Printing Release: BMW Manufacturing Co. announced today it is implementing a new culling fuel platform to utilize hydrogen fuel cells to power the plant's fabric handling equipment. Hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts, tuggers and stackers will exist used in BMW'south new assembly hall that produces the new BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle®.

Fuel cells accept stored chemical energy, such every bit hydrogen in this case, and catechumen it into electrical energy through two internal electrochemical reactions. The only byproducts of hydrogen fuel cells are oestrus and h2o, making this energy choice more efficient than other more conventional free energy sources.

"BMW has taken another important stride to affirm our global delivery to sustainability with a project such equally this in Spartanburg," said Josef Kerscher, President of BMW Manufacturing. "There's a clear vision and determination to reach our goal of using renewable energy as much as possible throughout the plant site."

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Implementation of this new engineering science has been done in concert with partners from Linde North America and Plug Power.

Mike Beckman, vice president of Linde's alternative energy team, said, "Nosotros have partnered with BMW to work toward our companies' shared goal of implementing cost-effective, culling energy solutions that reduce emissions. BMW's option of Linde to supply the hydrogen and fueling system is attestation to our significant capabilities, leading technologies and dedicated professionals who worked closely with BMW to implement the fueling solution."

"We are proud BMW has selected to work with Plug Power as they continue to solidify their position as a leading sustainable automotive manufacturer," said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Ability Inc. "The proven productivity increases on the manufacturing floor through the use of GenDrive will give BMW a further competitive advantage in the global automotive marketplace."

Installation of a storage and distribution center within BMW'southward existing Energy Eye, an 11 Megawatt facility, along with six on-site fueling stations were recently completed past BMW at their only Due north American manufacturing facility in South Carolina. The hydrogen used for this projection was manufactured at the most sustainable source within Linde's network.

Initially, the hydrogen-powered textile handling fleet will consist of more than than 85 pieces of equipment, making it ane of the largest hydrogen fuel-prison cell fleets in the U.Southward. In improver to the many other benefits, fuel cells offer a much longer operating life than lead-acid batteries. Fuel cells provide continuous power with no loss of power as the tank nears empty every bit opposed to bombardment-powered equipment that run slower every bit the bombardment nears empty. These units, when full, run on a 2 kilogram fuel tank and run for 8-10 hours. Fuel cell units can exist refueled by a commuter in less than 3 minutes at an on-site hydrogen fueling station. On average, it takes about 20 minutes to re-fuel a depleted battery.

Since hydrogen is the only source of energy for the fuel cells existence used in the new facility, BMW Manufacturing estimates that this project volition avoid 1.8 1000000 kilowatt hours per year of electricity consumption at the establish that would take been used to charge a bombardment-powered armada.

The Hydrogen Fuel Jail cell armada is the perfect complement to BMW's successful Landfill Gas to Free energy initiative started in early 2003. BMW powers approximately 50% of the plant's full free energy requirements using methane from a local landfill, a previously wasted resource.

Implementation of the landfill gas programme reduces CO2 emissions by 92,000 tons per year. To date, the landfill gas projection has saved BMW an annual boilerplate of $5 million in energy costs.

[Source:  BMW ]