H2Tech - Q2 2021 - 6

TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT
performance, such as the fuel cell stack,
as well as components that handle air
supply, H2 supply, cooling and power
control, into a single compact module.
For more information on FCEV and
fueling network developments in AsiaPacific, see this issue's Regional Report.

NICE, SARTA demo liquid H2
pump technology for buses
NICE America Research (NICE), the
U.S. R&D division of China Energy, and
the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority
(SARTA) are conducting a demonstration
project of NICE's submerged liquid H2
pump technology at the transit system's
Canton, Ohio headquarters.
The NICE system will be used to
refuel SARTA's H2 fuel cell-powered
fleet of full-size buses and paratransit
vehicles. The testing period will
enable NICE and SARTA to evaluate
the performance and reliability of
the refueling system in real-world
transit agency operating conditions.
During previous field tests, the pump
pressurized and delivered precooled,
compressed gas at flowrates greater
than 200 kg/hr for 35-MPa refueling
applications, using delivery profiles
consistent with the J2601-2 standard.
NICE's liquid pump is said to
significantly reduce energy demand
from H2 compression and simplify station
design, which will lead to reduced costs
and increased flexibility for operators of
H2-powered vehicles.

Ballard sees more orders
for FECV bus fuel cells

decker H2 buses is 12 m (40 ft) long
and is capable of traveling 350 km
(210 mi) on a single H2 refueling.
With the deployment of the 10 buses,
Ballard modules will be powering a total
of 67 Solaris buses in the Netherlands,
Germany and Italy. The follow-on order is
indicative of the growing European and
global adoption of zero-emissions FCEVs.
Ballard's FCmove fuel cell module is
also powering the first-ever fuel cell bus
manufactured in New Zealand by Global
Bus Ventures.

Loop Energy to provide fuel
cells for heavy-duty trucking
Loop Energy and Rheintal-Transporte
have signed an agreement for the
development and supply of heavy-duty
H2 fuel cell range-extension solutions
for battery electric trucks in Europe.
As part of the agreement, Germanybased Rheintal will use Loop's eFlow fuel
cell modules to expand driving range
capabilities of battery electric trucks to
the levels required by its fleet of longhaul, cold-chain logistics vehicles. Rheintal
anticipates orders of eFlow fuel cell
modules for more than 20 zero-emissions
H2 trucks and trailers over the next 24
months. Rheintal's evolution to H2 fuel cell
electric freight transport aligns with its
goal of enabling emissions-free customer
transport deliveries before 2030.
In addition to the supply of Loop
Energy fuel cell products, the agreement
provides Rheintal with full access to
Loop's end-to-end technical support, as
well as access to a network of prequalified
channel partners specializing in H2 electric
power train design, supply of subsystem
components and H2 fuel infrastructure.

CAeS to develop
H2 fuel cell aircraft

Ballard Power Systems received
purchase orders from Solaris Bus &
Coach for 10 Ballard FCmove fuel cell
modules to power 10 Solaris Urbino-12
H2-powered buses in the Province of
Gelderland, the Netherlands.
The buses will replace diesel buses
currently in service and are expected to
cumulatively travel more than 1 MMkm/yr
(620,000 mi/yr). Each of the single-

6

Q2 2021 | H2-Tech.com

Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS)
will use recent advances in H2 fuel cell
technology to develop a commercially
viable, retrofit powertrain solution for
the nine-passenger Britten-Norman
Islander aircraft.

Project Fresson will deliver an
emissions-free, H2 fuel cell-powered flying
demonstrator by September 2022. Having
completed a comprehensive evaluation
of technologies and configurations
for sustainable aircraft propulsion, the
Fresson team concluded that H2 fuel
cell technology is the optimum solution
to meet environmental, regulatory and
operational requirements for this size of
aircraft, enabling zero carbon emissions
and reducing operating costs.
Project Fresson is supported by the
ATI Program, a joint government and
industry investment to maintain and grow
the UK's competitive position in civil
aerospace design and manufacture. The
program, delivered through a partnership
between the Aerospace Technology
Institute (ATI), Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
and Innovate UK, addresses technology,
capability and supply chain challenges.

AVL advances H2 internal
combustion engine

AVL, an independent company for the
development, simulation and testing of
powertrain systems, continues to develop
an H2 combustion engine of the latest
generation. The engine is specifically
tailored for use in heavy-duty vehicles,
and it aims to reduce the mass of
greenhouse gas emissions from heavyduty vehicles exceeding 3.5 t. This will
significantly reduce the CO2 emissions
attributable to these types of transport
vehicles in the coming decades.
The development project's target is to
increase both the efficiency potential of
multi-port and direct-injected H2 engine
concepts for the direct propulsion of
a commercial vehicle with an existing
standard powertrain. AVL used a 12.8-l
natural gas engine for the basis of
development and set its performance
target at 350 kW. With its development
of an H2 engine, AVL aims to reduce CO2
emissions and also ensure high reliability
of the piston-bore interface.
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