Dcx-Ballard—Ford Transaction To Move Fuel Cells Forward … Donaldson Develops Fuel Cell Filtration System … GM's New High Density Fuel Cell Stack … Ford, EPA Announce Hydraulic Hybrid

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Nov, 2001

A recent transaction involving DaimlerChrysler AG, Ballard Power Systems Inc. and Ford Motor Co. was hailed as a significant step toward bringing fuel cell products to commercial markets. Under the transaction, the transportation alliance formed by Ballard, XCELLSIS and Eco-star will be consolidated to create an integrated fuel cell systems business. Ballard will acquire XCELLSIS, the fuel cell engine subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, and Eco-star, the electric drive train and power conversion system subsidiary of Ford, in return for a total of Ballard common shares valued at $348 million. DaimlerChrysler and Ford each will also purchase a total of $34 million in Ballard shares. The transaction will take place in two steps -- one at closing and the remainder prior to December 2004. At dosing, the transaction will increase DaimlerChrysler and Ford equity ownership of Ballard to 23.6 percent and 19.5 percent respectively from the current 19.3 percent and 14.5 percent.

Donaldson Co. announced the first installation of retrofit Catalytic Converter Mufflers (CCM) in conjunction with NESCAUM (Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management). The Donaldson CCMs were developed in partnership with Mack Trucks and were installed on Mack MR and LE model vehicles owned by Waste Management at its Woburn, Mass., location. Donaldson integrated a Mack-specified diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) into a 10 in. diameter converter muffler, making the CCM a direct replacement for the standard heavy-duty exhaust muffler. Donaldson's patented CCM designs will become part of a new line of retrofit DOC products being developed and marketed independently by Donaldson for emerging retrofit markets. Following the successful installation, Donaldson received a commitment from Mack to build several hundred more retrofit units for installation on other Mack vehicles in Waste Management's fleet throughout the New England area.

Donaldson also announced that it has developed what it called the first airborne contaminant and noise filtration systems designed specifically for fuel cell applications. Donaldson FC3 products, presented by the company's new Fuel Cell Contamination Control business unit, are being used in jointly funded contamination control research at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The company said that cathode-side filtration is a crucial component for ensuring fuel cell reliability and performance and that ambient air contains contaminants that can compromise the fuel cell system durability, life and performance. General Motors said its latest fuel cell stack sets a new world standard for power density and packs 60 percent more power than competitive fuel cells. The new GM stack generates 1.75 kW per liter, which GM said is the highest power density announced by any other fuel cell manufacturer to date. The new stack has 640 cells with a continuous power output of 102 kW (134 lip) and a peak power output of 129 kW (173 lip). It weighs 82 kg (180 lb.) and measures 32.25 in. x 5.5 in. x 20 in.

Ford Motor Co. and the EPA are joining in a decade-long project to develop a high-mileage hybrid vehicle, probably an SUV, that is operated hydraulically Hydraulic hybrid technology was developed and patented by EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., and refined under a cooperative agreement with Ford. EPA and Ford will share financing and personnel. Ford will have exclusive rights to the technology and hopes to put a pilot fleet of vehicles on the road by the end of the decade. The vehicle's powertrain has a high-efficiency engine and a propulsion system that uses hydraulic pumps and motors, along with storage tanks in which hydraulic fluid is stored under pressure. Other companies involved in the project are FEV Engine Technology Inc. and Eaton Corp.