Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A fuel cell vehicle requires only 1/10 the parts needed for internal
combustion models. A change to fuel cell power could end overcapacity
problems for GM. It would no longer have to consider different state or
country environmental regulations. Fuel cells also free designers and allow
them to be more creative with styles and body designs.
GM has pledged to develop a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that would
compete with conventional cars in volume by 2010. The company has 1,000
people working on the project in government, university and private labs
in 14 countries. It has spent over $1 billion on the project since 1996. Daim-
lerChrysler has also spent a billion on hydrogen fueled technology.
GM's international Global Alternative Propulsion Center is respon-
sible for developing fuel cells for world markets. The center has several op-
erations in Germany, where in concert with German subsidiary Opel, it has
built the Zafira fuel cell minivan.
FORD'S FUEL CELL VEHICLES
The Ford Ecostar van program was launched in 1993 in response to
the announcement of GM's EV1. Ford also started building fuel cell proto-
types, but they were not really road-ready vehicles.
In 1997, Ford announced that it would invest $420 million in a global
alliance with what was then Daimler-Benz and Ballard Power Systems. This
provided Ballard with an important infusion of capital. As a result of these
investments, Ford owned 15% of Ballard and DaimlerChrysler 20%. It was
a critical moment for fuel cells since the total investment was reaching al-
most $1 billion, including the $450 million by DaimlerChrysler. The alliance
of Ford, Volvo, and DaimlerChrysler was pushing the leading edge of fuel
cell innovation. Ballard has focused on PEM cells with a goal to have com-
mercial fuel cells available by 2010.
Ford planned to produce a fuel cell family car based on the aluminum
and composite P2000 which is like the Ford Contour but weighs a thousand
pounds less. In 1997, Ford announced that its fuel cell car would carry com-
pressed hydrogen, but the fuel storage question may be still open.
In Germany, Daimler-Benz's fuel cell prototypes included the NE-
CAR III. This was a Mercedes-Benz A-Class car with Ballard's methanol-
reformed fuel cell system.
DaimlerChrysler's fuel cell was in the Mercedes-Benz B-class car.
The fuel cell is a sandwich design with the polymer PEM cell between
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