Minister explores UK hydrogen fuel cell success
08 March 2011
Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne paid a visit to firm global clean power systems company , Intelligent Energy, yesterday as he explored the UK’s role in developing commercial applications for hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Visiting the firm’s Loughborough headquarters, Mr Huhne meet the firm’s chief executive Dr Henri Winand, and received a hands-on demonstration of the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter, developed in partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation, and test drove the Fuel Cell Black Cab, developed in conjunction with Lotus, London Taxi Company (LTI) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB). A fleet of these hydrogen taxis is targeted to hit the streets of London in time for the Olympics in 2012, as part of the plans for the capital to have a ‘hydrogen network’ in place in time for the games.
“The zero emissions London taxi, developed here in Loughborough, looks and performs just like a conventional taxi, even over longer distances. It’s a great British innovation and I look forward to seeing them in service in London next year,” said Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. “Low carbon energy is a big growth sector and firms like Intelligent Energy, who are taking innovative ideas out of the lab and putting them into practice, are going to be the big names of the new economy.”
Dr Winand, a member of the Government’s new Green Economy Council, added: “Ministerial visits such as these help us to convey both the significant progress Intelligent Energy is making towards the commercialisation of clean technologies on an international stage, and support our shared goal to position the UK as a leader in the deployment and manufacture of low carbon technologies.”
Intelligent Energy is a privately owned firm with offices in London, Japan, India and the US. Focusing on the development of hydrogen and fuel cell systems, the firm counts among its achievements; the development of the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike and supplying a fuel cell system to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft.
Source; http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blo ... l-success/