British Midlands University Unveils Fleet of Hydrogen Powered Cars

University of Birmingham Study Investigates Viability of Hydrogen in Transport Applications

CHICAGO, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Midlands Development Corporation today announced that the University of Birmingham has unveiled a fleet of hydrogen powered cars, making it the only university in the UK to run a fleet of vehicles powered in this way.

The cars are pollution free, virtually silent in operation, can travel up to 100 miles on a full tank of hydrogen and at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.

The vehicles are being used as part of a study by the University's School of Chemical Engineering to find out more about the viability of hydrogen in transport applications.

Birmingham engineers will be comparing the hydrogen powered vehicles with the University's own fleet of petrol, diesel and pure 'electric' vehicles so that they can learn more about their efficiency and performance. The researchers will determine how these vehicles need to be adapted in order to make hydrogen an attractive and cost effective option as a future fuel.

Professor Kevin Kendall, lead investigator for the project and head of the University's Fuel Cells Group, said, 'The cars will now start to carry out tasks on the campus, including postal deliveries, recycling of materials and duties around the estate. This will enable us to test the car components for reliability, get the cars road-legal and confirm their efficiency and cost effectiveness.'

The cars will utilise a hydrogen gas fuelling station, specially designed by Pennsylvania based Air Products, which comprises an integrated compression, hydrogen storage and dispensing system, and is optimised to fuel up to six vehicles per day. Minimal onsite utilities are required for the fueller, which can be easily moved from site to site, making it ideal for hydrogen fuelling start up stations.

The Birmingham hydrogen re-fuelling station is part of a cluster being set up across the region by the British Midlands Hydrogen Forum. Known as the Midlands Hydrogen Ring, the stations will be at the heart of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure planned throughout the region, enabling real life hydrogen vehicle trials. A second station is already operational at Loughborough University and the roll-out of further sites includes vehicle testing centers, an airport, a visitor attraction and eventually the open road.

The British Midlands is also home to the headquarters of the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), a new $1.8 billion UK national institute established to speed up the deployment of new low-carbon energy technologies and promote international technology collaboration, whilst CENEX, the UK's first National Centre of Excellence for low carbon and fuel cells, is working with the UK automotive supply chain to explore the potential of low carbon technologies.

"The British Midlands is one of Europe's major hubs for the development of low-carbon technologies," said Vern Sebby, President and CEO of British Midlands Development Corporation, "The region's 18 universities have an excellent track record for the generation and successful commercialization of new ideas and for working in collaboration with industry."

About British Midlands Development Corporation

The British Midlands Development Corporation is the North American economic development agency for central England. The Midlands region is located just one hour to the north of London and includes the major commercial centers of Birmingham, Nottingham, Coventry and Northampton.

As an agency funded by the UK Government, The British Midlands Development Corporation provides specialist advice and support to North American companies seeking to establish a presence or expand a current operation in the region.

The British Midlands Development Corporation is based in Chicago with branch offices in Boston, Washington, DC and San Jose.

For more information, please visit our website at www.thebritishmidlands.com.

Press Contact
Laura Nicholas
laura@thepontgroup.com
646 290 5989

Source: British Midlands Development Corporation

CONTACT: Laura Nicholas, laura@thepontgroup.com, +1-646-290-5989

Web Site: http://www.thebritishmidlands.com/

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Profile: automotive-news