Fuel cells — which turn a fuel like hydrogen into electricity and water — have always been one of clean tech’s holy grails. Silent and non-polluting, they would, if they ever work economically, replace both internal combustion engines and coal-fired power plants. The problem is with the “economically” part: Fuel cells do work, but at a cost that puts them just outside the list of acceptable alternatives. So while wind, solar and smart grid all have their hot growth stocks, fuel cells have been bypassed by the hot money. But hope springs eternal, and recently a couple of announcements make it seem like, just maybe, this technology is once again worth watching.
Oorja unveils methanol fuel cell that could triple EV driving ranges
Sequoia Capital-backed Oorja Protonics may be making methanol fuel cells to charge batteries in forklifts — but its new product, the OorjaPac Model 1, could give it a big-time entree into the plug-in vehicle market. Supplying 50 times more power to on-board batteries than competing fuel cells, the Model 1 could extend the range of electric vehicles like General Motors’ Chevy Volt or Nissan’s Leaf by two to three times — a game-changing development that could make green cars much hotter sellers.
“Until now, our revenue has come from industrial applications like forklifts and warehouse fleets, but we’re now edging close to the automotive market,” Oorja CEO Sanjiv Malhotra told VentureBeat. “At best, battery-powered vehicles have a range of 100 to 150 miles — this could take it to 2x or 3x.”
With one of consumers’ biggest objections to EVs being their limited driving ranges, this could completely change the way people think about buying greener cars. No longer would they only be suited only for short commutes. Oorja’s new product could make it possible to take a road trip from the Bay Area to LA without needing to plug in and recharge once.
The Model 1 methanol cell delivers 4.5 kilowatts of power at an operating cost of $0.18 per kilowatt-hour, making it cost competitive with other automotive power solutions, including the pricey lithium-ion battery packs used in most EVs today. The methanol cell can’t power vehicles by itself — rather it keeps batteries charged so that they are never fully depleted or overheated. This saves maintenance and replacement costs and can double the overall life of battery packs, Malhotra said.
“Because we are reducing the size of the average power pack by half, and increasing the life of a battery two times, the cost of the overall power package could be 15 to 20 percent lower than usual,” Malhotra said. “If you look at operating costs, including maintenance and charging, it could be 30 to 35 percent lower.” To be clear, he is comparing systems consisting of a methanol fuel cell and battery pack to systems consisting of just a regular battery pack alone.
The new OorjaPac is essentially an 11-gallon fuel tank full of methanol — a widely available source of fuel produced from natural gas, landfill gases and biomass waste. When the tank is nearing empty, it can be filled up just like a regular gas tank within minutes. This could spell trouble for companies working on the question of EV fueling infrastructure. Who needs highway charging or battery-switching stations (read: Coulomb Technologies or Better Place), if batteries can be drawing a charge from a fuel cell even as you keep driving?
When asked why none of its competitors have caught on to Oorja’s advanced technology, Malhotra credits the two years the Fremont, Calif., company sunk into research on methanol systems. He said the increase in power has to do with proprietary changes to the proton exchange membrane contained in the unit. He wouldn’t reveal more. The startup, founded in 2005, emerged from stealth mode in 2008 with the launch of its first, less powerful OorjaPac, which is readily available on the market today.
Oorja will not jump directly into the EV market with both feet. First, it will try to get its new technology integrated into long-haul trucks, particularly trucking fleets. It may target companies like the U.S. Postal Service, Malhotra mentioned. After that, it will eye opportunities to get its methanol fuel cells into plug-in sedans and sports cars, as they pick up momentum this year and next.
The company already has a deal with Nissan that allows the automaker to use the methanol fuel cells to charge batteries in its forklifts and other warehouse-based equipment.
Fuel-cell maker Bloom Energy finally sheds cloak of mystery this Sunday
Bloom Energy is finally ready to debut its Bloom Box, a fuel-cell capable of running up to 100 homes — carrying the potential to fundamentally change how utilities and companies alike generate and distribute energy. The Sunnyvale, Calif. company plans to unveil the massive device this upcoming Sunday on 60 Minutes.
According to a preview of the episode on CBS News’ web site, Bloom has already recruited a prestigious roster of 20 early customers, including Google, Wal-Mart, eBay, and none other than the CIA. Some of them already have the fuel cells, which retail for between $700,000 and $800,000, installed. More information is sure to be revealed on the show, and again during a company-hosted press conference next week.
Here’s what we know about its actual technology: the Bloom Box is based largely on a solid-oxide fuel cell (that can run on biomass or natural gas) developed by scientists at NASA and is made out of cheaper materials than those built by its competitors (at least according to company PR). The device is also said to withstand a wider range of temperatures, making it suitable for a wide array of applications (even the space shuttle).
Analysts believe the box could reduce carbon footprints by 50 to 100 percent (depending on the feedstock used — whether it’s switchgrass, corn husks or natural gas). The preview of the 60 Minutes episode also quotes eBay CEO John Donahoe as saying that five Bloom Boxes have already saved the auction site $100,000 in energy costs.
