuel cell systems, 10 of which will be field tested by the U.S. Navy over a twelve-month period. This manufacturing and demonstration agreement is the result of Hoku’s successful completion of all milestones in its initial contract with the U.S. Navy. Dustin Shindo, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Hoku Scientific said, “We are working with the U.S. Navy to finalize the demonstration site selection, preparation and logistics, which is taking longer than we had previously anticipated. In addition, although we have achieved all of our initial Navy contract milestones on time, including the successful demonstration of our Hoku MEA in the IdaTech fuel cell stack and system generating in excess of 1-kilowatt of electrical power in December 2005, we have not yet run an IdaTech fuel cell stack incorporating our Hoku MEA for a prolonged period of time. As we previously announced, this fuel cell demonstration program is our first opportunity to publicly demonstrate Hoku MEA in full-size fuel cell systems operating under real-world conditions. […]

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Investors Are Tilting Toward Windmills

By: Claudia H. Deutsch It’s hard to be in a business where you literally – as well as figuratively – are tilting at windmills. But that business may have just gotten its biggest tail wind yet. When President Bush called last month for more effort in alternative energies, a business that last year attracted only about $7 billion in investment nationwide, the 300 engineers and financiers at GE Energy Financial Services were already in the game. But that does not mean they were not happy that the White House acknowledged the sector. “The president’s speech changed zero for us; it was simply a recognition of what we already knew,” said David L. Calhoun, vice chairman of GE Infrastructure, the group that includes both turbine manufacture and energy financing. For now, wind energy is the only profit star in G.E.’s alternative energy galaxy, and both the finance and equipment sides of the company know they are gambling when it comes to solar and other fledgling technologies. Still, analysts applaud their decision to move on them. “When you get the president talking about renewable energy, it has to be turning up the dial at G.E.,” said Deane M. Dray, an analyst at […]

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Bush Administration FY07 Budget – Highlights and Lowlights

By: Union of Concerned Scientists President George W. Bush recently released his comprehensive budget request for fiscal year 2007 (FY07). The FY07 request takes advantage of the budget deficit to cut a number of important environmental programs including several initiatives that would actually save taxpayers money. While there are a few positive developments, overall the budget fails to provide America with the means to build a cleaner, more secure future. While the administration’s budget for solar energy resources, biomass research, hybrid technology and cleaner school buses address some of the nation’s energy and transportation requirements, the budget fails to provide the long-term solutions America needs. The Bush administration’s budget also contains a number of anti-environmental requests. A backdoor attempt to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and funding cuts for agricultural programs and endangered species are just a few examples. Also included in the budget request is funding to begin a costly and dangerous program to reprocess nuclear fuel from power reactors. This program would make it easier for terrorists to acquire the material needed to build a nuclear weapon. President Bush has also announced funding increases for federal research and development and math/science education under the […]

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Bush Administration FY07 Budget?Highlights and Lowlights

By: Union of Concerned Scientists President George W. Bush recently released his comprehensive budget request for fiscal year 2007 (FY07). The FY07 request takes advantage of the budget deficit to cut a number of important environmental programs including several initiatives that would actually save taxpayers money. While there are a few positive developments, overall the budget fails to provide America with the means to build a cleaner, more secure future. While the administration’s budget for solar energy resources, biomass research, hybrid technology and cleaner school buses address some of the nation’s energy and transportation requirements, the budget fails to provide the long-term solutions America needs. The Bush administration’s budget also contains a number of anti-environmental requests. A backdoor attempt to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and funding cuts for agricultural programs and endangered species are just a few examples. Also included in the budget request is funding to begin a costly and dangerous program to reprocess nuclear fuel from power reactors. This program would make it easier for terrorists to acquire the material needed to build a nuclear weapon. President Bush has also announced funding increases for federal research and development and math/science education under the […]

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