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INTELLIGENT ENERGY MOVES TOWARDS THE LOW CARBON ECONOMY
SUZUKI BURGMAN SCOOTER OBTAINS WHOLE VEHICLE TYPE APPROVAL
 Intelligent Energy and Suzuki Motor Corporation, have announced that the jointly developed Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter has obtained Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) – the first time any fuel cell vehicle has achieved this level of certification in Europe. WVTA qualifies the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter design as safe to use on public roads without having to be inspected and tested individually, and brings zero emission motorcycles a step closer to becoming commercially available.
First exhibited at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009, the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter, equipped with the latest version of Intelligent Energy‟s unique, air-cooled hydrogen fuel cell system, has been participating in a UK public road testing program run by Intelligent Energy and supported by the UK Government‟s Technology Strategy Board. The Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter design has now met with specified EU performance standards meaning that the vehicle and its components are approved for production and sale within Europe.
Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change visited Intelligent Energy and is seen here on the WVTA Certified Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter. Also in the photograph are from left to right, Yasuhara Osawa, Managing Director of Suzuki GB, Dr. Henri Winand, Chief Executive of Intelligent Energy, and Dennis Hayter, VP Business Development, Intelligent Energy.
The Chairman and CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Mr. O. Suzuki, stated: “Suzuki Motor Corporation is pleased to announce that the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter has become the world‟s first fuel cell vehicle to earn Whole Vehicle Type Approval in the European Union. Our aim is to make eco-friendly fuel cell scooters increasingly common in Europe, in line with the establishment of hydrogen filling stations and other necessary infrastructure.” The city-friendly Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter was jointly launched in Europe at London‟s City Hall in February last year. At the event, the Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership and London‟s Deputy Mayor for Policing, Kit Malthouse, hailed the zero emission scooter as a “fantastic piece of kit which shows how we can combat climate change.” A fleet of the scooters will now undergo a further test program in various public road conditions at sites in the East Midlands and London.
Earlier Dr. Winand and Rolls Royce Chairman, Sir John Rose, had briefed UK Government Cabinet Ministers, including the Prime Minister David Cameron, the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, the Business Secretary, Vince Cable and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne. The briefing followed news earlier this year that Dr. Winand had joined the Government‟s new Green Economy Council, composed of senior business leaders across the industrial sector, including Ford, Centrica, and IBM. “Ministerial visits such as these help us to convey both the significant progress Intelligent Energy is making towards the commercialisation of clean technologies on an international stage, and support our shared goal to position the UK as a leader in the deployment and manufacture of low carbon technologies,” explained Dr. Winand.
 HFUEL HAS ACHIEVED ROAD COMPLIANCE
ITM Power has announced that its HFuel transportable hydrogen refueling product has satisfied the requirements of the UK‟s Department for Transport for road use. In preparation for the HOST (Hydrogen On Site Trials), ITM Power has undertaken a thorough assessment of system safety and the required approvals. This has generated a suite of documentation to evidence the legal transportation of HFuel on UK public roads with a full inventory of hydrogen and to satisfy local fire and Health & Safety authorities. As part of the assessment, the Company has created a documentary resource covering the elements required by the Dangerous Goods Division of the Department for Transport. This has involved independent pressure testing to 1.5 times working pressure, assessment by an independent ADR Notified Body and interaction with specialist chemical plant consultants. Similarly, Revolve Technologies has subjected the hydrogen internal combustion engine Transit vans to the appropriate level of assessment. This has included independent leak testing of on board pressure systems, crash test simulation and the implementation of a dynamic leak detection strategy. This has resulted in the vehicles being granted a Vehicle Special Order Type Approval by the Department for Transport to enable them to be used on the road whilst transporting goods for trials and demonstration purposes.
TRIAL OF LOW COST FUEL CELL
This summer ACAL Energy and its development partners are installing the world‟s first FlowCath® fuel cell technology system to be used in a practical application at Solvay Interox Ltd. The field trial will provide critical back-up power for an environmental remediation plant at Solvay‟s Warrington plant. The technology is expected to significantly reduce the balance of plant costs by eliminating the need for hydration, pressurization, separate cooling and other mechanical sub-systems commonly required when using conventional PEM fuel cells. ACAL Energy is completing the low cost design and validation activity in its new laboratory testing facilities, with the support of partners including Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells, UPS Systems plc, the University of Southampton and the Manufacturing Engineering Centre at Cardiff University, with part funding from the Technology Strategy Board. |
