Plug Power Inc (PLUG)

[uksausage]

I wonder why this came out as a blog post not a press release, or will they make a formal PR tonight?
http://plugpower.com/News/blog/post/2014/06/26/Fuel-Cells-Move-One-Step-Closer-to-Powering-Airport-Ground-Support-Equipment.aspx

in case it gets hidden as it was not meant to be public here is the text.

Will there be no more missing luggage thanks to fuel cells?



We can’t promise that. But a recent demonstration of our newly engineered hydrogen fuel cell beta unit designed to power ground support equipment (GSE) vehicles used to haul luggage and cargo at airports around the world, means we are one step closer to providing a zero-emission power source for these vehicles.



This demo is a significant step in Plug Power’s strategy to expand into markets adjacent to material handling, where the company’s GenDrive fuel cells have overwhelmingly proved their value. Airport tuggers, belt loaders and auxiliary power units are all GSE. A $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy has provided the funding for this development project. Use of hydrogen fuel cells will enable GSE operators to comply with tightening emissions standards that currently require capital increases and operational interruption in fleets powered by diesel.



This week, the Plug Power GSE fuel cell prototype was publicly demonstrated for the first time, in a Charlatte cargo tractor pulling 40,000 pounds of weight, spread evenly over four dollies.



The demo took place on the Plug Power premises in front of an audience that included Plug Power executives and representatives from the Department of Energy, FedEx Express (GSE operator and project partner), and Charlatte America (GSE manufacturer).



The value proposition of this hydrogen fuel cell application includes:



Economic Payback
· Fuel cells are at least twice as efficient as diesel engines
· They are a low-cost alternative to investing tens of millions of dollars to equip an airport with electric infrastructure and battery chargers


Zero Emission Vehicle
· Fuel cells eliminate noxious diesel fumes and noise
· Use of hydrogen produces only heat and water as by-products


Solution for U.S. EPA Non-Attainment Areas
· Fuel cells provide positive, immediate impact on designated EPA non-attainment areas (regions with air quality falling below 1970 Clean Air Act requirements)
· Hydrogen fuel enables compliance with EPA Tier 4 emissions standards (no ozone, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, lead)


After the demonstration, FedEx confirmed that Plug Power’s prototype enabled the vehicle to run as well as the diesel tuggers currently in use by the company. Charlatte certified that the fuel-cell powered vehicle operated in the same way it would under battery power.



The next phase for the project involves delivery of 15 Plug Power GSE fuel cells to FedEx at its airport hub location in Memphis, by Q4 2014. In conjunction with the GSE fuel cell delivery, Plug Power will provide GenFuel services to support the fleet.



The GenFuel hydrogen infrastructure solution in Memphis includes:

· Scalable hydrogen supply that can ramp up from fueling 15 demo units to fueling an entire fleet of commercial units, without additional investment
· Low cost liquid hydrogen that offers accelerated fuel savings as the number of GSE tugs in operation increases


Successful trials in Memphis will prove that the hydrogen fuel cell GSE units are viable, and will provide Plug Power access to a market expansion opportunity with an addressable market of 60,000 units.

Click here to see a video from today's meeting.

http://plugpower.com/Files/Blog/IMG_3123.MOV


well found Mommykat