European Parliament Adopts Hydrogen Vehicle Type Approval and Calls for Infrastructure Support

On September 3rd, the European Parliament backed European Commission proposals to boost the development of hydrogen vehicles, but warned that the strategy would fail without concrete measures to support the establishment of a Europe wide filling station network for hydrogen powered vehicles.

"Hydrogen powered vehicles are unlikely to be successful on the market unless adequate filling station infrastructure is available in Europe. The Commission should therefore look into suitable measures to support the establishment of a Europe wide filling station network for hydrogen powered vehicles," states the report, which calls on the EU to boost its hydrogen research activities under the Seventh Framework Research Programme.

The European Commission welcomes today's support of the European Parliament (EP) for its proposal to simplify the approval of hydrogen powered vehicles. This will mark a step forward in the development and marketing of clean and safe hydrogen vehicles. As a result, they will be seen more often on Europe's streets and the European automotive industry could become more competitive by taking the lead in hydrogen technology. The EP vote is based on a compromise reached with the Member States, which is expected to adopt the package shortly.

NextEnergy to Host Codes & Standards Conference

The 2008 Hydrogen Codes and Standards Conference at NextEnergy Center in Detroit, Michigan will be held on Thursday, September 18th, 2008, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Friday, September 19th, 2008, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. This event will feature professional panels from the hydrogen industry, as well as keynote speakers from the U.S. Department of Energy.

From Maine to California, Hydrogen Vehicles Go Cross-Country
Kyle Gibeault, National Hydrogen Association

On August 23, hydrogen-powered vehicles from nine major auto manufacturers arrived in Los Angeles at the culmination of the Hydrogen Road Tour, a two-week, 31-city trip across the United States to demonstrate that hydrogen vehicle and fueling technologies are nearing commercial availability. Each stop along the Tour was an opportunity for members of the public, media, and government to see hydrogen vehicles first-hand and in some instances to also drive the vehicles and observe the refueling process. 

The Road Tour was jointly organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation, California Fuel Cell Partnership, U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Hydrogen Association. Local organizers also played a vital role in developing each event and obtaining the necessary permits for the vehicles and vehicle refuelers. 

The permitting officials’ level of familiarity with hydrogen technologies varied from stop to stop but generally there were few permitting obstacles to executing the cross-country trip. For the Washington, DC stop, the NHA, in partnership with US DOT and US DOE, interacted with officials in several federal and municipal agencies to obtain permits for a ride and drive event. In this instance, the process for obtaining permits was no different than obtaining permits for any other special event. The fact that these were hydrogen-powered vehicles was of no particular interest to officials at the US Park Service, District Department of Transportation, and the Metropolitan Police Department. There was one question, however, that they all asked: When can I buy one of these cars?

For more information about the Hydrogen Road Tour, visithttp://hydrogenroadtour08.dot.gov.

The Hydrogen Road Tour was organized by:

An Introduction to IEC/TC 105: Fuel Cell TechnologiesConnie Bielawski, Project Manager, CSA America, Inc. 

The Scope of IEC/TC105 Fuel Cell Technologies is to prepare international standards regarding fuel cell technologies addressing applications such as on-site power, portable power, and power for hand-held electronics. Many of these technologies are in transition from research and development to commercialization. At this early stage, it is important to have international standards in order to facilitate commercialization, international trade and to harmonize and ease approval procedures for fuel cell units. 

Note that a standard does more than enhance international trade. Standards play an important role in creating industry efficiency, innovation and providing relative conformity and performance between similar products. Lastly, standards are vital for ensuring that products meet environment, health and safety requirements. 

International standards are a mechanism to avoid purely national or regional standards which would lead to conflicting national approval procedures. TC 105 ensures that existing standards are taken into account when developing international standards to avoid deviations in various market regions.

TC 105 standards are intended to cover the market demand of fuel cell manufacturers, system integrators, installers and users. In addition these standards address specific interests of authorities, approval organizations, component manufacturers, fuel suppliers, and safety issues related to the infrastructure surrounding fuel cell systems.

In order to be most effective, TC work is organized in project-like working groups instead of subcommittees. The working group structure reflects the organization of the future set of fuel cell standards. TC 105 consists of several Working Groups. 

Working Group and ScopeDocument Published /PendingComments

WG 1 - Terminology

This report provides uniform terminology in the form of diagrams and definitions related to fuel cell technologies. It is intended as a resource for the Working Groups and users of the TC105 series of fuel cell standards.

The 2005 TC105 Plenary voted to change the scope of this activity from “a resource for the Working Groups and users of the TC105 Series” to a “general fuel cell technology glossary”. This change will be reflected in the scheduled 2008 update of this document.IEC/TS 62282-1 (2005-03)The committee is proceeding with a second edition which will be a general fuel cell glossary.  A CD has been approved with comments, and all comments have been addressed. The CDV will be available by July 2008

WG 2 - Fuel Cell Module

International standard providing minimum requirements for safety and performance of fuel cell modules in all applications.IEC 62282-2 (2004-03)

EN 62282-2:2004

CAN/CSA-IEC 62282-2

The first edition of IEC 62282-2 was published in 2004.  Amendment 1 was published in February 2007, and the standard republished, including the amendment as Edition 1.1, in March 2007.

A corrigendum to the amendment was approved in February 2008, and will be published shortly.

This document has been adopted as a European standard as EN 62282-2:2004, and a Canadian standard (with Canadian modifications) as CAN/CSA-IEC 62282-2.WG 3 - Stationary Fuel Cell System- Safety

International standard providing minimum design, construction, operating and quality requirements for stationary fuel cell power plantsIEC 62282-3-1 (2007-04).

EU – adopted as a harmonized standard, EN 62282-3-1:2007.             
                                 
USA – in the process of harmonizing with CSAAmerica FC1.  This document will be adopted as an American standard (with American modifications) as CSA America-IEC 62282-3-1           

Japan – incorporating into JIS standard for PEFC Power Systems          

Korea – in progress of adopting as a Korean standard

A technical corrigendum was approved in February 2008, and will be published shortly

WG 4 - Test Methods For the Fuel Cell Power System - Performance

Describes how to measure the performance of stationary fuel cell power systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications.IEC 62282-3-2 (2006-03) 

EN 62282-3-2:2006

A corrigendum was approved in February 2008, correcting a symbol error in a formula, and will be published shortly. 

Activity has begun on a second edition to harmonize the standard with ASME PTC50 especially in relation to the calculation formula for energy efficiency.

The document has been adopted as a European Standard as EN 62282-3-2:2006.

WG 5 - Fuel Cell Power Systems – Installation

Provide performance based requirements for the minimum safe installation of indoor and outdoor fuel cell power plants.Published November 2007 as IEC 62282-3-3The maintenance cycle will begin in 2008 for the next edition scheduled for 2010.

WG 6 - Fuel Cell Systems for Propulsion and Auxiliary Power Units

International standard providing performance, safety, EMC, quality assurance and environmental aspects of fuel cell systems for propulsion and auxiliary power units in vehicle (non-automotive) applications.

This committee voted to suspend all work on automotive applications in favor of joint work with ISO/TC22/SC21.

No activity at this time.  An ad hoc committee is deciding if there is a need for this standard.

WG 7-
Portable Fuel Cell Appliance – Safety

Applies to all ac and dc type portable fuel cell appliances, not exceeding 600V, for commercial, industrial and residential indoor and outdoor use in non-hazardous locations. (Includes moveable, transportable and hand-held equipment. Does not include systems that are permanently connected, export to the grid, or for propulsion or auxiliary power for transportation.)IEC 62282-5-1 (2007-02)

Also adopted by the E.U. as EN 62282-5-1:2007.

The maintenance cycle will begin in 2008 for the next edition which is scheduled for 2010.

WG 8 - Micro Fuel Cells - Safety

Safety standard for micro fuel cell power systems. (Fuel cell power systems and fuel containers that are wearable or easily carried by hand, providing dc outputs that do not exceed60 V d.c. and power output of 240 VA. These DC units power or recharge consumer electric devices.)A PAS was published in 2006 as IEC/PAS 62282-5-1 (2006-02) and modified as IEC/PAS 62282-5-1 Corr. 1 (2007-04). The Committee Draft Vote (CDV) was approved in October 2007. The next phase will be Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) in February 2008 with comments to the CDV addressed. Publication goal is 2008. Later editions will be separated by fuel, e.g. methanol, hydrogen, formic acid, butane, etc.

WG 9 - Micro Fuel Cell Power Systems – Performance

International standard providing testing method for performance evaluation based requirement for micro fuel cell power systems such as laptops, cell phones and PDA’s. Performance evaluation will include characteristics such as of output power, fuel consumption, operational durability, mechanical durability, starting uptime, load responding, etc. It will exclude the field of safety.Published as IEC 62282-6-200 (2007-11)The maintenance cycle for the next edition will begin in 2008.

WG 10 - Micro Fuel Cell Power System - Fuel Cartridge Interchangeability

International standard providing interchangeable based requirements for the micro fuel cell power unit to the electric devices and the fuel cartridge to the fuel cell power unit including the mechanical interface(s), electrical interface(s), communication protocol, retention feature, interface dimensions (as required), datum/orientation featureIEC 62282-6-3The title will be change to Interchangeability-Fuel Cartridges to make it clear that this document addresses fuel cartridges and their interface with the fuel cell power unit (not the interface between the fuel cell and its electronic device). 
The 1st edition will cover only methanol and methanol/water. 
Later editions will expand to other fuels. 

Schedule: The CDV is out for comment until June 6, 2008

WG 11 - Single Cell Test Method for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFC)

This Technical Specification (TS) identifies cell assemblies, test apparatus, measuring instrumentation and methods, test methods and test reports for PEFC single cells. It is intended to be used for evaluating:

  • performance of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for PEFC’s
     
  • material or structures of other components of PEFC’s
     
  • the influence of impurities in fuel and air on the fuel cell performance

Technical Specification TS 62282-7-1The Committee Draft received comments from 6 National Committees which will be addressed. The CDV is scheduled for April 2009.

A Fuel Cell Power System, as defined by the terminology Working Group 1, is a generator system that uses a fuel cell module(s) to generate electric power and heat.  The system, which could include a reformer, is composed of all or some of the systems shown in the figure below.

Fuel cell power systems do not include electrolyzers. Electrolyzers are covered under ISO 197 Working Group 8 Hydrogen Generators Using Electrolysis Process, ISO/DIS 22734. The scope of the TC 197 is the standardization in the field of systems and devices for the production, storage, transport, measurement and use of hydrogen. 

Part 1- Industrial and Commercial Applications ISO 22734-1 has been approved and is in the publication phase. Part 2- Residential Applications, the DIS is expected in 2008, the FDIS in November 2009, and the International Standard in May 2010.

Electrolyzer applications can also be found in a joint UL-CSA standard. This document is intended to cover portable, stationary and fixed gaseous hydrogen generating appliances, rated at 120 V and greater. The requirements are expected to include the water electrolysis method and other chemical methods for hydrogen generation, dispensing and reformation. A decision was made to split activity into three standards:

  • 2264A - Electrolyzer Technology
    This draft is waiting for ISO 22734 from TC197 Working Group 8 to be approved. At that time it will be harmonized into the US system.

  • 2264B - Water Reaction
    This draft was published as Outline of Investigation Subject UL 2264B.

  • 2264C - Fuel Processing Technology (co-sponsored by CSA America)
    This draft is waiting for ISO 16110 from TC197 Working Group 9 to be approved. It will then be harmonized into the US system.

Comments Requested on Metal Hydride Draft International Standard

Member countries of ISO/TC 197 have been requested to vote on ISO/FDIS 16111, Transportable gas storage devices-Hydrogen absorbed in reversible metal hydride. The draft International Standard is available on the U.S. TAG’s website athttp://www.cganet.com/member/document_detail.aspx?id=4563 to members of the US TAG. 

NHA members are requested to contact Karen Hall athallk@hydrogenassociation.org no later than September 22 if they would like to review the draft and provide comments for the NHA response, which is due on October 3.

The following votes are possible:

  • Approve (comments allowed)
  • Disapprove (technical comments with proposals required)
  • U.S. Abstain (You believe the U.S. should abstain.)
  • Abstain (I am not prepared to take a position at this time.)

A webconference for US TAG members has been scheduled for Wednesday, 8 October 2008, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM eastern to review the comments and come to a consensus. Comments sent from NHA members will be included in the NHA response. Please contact Karen Hall if you are an NHA member with interest in this document. Non-NHA members are advised to contact their national committee.

Minor Fire at Hydrogen Fueling Station

Last month, Shell Hydrogen experienced an incident involving a fire at one of its hydrogen refueling stations located in New York. There were no injuries and the local fire department reported the situation as a "minor" fire. Operations at the station have been temporarily suspended while Shell investigates the cause. Users of the station have been diverted to other area stations in the meantime. Shell anticipates sharing more information about this at a future date.