Proton Power Systems PLC
06 February 2007
PPS develops emissions free street cleaning vehicle with Swiss Bucher
February 6, 2007... Proton Power Systems plc ('PPS'), through its subsidiary
Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH ('PM'), one of the world's leading electric hybrid
fuel cells companies, today announced the commencement of work on a utility
vehicle project in Switzerland in collaboration with the Swiss Bucher Municipal,
the world's leading supplier of municipal vehicles for road and airport
maintenance services.
The project, called 'hy.muve' (Hydrogen Driven Municipal Vehicle) will see the
development of a cleaning vehicle using PM's fuel cell system for commercial
vehicles. The 'sweepers' have high and non-continuous power demand for their
various subsystems, such as driving motors, cleaning brushes and blowers, and as
such will benefit from PM's expertise in developing hybrid fuel cell technology
which includes energy storage systems capable of providing power during peak
demand situations, and of recovering breaking energy.
The contract will generate revenues for PM of up to approximately €396,000 over
the next 42 months, if the feasibility phase is completed successfully.
Felix Heidelberg, PPS' Chief Executive Officer, said, 'Our technology is ideal
for a wide range
of industrial applications where energy demands vary and back-to-base refueling
occurs, both in terms of cost effectiveness and in reducing adverse
environmental impact.
Working with a leader in the municipal vehicle market on this project allows us
to look at new applications beyond forklift trucks and city buses. The market
potential for fuel cell hybrid cleaning vehicles in Europe is substantial and so
far largely untapped.'
The project is being coordinated by EMPA, the leading Swiss federal materials
science and technology research institution, with other Swiss research
institutions involved. The development kicks off with a feasibility study.
Engineering, building and testing is scheduled to begin by April 2007.
With annual turnover of 537 million CHF, Bucher Municipal, a division of the
Swiss Bucher Industries AG, is the world's market leader for municipal vehicles
for road and airport maintenance services. Its product range includes road
sweepers, snow clearing equipment and spreaders.
For further Information contact:
Media:
Gavin Anderson & Company +44 207 554 1400
Ken Cronin
kcronin@gavinanderson.co.uk
Marie Cairney
mcairney@gavinanderson.co.uk
Commercial:
Proton Power Systems +49 8151 26 86 422
Joachim Kroemer
j.kroemer@proton-motor.de
Notes to Editors
PPS, through its subsidiary Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH ('PM') has developed and
produced a standard fuel cell module, fuelled by hydrogen integrated with an
energy storage system to create a hybrid electric fuel cell system capable of
providing power during peak demand situations. The market focus is on industrial
applications where 'back-to-base' refueling occurs, on site, at the end of each
shift or work period.
The Group has identified opportunities to replace lead-acid batteries with their
PEM fuel cell systems and has identified niche markets in the materials handling
and mass-transportation sectors where hybrid electric fuel cell systems offer
considerable advantages over conventional engine technology and fuel cell only
drive systems. The Group has identified two initial market segments in which the
Directors believe the advantages of hybrid electric fuel cell systems will lead
to economic benefits for the end user - forklift trucks and buses. In most
cases, vehicles operate within a defined radius or return to central points of
operation.
The many advantages over current commercial alternatives include lower fuel
consumption, longer periods between refueling, shorter refueling, consistent
levels of power delivery and zero harmful emissions.
PM's technology development has been undertaken with the key objectives of
multiple applications and volume production.
PPS listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on October 31, 2006.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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