Electric Fuel Corporation announced that the German zinc-air electric van consortium has completed its multi-year government-funded program by successfully demonstrating the zinc-air van on-road.
The zero-emission all-electric hybrid van is powered by Electric Fuel zinc-air fuel cells as the sole energy source, together with a NiMH battery and an ultra capacitor. An advanced energy and power traction system was integrated by DaimlerChrysler and coordinated by BIBA Institute in Bremen.
During the €12 million ($11.8 million) program, the German EFRB consortium developed the hybrid vehicle design based on DaimlerChrysler cargo vans. The van is powered by Electric Fuel's refuelable zinc-air fuel cells as the main energy storage, together with booster batteries provided by Varta and ultracapacitors developed by EPCOS AG, formerly Siemens Matsushita Components.
Consortium organizers expressed hopes that the program will lead to the future commercialization of high performance, clean electric transportation based on these technologies.
The EFRB consortium is comprised of Electric Fuel, DaimlerChrysler AG , EPCOS AG, Dornier GmbH, K-UTEC GmbH and Varta Batterie AG, in cooperation with other German industrial firms and academic institutions.
Electric Fuel Corporation produces primary and refuelable zinc-air fuel cell technology, pioneering advancements in battery technology for defense and security products, military applications and electric vehicles.
Electric Fuel develops, manufactures and markets advanced high-tech multimedia and interactive digital solutions for the training of military, law enforcement and security personnel, and state-of-the-art lightweight materials and engineering processes to armor vehicles. — (menareport.com)
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