Volkswagen has announced the first long-range test drive of its HyPower fuel cell car. On the same mountainous journey, Volkswagen also tested a high-tech Jetta Turbo direct injection diesel using a super-clean synthetic diesel called SunFuel. SunFuel is a nontraditional low-sulfur fuel that can be made from renewable sources such as plants, waste products and other raw materials. Both cars were tested in the depths of winter and driven over the 6578 ft. high Simplon Pass that connects Switzerland and Italy. Together with the Paul Scherrer Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, Volkswagen developed a lowcost hydrogen fuel cell with extra high performance "supercaps" or ultra capacitors, that can store a fuel cell engine's electrical energy for use during strenuous driving, such as passing on steep grades. These supercaps eliminate the need for heavy energy storage batteries.
The companion vehicle on the test was a Volkswagen Jetta TDI that used SunFuel. Volkswagen believes this fuel, which it said offers the lowest particulate emissions possible today, could be used in future near-zero emission fuel-cell cars that use a reformer device to convert regular gas or diesel fuel into hydrogen. Environmental Solutions Worldwide, Inc. said it is developing a new converter specifically designed to reduce emissions for low-temperature, low-volume hydrogen fuel cell applications. The company has entered into an agreement with a major North American hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer where ESW's Hygen Cat will be evaluated to determine if it can be utilized with the manufacturer's product. ESW's engineers will be working closely with the client's technicians in evaluating the Hygen Cat in conjunction with the applications of the manufacturer.
Westport Innovations Inc. and Isuzu Motors Ltd. have agreed to accelerate the testing of Westport's natural gas fuel system technology on a new diesel engine intended for use in light trucks. Westport began developing natural gas technology for light-duty diesel engines in 1999 and announced its original technology development agreement with Isuzu in December 2000. Under an amendment to the original agreement, Westport has now agreed to install its prototype fuel system in two engines for testing by Isuzu in Japan. Isuzu will offset some of Westport's research and development expenses. Westport continues with the testing of its fuel system in one Isuzu diesel engine in Vancouver as planned under the original agreement.
IMPCO announced it has received a patent for its next-generation tamperevident and tamper-resistant fuel metering product used in the transportation and industrial markets in Mexico and South America. IMPCO also said that state of Jalisco in Mexico has approved the use of a specialized IMPCO alternative fuel system for use on new state vehicles. In Phase One, 600 vehicles of a total 3500 vehicles will be equipped with the LPG fuel system. Total value of the planned 3500 conversions is in excess of $4.4 million.
Extengine Transport System's new Advanced Diesel Emission Control (ADEC) System emerged as the top performer in tests of new diesel emission control technologies recently conducted by Environment Canada for the city of Houston. In the Houston tests, Extengine's ADEC System lowered nitrogen oxides ([NO.sub.x]) emissions (the most difficult diesel air contaminant to control) by 82 percent and particulate matter (PM) by 92 percent, exceeding reductions achieved by all other technologies tested. As a consequence of the test results the city is in the process of ordering multiple retrofit systems for city vehicles from Extengine. The tests involved nine manufacturers of emission reduction products or systems, which were applied to and tested on a 10-year-old Gradall excavator with a 190 hp diesel engine. The proprietary ADEC System employs a controller that senses when an engine creates NOx and diffuses tiny amounts of ammonia into the exhaust stream in direct proportion to the [NO.sub.x] being created.
Cumrnins Westport Inc. will join with four other participants in a low-emissions natural gas-powered mine truck study The four other participants are Placer Dome Technical Services Limited, Komarsu Mining Systems Inc., Cortez Joint Venture and ENRG. The immediate goal of the study is to establish, by mid-2002, the feasibility of testing a natural gas-powered mine truck at the Cortez Joint Venture's gold mine in Nevada. An actual vehicle demonstration project would be subject to obtaining site permits and project funding. The ultimate goal of the participants is to develop natural gas mining products.
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