As one of Missouri University of Science and Technology’s (Missouri S&T) sustainable energy initiatives, students are designing a hydrogen vehicle for EcoCAR: The Next Challenge, a three-year collegiate competition established by the DOE and GM. Missouri S&T is one of sixteen universities across North America to participate in the competition, which focuses on the development of advanced vehicle technology. The Challenge provides the opportunity for students and faculty to collaborate in order to reduce automotive energy use and environmental impacts.

While stressing the possibilities of emerging technologies, Missouri S&T stands as the only U.S. team employing a hydrogen fuel cell and lithium-ion batteries in their vehicle design. Having a unique stance in this premier competition, Missouri S&T and team sponsors have gained the attention of industry leaders. With this opportunity, Missouri S&T is working to expand the awareness of hydrogen as clean and sustainable energy.

The Missouri S&T EcoCAR team always seeks new opportunities for partnership in hydrogen energy and vehicle technology. For more information about the team visit http://ecocarchallenge.mst.edu/ or feel free to contact david.lecko@mst.edu.

Today we attended a Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on Electric Vehicles (EV), called by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND). Senators Alexander (R-TN), Bennett (R-UT), and Cochran (R-MS) were also in attendance. While the greatest focus of discussion was EVs and charging infrastructure development, Alan Taub, Vice President of Research and Development for GM, notably closed his testimony with a pitch for fuel cells!

Taub spoke of how GM is developing both EVs and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and noted that both technologies use the same electric motors and power electronics. He also spoke of the fuel cell advantage - larger vehicles and a greater range than EVs. In the future, he said, it’s not an “OR” solution (EVs “or” FCs), it’s an “AND” solution. He also wants the U.S. to remain a leader in FC technology, not falling behind to Japan and Germany.

In addition, Taub asked that Congress extend testing and validation funding for FCVs for 2011, and incentivize the industry through government commitment for FCV fleet purchases. He also stressed the need to develop both electric charging AND hydrogen fueling infrastructure. We are glad GM feels so strongly about FCVs to speak about them in this forum and highlight that fuel cells are an important part of the energy portfolio!

Last night 60 Minutes did a substantial piece on Bloom Energy and their “Bloom Box”.  If you didn’t catch it - http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6228923n.   Bloom is finally coming forward with some of their big-name customers, including ebay, WalMart, FedEx, Google and Staples.

John Donahoe, eBay’s CEO, says five Bloom Boxes were installed nine months ago and have already saved the company more than $100,000 in electricity costs.

It’s great to see this kind of coverage in the mainstream press and hope this is only the beginning of fuel cell manufacturers and customers coming out and speaking about their experiences with fuel cell technology.

Another great fuel cell addition to this Winter’s Olympics! Will anyone be traveling to Vancouver this week? Let us know if you see the rings (we’d love a picture), or ride in one of the 20 fuel cell buses!

The BC Hydrogen Highway has announced that the floating Olympic Rings in Vancouver’s harbor will be powered by ‘made-in-Canada’ hydrogen fuel cells.

The BC Hydrogen Highway and its industry members paid for the cost of the new installation, which will provide clean, supplementary power to the LED-lights on the 30 ft. tall Olympic Rings. The Province of British Columbia encouraged the industry to undertake this work - the refit makes the Olympic Rings greener and showcases cutting-edge clean energy technology.

Inside the press release linked above, you’ll find this quote from John Tak, President of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. ”The BC Hydrogen Highway is excited and proud to provide this hydrogen fuel cell power boost to such an inspiring, iconic symbol.  It is our hope that when a world-wide audience sees the floating Olympic Rings, they are reminded that clean energy solutions, such as hydrogen fuel cells, have arrived and will help address our environmental challenges.”

As promised, here is a summary of the budget proposal that was presented on Monday.

The Obama Administration proposed on Monday to reduce funding for PEM-based hydrogen and fuel cell programs in FY 2011, proposing $137 million (a reduction of $37 million), and provided no money for new vehicle deployment under the Technology Validation program.  SECA program funding was proposed at $50 million, a reduction of $4 million from 2010.

There was no public criticism of the hydrogen program this year from the Secretary, and no attempt at outright elimination.  But the cuts are significant and include programs of greatest importance to the industry. The US Fuel Cell Council posted this message:

The Obama Administration’s proposal to cut FY2011 funding for fuel cells is a lost opportunity to advance the Administration’s job creation and clean energy agenda by supporting an industry that is just beginning to achieve its promise.  The fuel cell industry is poised for just the kind of growth the Obama Administration is looking for to stimulate our economy.  While research needs to continue, fuel cell products are entering early markets that value their efficiency, low emissions and superior performance.  This growth means jobs in manufacturing across the supply chain, sales, service and related fields.  Department of Energy and private sector studies project that up to 700,000 new jobs are possible in the fuel cell industry in the next 10 to 20 years.  Those jobs will occur where the market for fuel cells exists. Fuel cells are low-carbon, low-emission systems that can efficiently utilize locally available fuels and help the nation reduce oil imports.  Fuel cells work well with renewable fuels and support a renewable, green power grid. A strong public-private (government) partnership is the missing link needed to ensure the benefits of fuel cell commercialization are realized in the US. 

The chart below provides a little more detail on the budget proposed for 2011.

Whew! What a start to the week. The Obama Administration proposed on Monday to reduce funding for PEM-based hydrogen and fuel cell programs in FY 2011 - Expect to see a separate post with more details in just a few minutes. But first, lets see how the Auto Show went.

There was a great representation of fuel cell cars - 4 different manufacturers had their vehicles on display, and some even had an employee on hand to answer questions.  We tried not to grill them too hard!

First, our interns Brian and Semee posed with the Mercedes F-Cell.  Insiders might get a chance to hear from Semee soon - look for a few guest posts. 

Here are a few of the others that were on display last Friday:

Toyota\’s Display even included a video about hydrogen alongside the display.

Did anyone else get to go to the Show? We’d love to see your pictures as well.