15th May 2007 07:05
Acta S.p.A.15 May 2007 15 May 2007 Acta S.p.A. Acta catalysts drive ethanol fuel cell vehicle Acta, the AIM-listed catalyst developer, is pleased to announce that it suppliedfuel cell electrodes activated with HYPERMEC catalysts to power what managementbelieve to be the world's first fuel cell demonstrator vehicle to be fuelleddirectly by bio-ethanol. Acta supplied the electrodes to a team from HochschuleOffenburg - University of Applied Sciences which demonstrated the direct ethanolfuel cell vehicle at the Shell Eco-Marathon race, held in France on 13 May 2007. Shell sponsor a number of Eco-Marathons around the world where new technologiesare demonstrated that offer cleaner and more efficient vehicle propulsion,ranging from batteries to fuel cells. A team from Offenburg chose to useHYPERMEC catalysts and electrodes to allow their demonstrator vehicle to rundirectly on ethanol fuel. In so doing, they also built the first 50W ethanolfuel cell stack to use HYPERMEC and anion exchange membranes. The use of ethanol to power a fuel cell demonstration vehicle for the first timeis significant because ethanol is already being produced in ever increasingquantities as a bio-fuel for use in the automotive industry. Use of ethanol in afuel cell rather than in a combustion engine has the potential to furtherincrease efficiency, reduce harmful emissions and eliminate the problem ofhydrogen transportation and storage. Professor Uli Hochberg from Offenburg said: "We were very excited by the idea ofusing ethanol as a fuel for our car. Ethanol is much more practical to use thanhydrogen gas. We have been excellently supported by Acta, who have suppliedinvaluable technical support to our project." Damian Thomas, Product Management Director of Acta, said: "The success of theOffenburg team in building and using a HYPERMEC catalysed fuel cell stack showsthe technical and commercial potential of Acta's technology for manyapplications. We congratulate Offenburg on all that they have achieved in a veryshort time." For further information, please contact: Acta S.p.A:Toby Woolrych, Chief Operating Officer Tel: +44 (0) 20 7360 4900 Smithfield Consultants:George Hudson / Will Henderson Tel: +44 (0) 20 7360 4900 Numis:David Poutney / Emma Tod Tel: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000 Notes to Editors: Acta S.p.A. Acta, which was admitted to AIM in October 2005, is a manufacturer ofplatinum-free catalysts for the portable electronics and renewables markets.Acta uses a patented manufacturing process to make uniquely active catalysts,branded HYPERMEC, which are able to perform as effectively as expensive platinumcatalysts. Acta's catalysts offer customers technical usage benefits,significant cost savings and allow for the first time the use of ethanol, whichis a safe and environmentally friendly fuel. Products in the target portableelectronics market include laptop computers and mobile phones, and in therenewables market include electricity supply, automotive power and hydrogengeneration. Shell Eco-Marathon The history of the Shell Eco-Marathon stretches back over 50 years and itoriginated at Shell's research lab in Illinois, US. In 1985, the first EuropeanShell Eco-Marathon was held in France and the record was 680 km on a litre offuel. The principle of the Shell Eco-Marathon is to design and build a vehiclethat will use the least fuel and produce the fewest emissions possible.Conventional fuels such as diesel, petrol and LPG, as well as alternative fuelssuch as solar, electric, hydrogen and biomass can power the vehicles. The ShellEco-Marathon encourages students to reflect on potential solutions to bothcurrent and future transport and energy challenges, and to explore ideas formore sustainable mobility. This year, the European Shell Eco-Marathons are the largest in its 22-yearhistory, attracting hundreds of teams from across the world to three key events- the European Shell Eco-Marathon at the Nogaro Racing Circuit in SouthwestFrance, May 11-13, the new Americas Shell Eco-Marathon at the CaliforniaSpeedway, Los Angeles, April 12-15, and the UK Shell Eco-Marathon at Rockingham,to be held on July 4-5. Over 250 teams entered this year's European ShellEco-Marathon, representing a vast range of schools, universities, colleges andtechnical academies from 20 countries across Europe and beyond. Offenburg's ethanol fuel cell vehicle had not been built and tested in time tocompete in this year's event, at which Offenburg used a conventional hydrogenfuel cell vehicle. Instead, the ethanol vehicle completed a demonstration lap atthe event. Hochschule Offenburg - University of Applied Sciences Hochschule Offenburg was founded in 1964 and today has 2,300 students. With anengineering focus it offers courses in economics, technology, society andenvironment across four faculties. The approach of the University is to offercourses and research that are very application and industry-orientated TheUniversity maintains many ties with academic institutes worldwide and encouragesacademic exchange programmes within its courses, including the European Socrates/Erasmus programmes. Offenburg first entered the Shell Eco-Marathon in 1998. From 1998 to 2005 thecar ran on diesel, winning the diesel category in 2005 with 1,807km/litreequivalent. In 2006 the University entered its first hydrogen fuel cell car. The vehicle The Offenburg vehicle "Schluckspecht3c" has been continually developed since2002 and converted to fuel cells in 2006. The car weighs 60kg with aself-supporting carbon fibre chassis and is operated by the fuel cell and aninnovative wheel hub engine which drives the enclosed rear wheel. The car issteered through the front wheels. At the 2006 Shell Eco Marathon, the car ranked third in the hydrogen fuel cellclass and fourth overall with 2,614km/litre equivalent and received the BoschTechnical Innovation Award for its development of a high efficiency wheel-hubengine drive. At the 2007 Shell Eco Marathon, the vehicle broke its previous record, achieving2,716km/litre equivalent, finishing in second place in the fuel cell categoryand third place overall, before being stripped down and prepared for the ethanolfuel cell demonstration on the final day. The ethanol fuel cell stack contained 60 cells and measured 18cm x 18cm. Thefuel cell was rated at 40 volts to charge the on-board capacitor. 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