NEWS

8Fuel Cells Bulletin August 2008

the production site to the fueling station than is required for the liquefaction of the gas. The amount of space required to store liquid hydro-gen at the fueling station is much less than that needed for gaseous hydrogen.

Linde, which is a leading supplier of industrial gases and one of the world’s largest manufactur-ers of hydrogen plants, has been involved in the development of hydrogen technology for years. It claims that almost all the fueling stations in the world which supply liquid hydrogen are equipped with its refueling technology.

Last fall Belgian bus company De Lijn started using a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell bus on two routes around the city of Antwerp [FCB, October 2007]. The bus, built by Van Hool, uses PEM fuel cell technology from UTC Power, with Air Liquide supplying the station and the hydrogen.

Contact: Linde Gas Division, Hydrogen Solutions, Pullach, Germany. Tel: +49 89 7446 2351, www.linde.com/hydrogen

commercialization

CMR signs MOU with Asian manufacturer

UK-based CMR Fuel Cells has signed a memorandum of understanding

with a leading Asian original design manufacturer (ODM), agreeing to co-develop a fuel cell charger system for notebook computers. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will collaborate in the design and develop-ment of a stand-alone, hybrid direct methanol fuel cell charger intended for consumer use.

CMR Fuel Cells is a long-term member of Intel’s Extended Battery Life Working Group (EBLWG), which is focused on realizing the power usage ‘holy grail’ of an 8 h working day away from mains electricity. Its DMFC demon-strator system was the only one shown powering a notebook at the Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo earlier this year [FCB, April 2008], and more recently at the Intel Developer’s Forum in Shanghai.

CMR is developing high power density DMFC stacks and systems in the range from 5 W to 50 W of electrical power. These are suit-able for applications ranging from media players and games consoles through to laptop computers and remote monitoring devices. Prototypes pow-ering representative demonstration systems have been shown to a number of potential customers around the world.

Contact: CMR Fuel Cells Plc, Harston, Cambridge, UK. Tel: +44 1223 875295, www.cmrfuelcells.com

DMFCC deal with Singapore notebook computer firm

California-based Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation has signed a

memorandum of understanding with Suzuki Technology Ltd in Singapore, to co-develop DMFCs and fuel cartridges for the multi-billion-dollar notebook computer and portable electronics industries. DMFCC says that a single fuel cell cartridge could power a note-book computer for up to 10 h.

Suzuki produces and markets notebook com-puters, portable storage devices, optical disk drives, memory modules, flash-based memory and graphics accelerators. DMFCC manufactures disposable fuel cartridges for portable electronics applications, and fuel cell and battery test equip-ment. It has licensed the extensive California Institute of Technology/University of Southern California portfolio of DMFC-related patents.

Contact: Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation, Pasadena, California, USA. Tel: +1 626 768 3375, www.dmfcc.com or www.viaspace.com

Or contact: Suzuki Technology Pte Ltd, Singapore. Tel: +65 6333 1555, www.suzuki.sg

Sanmina-SCI for Neah engineering support

In the US, Neah Power Systems – a developer of fuel cells for military,

industrial and consumer portable elec-tronic devices – has selected Sanmina-SCI Corporation to help commercialize its silicon-based fuel cell systems. Sanmina-SCI, which serves the global electronics manufacturing services mar-ket, will provide engineering develop-ment and manufacturing support.

‘One of the key differentiators of our product is the ability to use the design and manufactur-ing prowess of a company like Sanmina-SCI in bringing the product to market,’ says Dr Chris D’Couto, president/CEO of Neah Power.

Neah’s patented porous silicon-based technolo-gy is claimed to provide long-lasting, efficient and safe power systems. Its products will enable users to extend the runtime of 10–100 W electronic devices well beyond that of conventional batteries.

Contact: Neah Power Systems Inc, Bothell, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com

MTI Micro expands into China, to boost production capacity

US-based MTI MicroFuel Cells, the developer of Mobion® portable

power solutions, is expanding its opera-tions into China, with the opening of a new representative office in Shanghai. The new office will facilitate MTI Micro’s efforts to develop relationships with manufacturers and low-cost component suppliers in China.

The opening of the representative office in China follows the company’s appointment of new business representatives in Korea and Japan. As part of MTI Micro’s business development operations in Asia, the China office will also work to develop new partnerships and help strengthen ongoing OEM relationships. MTI Micro hopes to sign a low-cost manufacturing partner by the end of this year.

‘Expanding our operations in China is an important step in achieving manufacturing readi-ness,’ says Peng Lim, chairman/CEO of both MTI Micro and its parent company, Mechanical Technology Inc. ‘A local presence in China is key to our commercialization strategy, and will assist in establishing our manufacturing base to support increased production levels in prepara-tion for our product launch in 2009.’

Contact: MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 533 2222, www.mtimicrofuelcells.com

Stark State, Rolls-Royce get Ohio funding boost

The Ohio Third Frontier Commission has recommended funding worth

$3 million for Stark State College of Technology, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (US) Inc and Contained Energy Inc, for the expansion of industry and education partnerships for fuel cell commercialization.

The funding for Stark State College of Technology in North Canton is specifically to permit commercial-scale testing of critical Rolls-Royce sub-assemblies and development of new products for Contained Energy. This expansion represents the second part of a multi-phase strategy for economic development in the field of fuel cell technology. In addition to attracting companies, the funding will allow Stark State to expand its educational offerings and training related to fuel cells.