Highlights from Tour stop No 2 in Hannover
The Hannover event on the 17th of September was well co-organised by the Solvay Company. It comprised a presentation with discussions, a VIP panel discussion with prominent representatives from industry and politics and a public ride&drive event.
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In the past, Hannover and the State of Lower Saxony did not stick out specifically on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Thus, the participants were keen to learn about future plans and strategies.
The presentations provided valuable guidance on how to kick start activities and join e.g. the cities of Berlin and Hamburg or the states of Northrhine Westfalia and Hessia in their ongoing hydrogen and fuel cell strategies.
It was well received by the audience that both the City of Hannover and the state of Lower Saxony announced to be open for upcoming demonstration projects. They were also applauded for their commitment to establish one or further more hydrogen refuelling stations for fuel cell vehicle refuelling, as part of the Government’s 50 stations plan by 2015, as well as the insight that hydrogen as vehicle fuel will profit from synergies with hydrogen for large scale renewable electricity storage.
Hannover preconditions for Hydrogen
Here follows statements highlighting some of the interesting discussions that took place during the day. It shows that Hannover has the will and the potential to ramp up the hydrogen efforts and become a major hydrogen centre.
In the Cologne area up to 1000 fuel cell buses can be operated on cheap surplus hydrogen from chemical processes, which is otherwise just burnt for heating together with natural gas, thus offering an intelligent and economic early introduction strategy.
Ingredients of a successful region initiative to foster fuel cell and hydrogen commercialization are a “2+2 approach”. This means two local facilitators, cooperating closely (with staff in addition) and, at least, two demonstration projects (but not five) for a three-year period (until early commercialization).
Multiple synergies between different technologies or structural approaches need to be uncovered in the coming years of energy transition; for example the use of hydrogen as vehicle fuel and large scale energy storage (Power to Gas), the use of refuelling infrastructure to supply road (cars, trucks and buses), rail and air transport (increased infrastructure utilization), the development of PEM fuel cell technology in conjunction with the development of PEM electrolysis (scaling effect).
Hannover could actually become one of the major German hydrogen hubs, H2R – Hanover Hydrogen Region, as Lower Saxony boasts ample wind energy potentials, geologic structures for storing hydrogen underground at large scale, large automotive as well as it supplies maritime industry.
A majority of kilometres driven with passenger cars in Germany today are in long distance driving. If greenhouse gas emissions should be decreased decisively, we need to do this with cars that are capable to drive long distance. With e-mobility this will only be possible with fuel cells and hydrogen.
In most fuel cell vehicles’ drive systems only few components originate from Europe today. If Europe in the future is to play a vital industrial role in this industry sector, besides systems integration, then one strategy must be to foster European value creation, and hence, strengthen an industrial knowledge and manufacturing basis.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
High level representation at the first Road Tour stop
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The European Hydrogen Road Tour made its first stop in Hamburg on the 13th of September. The local partners, TUHH, Hamburg University of Technology, Vattenfall Europe Innovation GmbH and hySOLUTIONS GmbH had invited us to the Hydrogen Colloquium in Hamburg.
Hamburg is traditionally one of the German cities with most R&D-activities in the field of hydrogen. The newly opened hydrogen refuelling station in the HafenCity, as well as two smaller stations for passenger vehicles and one for busses, adds to the overall infrastructure within the city. By 2013 there will be seven busses operating in Hamburg. Fuel cell cars and a fuel cell tourist ship are already in daily operation, together with a fuel cell tow and fork lift trucks at the airport.
The major drivers behind the strategies, demonstration projects and impressive record of commercialisation efforts are public bodies, such as Hamburger Hochbahn and the Senate. Vattenfall and Airbus represent industry in this process of development.
Germany is the European country having the most offensive strategy for the commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen. By 2015 the plan is to have 50 hydrogen refuelling stations in operation, allowing the use of about 5,000 fuel cell vehicles. Until then a solid legal framework is expected to be in place allowing the extension of the refuelling station network to 300-400 stations by 2020 and 1.000 stations by 2030. Well placed, this should then serve as basic coverage for full customer outreach throughout Germany. By 2015 it should also become obvious, due to the scaling effect of fuel cell cars, how the fuel cell bus costs can decrease, something expected to follow from the development of passenger car fuel cells.
The seminar offered exiting discussions between the participants. Automobile industry was represented at high level, in fact, Ulrich Bünger as H2mS project coordinator was proud to welcome the major development engineers from each of the following car companies: Byung Ki Ahn from Hyundai, Peter Froeschle from Daimler, Katsuhiko Hirose from Toyota and Takashi Moriya from Honda. Among the conclusions that they drew at the end of the day, was that there is no competition between the automakers today concerning the FCEV market. It will come later, with increasing demand and as competition between regions when demand of more fuel cell vehicles develops.
The representatives from the auto industry also agree that ”leadership” in combination with ”continuity” are key ingredients to establish a market for fuel cells and hydrogen, both in industry and in the regions. They also share their essential ambition for developing FCEVs; fuel diversification, environmental protection and value creation.
The experts joined in the opinion that the European hydrogen infrastructure build up poses one of the biggest challenges as it serves the densest road networks in the World. But on the other hand, currently the potential opportunities to commercialize hydrogen and fuel cells are seen biggest in Europe, specifically in Germany and Scandinavia.
In the short term, three risks have to be overcome: an initial investment risk (requiring guaranties from banks or governments), a market risk (the public needs to be informed and vehicles/fuel have to become affordable) and the first mover disadvantage (which needs to be solved by developing incentives).
As one of the industry representatives put it straight, specifically with a view to the Hamburg region: “Did Hamburg already counterbalance the expenditures for ever growing oil import costs with the use of hydrogen from renewable domestic wind energy?”
The seminar and VIP arrangement of the 13th will be followed by a public ride and drive event in central Hamburg Saturday 15th September. [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
PRESS RELEASE: International car manufacturers join forces in the name of hydrogen!
September 13 marks an extraordinary milestone in the history of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). Four international car manufacturers will join forces to demonstrate hydrogen-powered FCEVs are not just technologies of the future but of today.
A total of 7 FCEVs from Daimler, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota will bring their individual hydrogen fuel cell systems to the European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012.
The tour will last one month, with special event stopovers in nine European cities, where interested public will be given the opportunity to experience the benefits of this alternative drivetrain. Several cities on the tour route will be the first opportunity for the general public to approach and test drive FCEVs where the only emission is water.
The event aims to reach out to politicians, industry leaders, press and public to help improve awareness around FCEVs, delivering a clear message. While the technology exists for Hydrogen Vehicles today, there is a real need to improve hydrogen distribution infrastructure. This tour also marks the most widespread effort to promote FCEVs in Europe this year.
The FCEVs from participating manufacturers will move through Hamburg, Hannover, Bolzano, Paris, Cardiff, Bristol, Swindon, London and Copenhagen, supported by local organisations in each city. H2 Logic Denmark will provide mobile refuelling stations in some stopover cities.
The European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012 is part of the “H2moves Scandinavia” project. The project is the first European Lighthouse Project for hydrogen funded by the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking programme launched by the European Commission and European industry stakeholders. The project focusses on gaining customer acceptance for hydrogen-powered FCEVs and preparing the market for hydrogen fuel cell technology. The experience from operating 19 FCEVs in Oslo and Copenhagen and the corresponding hydrogen refuelling infrastructure shows that the technology is reliable now even in harsh Scandinavian winters.
Michel Gardel, Vice-President Communications, External and Environment Affairs of Toyota Motor Europe today commented: “Toyota has been active in fuel cell technology for the last 20 years and we are working to commercialise our next-generation fuel cell car by 2015. The European Hydrogen Road Tour is a great opportunity for our company and partners to demonstrate the readiness of the technology to European consumers."
Dr. Christian Mohrdieck, Director drive development fuel cell system, Daimler AG points out the importance of this technology: ”On our way to zero-emission mobility fuel cell electric vehicles - with their great range while at the same time short refueling times - will play a central role for the future. However, the success of this technology depends crucially on certain conditions being in place, such as the availability of a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure.”
Thomas Brachmann, Automobile Engineering & Research, Honda R&D Europe (Deutschland) GmbH remarked that “Honda believe fuel cell electric vehicles are the ultimate mobility solution, providing a practical, clean and near silent answer to transport requirements. The European Hydrogen Road Tour offers a great opportunity to give the public, the media and government officials a chance to experience this zero emission technology for themselves. ”
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe describes their reasons for joining the tour: “Hyundai is proud to be playing an integral role in the European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012. The Hyundai ix35 FCEV clearly demonstrates not only our commitment to producing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, but also the benefits of FCEV. As the availability and performance of this technology improves, we can look forward to FCEVs providing sustainable mobility to future generations while dramatically reducing climate change.”
About Fuel cell electric vehicles
A fuel cell efficiently transforms hydrogen’s chemical energy into electricity and heat. The only emission is pure water. In combination with an electric motor, it can be used to power vehicles, delivering a much higher driving range and faster refuelling time than battery electric vehicles. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles deliver performance comparable with today’s conventional internal combustion engine vehicles but with zero tailpipe emissions and almost no sound whilst driving.
Summary
• Events in nine cities: Hamburg, Hannover, Bolzano, Paris, Cardiff, Bristol, Swindon, London and Copenhagen.
• Cars available to the general public, politicians and media.
• Cars from Toyota, Daimler, Hyundai and Honda will take part.
•Refuelling at a movable station and existing stations along the route.
More information on the European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012 can be found on our project web-site.http://www.scandinavianhydrogen.org/h2moves/european-hydrogen-road-tour-2012
About H2 Moves Scandinavia
The goal with the project H2moves Scandinavia is to gain customer acceptance for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). By operating several FCEVs in Scandinavia and building one new hydrogen refuelling station in Oslo, the broad public has been introduced to a technology ready to be commercialised. Read more about the project and follow the tour on our project web-site. http://www.scandinavianhydrogen.org/h2moves
Images can be downloaded at Flickr.
For more information contact Coordinator Dr. Ulrich Buenger, Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST). +49 (89) 608 110 – 21 coordinator@H2moves.eu
The European Hydrogen Road Tour kicks off
The European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012 brings seminars and Ride & Drive events through six European regions.
Follow us in real life, on Facebook or here on our website! Images will be published on Flickr.
The European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012 is part of H2moves Scandinavia, one of several projects in the Joint Technology Initiative on Hydrogen & Fuel Cells (FCH JU) which is funded by the European Commission and the European Industry. The European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012 will with seminars and Ride & Drive events reach out to politicians, industry, press and public within six European regions.
The message is clear: Hydrogen vehicles are already here - ready for mass production from 2014-2015 onwards. But there is still a sigificant need for infrastructure build-up.
For the European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012, car manufacturers and infrastructure organizations, together with other related industry and local stakeholders were invited to join our journey in building a strong Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles partnership in Europe!
Why a road tour
Major car manufacturers have devoted a significant amount of resources towards developing hydrogen powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) that will be mass produced in a few years. That is why we take cars from four companies – Daimler, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota – along the European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012.
FCEVs on tour
In many of the cities we visit it is the first time the general public has an opportunity to test drive these cars with only water coming out of the exhaust pipe. The FCEVs they will experience are on a par with today’s cars but with much less noise and emissions. Provided the energy in the hydrogen production is renewable, the environmental impact is low.
Our ambition is to accelerate the growth of hydrogen infrastructure so the FCEVs you can see here today, will be seen everywhere tomorrow.
Car fuel from water, is it possible?
Yes it is! A major pathway to produce hydrogen in the future is electrolysis, which is achieved by decomposing water into hydrogen and oxygen. This is done with the help of renewable electricity. At the moment this is a relatively expensive method to produce hydrogen, and approximately 30–40 percent of the energy is lost through the electrolytic process. However, the efficiency is expected to improve and in the long run electrolysis is considered to be the most sustainable method for producing hydrogen from renewable resources.
A fuel cell is a device which can be used to efficiently transform the hydrogen’s chemical energy into electricity and heat. Even better, the only emission is pure water. The efficiency of a fuel cell car is twice as high as the conventional combustion engine.
Read more about hydrogen and fuel cell technology at H2 Tech.
Tour facts
The Route
Local tour details
You can also follow our route more in detail, with local information and contacts, here on H2 Spots.
We are part of a bigger picture
The European Hydrogen Road Tour 2012 is part of a project called H2moves Scandinavia. The project is the first European Lighthouse Project for hydrogen, funded by the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking programme, launched by the European Commission and European industry.
Main focus of the joint undertaking is to increase the impact of industrial level activities in Europe in this field and to address three major European policy targets:
- Energy diversity
- Mitigation of greenhouse gases
- Increase the share of renewable energies
Please feel welcome to contact us for more information and to join. We look forward to hear from you!
Overall Press Contact: coordinator@h2moves.eu, +49 89 608110-0.
European Hydrogen Road Tour, Project Manager: Martin Svensson +46 703 803050
European Road Tour announced at Energy Day in Brussels
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During the Energy Day held at Palais des Académies in Brussels the 21:st of June 2012 H2moves Scanndinavia announced a European Hydrogen Road Tour to be held in September and October.
The European Hydrogen Road Tour is probably the largest FCEV demo event in 2012 with European and international visibility.
– We will drive through Europe with up to 10 FCEV, and arrange a number of events along the route, which are linked to strong existing events in five regions, said Martin Svensson, project manager of the tour.
Events in some of the most strategic Hydrogen cities in Europe
The tour will visit Hamburg, Hannover, Bolzano, Paris, Cardiff, Bristol, London and Copenhagen. Refuelling will take place at permanent hydrogen refuelling stations and at the H2moves mobile refuelling station. The concept includes seminars and ride and drive events for decision makers and public, PR and communication activities.
– Our ambition is to gain custoer acceptance so that the cars you can see here today can be seen everywhere tomorrow, Marin Svensson said as a conclution.
Strong representation from H2moves Scandinavia at Energy Day
The Energy Day was part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week. H2moves Scandinavia had strong representation. Dr. Ulrich Buenger, project coordinator, gave a presentation of the project. Björn Aronsson, from project partner Hydrogen Sweden, participated in a panel discussion.
The "Let Hydrogen Move You!" event, co-organized by the European Hydrogen Association, EHA, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, FCH JU, and Hydrogen, fuel cells and Electro-mobility in European Regions, HyER, presented key stakeholders in the main demonstration locations and their experiences how hydrogen is moving their communities to a low carbon transport and energy future.
A fuel cell electric and battery electric vehicle Drive & Ride complemented the event and was a unique chance to test drive more than 10 different zero emission car models just in front of the Belgian Royal Palace. The Drive & Ride is part of the EUSEW Clean Mob partnership of the EUSEW, EHA and AVERE providing clean transport in Brussels throughout the EU Sustainable Energy Week.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]