New Vehicle Technologies

Hydrogen
A number or hydrogen fuel cells are being developed. Hydrogen can be produced either from electrolysis of water or by "reforming" hydrogen from hydrogen rich fuel compound such as methanol or natural gas. Hydrogen can be reformed remotely and supplied to vehicles but this requires major infrastructural developments. Alternatively it can be reformed on board, which requires storage tanks. These can be heavy and reduce performance. Upstream emissions in hydrogen production arise from natural gas recovery and purification, heat requirements of the steam reformer and energy demand of all process units.

DaimlerChrysler demonstrated a fuel cell bus in March 2000, with hydrogen stored in tanks. The emissions from the hydrogen fuel cell are in pre-combustion process (with hydrogen produced from natural gas) giving 83.2 gCO2/MJ (Beer et al, 2001). 30 near-production fuel cell busses, the Mercedes-Benz Citaro, have now been sold to European Fuel Cell Bus Project (DaimlerChrysler, 2002).

Potential for Iceland to have 100% hydrogen based transport system within 35 years ECTOS (Ecological City Transport System) - a demonstration and evaluation project in Reykjavik set up by a consortium comprising Vistorka hf (EcoEnergy Ltd.), DaimlerChrysler, Norsk Hydro and Royal Dutch/Shell. Hydrogen would be derived from water, using renewable energy from existing supplies and new offshore wind developments. A sister project, "CUTE" (Clean Urban Transport for Europe), kicked-off in February 2002, with 27 fuel cell buses developed by DaimlerChrysler supplied to 9 European cities - Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, London, Luxemburg, Madrid, Porto, Stockholm and Stuttgart.

Other fuel cell vehicles:

• PSA Peugeot Citroen's HYDRO-GEN Demonstrator vehicle.
  
  
• General Motors has unveiled a concept hydrogen fuel cell car with a revolutionary chassis design.
  
  
• DaimlerChrysler have produced the Necar5.
  
  
• Ford Motor Company expect to have a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Focus available by 2004 and looking to the future of fuel cells with the P2000.