California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger championed the qualities of the new hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity yesterday (27th May).
The former actor, who already owns a vegetable oil-fuelled Hummer, made an appearance at a Shell petrol station which is the state's first to sell gasoline and hydrogen.
Members of the public are being encouraged to test drive 11 fuel cell cars at 28 stops along a 1,700-mile route from San Diego to Vancouver, an event known as the Hydrogen Road Tour.
But Mr. Schwarzenegger revealed that it is the new Clarity that has particularly grabbed the attention of his family.
He said: "I just got the Clarity, which is a wonderful hydrogen vehicle. We're all fighting over who is driving it. My daughters want to drive it all the time and take it away from me."
However, the hydrogen fuel technology will need to overcome a number of challenges after the US government decided to cut funding for research by $101 million to $68 million for 2010.
The Obama administration believes that widespread use of hydrogen vehicles is not plausible in the near term, while the lack of fuelling stations - California, for instance, only has 26 - is also a problem.
Meanwhile, Proton Motor has announced the signing of an exclusive five-year deal with Deutsche Mechatronics, designed to take its fuel cell products to the market quicker in Germany.
Under the terms of the deal, Deutsche will manufacture the company's fuel cell hybrid systems and will eventually aim to improve production capacity to 5,000 units per year per shift.
Proton Power Chief Executive Thomas Melczer said: "This contract manufacturing agreement will enable us to prove to our potential customers that we have the immediate capabilities to mass produce and supply our products to them.
"Furthermore, volume production will reduce the cost of our products and will enable us to more easily accommodate the individual needs of our customers."
Elsewhere, UltraCell Corporation has confirmed that it is using $3.8 million of new funds to help boost the production, testing and sales of its flagship XX25 portable fuel cell.
The XX25 can power specific laptop computers for eight hours with one 250cc fuel cell cartridge, while also offering weeks of running time for remote video monitoring, surveillance and communications equipment.
UltraCell has secured the new funding from current investors BASF Venture Capital GmbH, OnPoint Technologies, Espirito Santo Ventures and Miami Valley Venture Fund.
"Over the past year we have seen an increase in field use of our XX25 product and success in building our products in our Dayton facility," said UltraCell Chief Executive Keith Scott.
"Our founding vision was to bring fuel cells out of the labs and into mass manufacturing - and we're thrilled to be succeeding in this goal."
Finally, an annual two-day event began in Ohio yesterday which is designed to provide an opportunity for ideas and successes to be discussed in the state's ever-growing fuel cell industry.
The Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium was set up in 2004 when the state was searching for backing for the fuel cell division of its Third Frontier technology grant-making programme.
Many of the firms in attendance this year are rolling out new fuel cell-based products across the state, such as Crown Equipment, which has been selling a forklift in the New Bremen region.
In addition, Catacel Corporation has been developing catalytic heat-exchange materials and expects fuel cell business to boost its revenue to more than $2 million over the course of 2009.
The firm - which has just won a patent for a new, more efficient reactor for fuel cells - is planning to expand its Garrettsville facility in Portage County and take on 20 extra staff.
President William Whittenberger told Ohio.com: "The hydrogen and fuel cell industries are at a stage where they have the momentum and energy to accomplish some truly revolutionary things in terms of how they apply their technologies.''
Pat Valente, Director of symposium sponsors the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, added that the creation of a new fuel cell workforce to support local companies will be discussed at the event.
source: platinum.matthey
