Company News
Fuel Cell Black Cab Wins Prestigious Technology and Innovation Award
Posted 7th December 2010
“The Engineer” magazine recognises Intelligent Energy-led project
Loughborough, UK, 7th December 2010 – Intelligent Energy, the global clean power systems company, is proud to announce that the Fuel Cell Hybrid Black Cab has won The Engineer’s prestigious Technology and Innovation Energy Award. The Hybrid taxi programme is led by Intelligent Energy and includes Lotus Engineering, London Taxis International and TRW Conekt as programme partners and is part funded by the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board.
The Engineer, the widely respected engineering technology publication launched in 1856, presented its fourth Technology & Innovation Awards at the Royal Society, London, in the same week that the Society celebrated its 350th anniversary. The awards ceremony, hosted by renowned comedian, actor and writer Robert Llewellyn, recognises excellence in collaborative engineering projects.
The taxi project will introduce a small fleet of zero emission, fuel cell hybrid black cabs onto London’s roads by 2012, with the taxis currently undergoing road testing. This full performance, fuel cell and battery powered hybrid has been specifically designed to meet the demands of a London taxi by providing a 250 mile driving range and a refuelling time of only a few minutes, without any loss of passenger or luggage space.
“We’ve transformed a London icon into a state-of-the art, low carbon, zero emission vehicle,” said Dr. Ashley Kells, Programme Manager for the Fuel Cell Taxi. “Our fuel cell system is light weight, easy to manufacture and, once volume produced, cost competitive with conventional engines. We can integrate this automotive fuel cell power system into a wide range of commercial and consumer vehicles, whether in London or elsewhere around the globe.”
In addition to support from the UK Government through the Technology Strategy Board, the programme is also supported by announcements made earlier this year by the Greater London Authority (GLA) who committed to rolling out a hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in London by 2012.
Intelligent Energy CEO, Dr. Henri Winand commented that, “This award is further proof that fuel cell systems are recognised as a near term, low carbon replacement for the internal combustion engine, particularly for vehicles that drive longer distances. These attributes are not only essential for taxis, but also for medium and large family sized cars which account for approximately 75% of CO2 car emissions in Europe alone. In recent months, New York, Mexico City and Hong Kong have all accelerated their search for credible zero emission alternatives to their taxi fleets. It is clear that London is leading this charge, and as the showcase city, the potential for global exports could have a real benefit to the UK economy.”
Dr. Ashley Kells, Programme Manager for the Fuel Cell taxi at Intelligent Energy (centre) is presented with the Technology and Innovation Energy Award by renowned comedian, actor and writer, Robert Llewellyn (right) and Chris Horne, Head of Energy Infrastructure and End Use at E.on (left).
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About Intelligent Energy
Intelligent Energy is a clean power systems company, with a range of leading fuel cell and hydrogen generation technologies. The company is focused on the provision of cleaner power and low carbon technologies. Intelligent Energy partners with leading companies globally, in the transportation, oil and gas, aerospace, defence, distributed generation and portable power markets. Current partners and customers include Scottish & Southern Energy plc with whom the company has formed a joint venture to commercialise fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) systems, and The Suzuki Motor Corporation. Intelligent Energy’s successes in recent years include the development of the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike and supplying the fuel cell system to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft. The company also recently supplied Airbus with a multi-functional fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) aimed at on-board power and other loads in future commercial airliners.
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Will Stanley
AxiCom PR for Intelligent Energy
will.stanley@axicom.com
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