French University Builds 11,000 MPG Car

...

Here’s why: Fuel cells create an electric current by converting hydrogen and oxygen into water, making them very attractive as energy sources. Fuel cell technology is pollution-free, and expected to deliver twice the efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The fuel cell engine runs more quietly but with greater endurance than battery-powered systems. The relatively small 550-watt fuel cells provide an additional advantage for the UAV.

...

...

In particular, the Ion Tiger UAV tests a hydrogen-powered fuel cell design, which can travel farther and carry heavier payloads than earlier battery-powered designs. Ion Tiger employs stealthy characteristics due to its small size, reduced noise, low heat signature and zero emissions.

...

...

Compared with other power sources commonly used on UAVs, the Protonex fuel cell produces seven times more power than batteries of the same weight, and four times more power than a comparable internal combustion engine, the Navy says.

...

...

What energy sources are used in the Shell Eco-marathon competition?

Either conventional fuels (such as diesel, petrol and liquefied petroleum gas), or alternative fuels (such as solar, electric, hydrogen, ethanol, biofuels and gas to liquids) can be used to power vehicles.

In 2003 alternative energy sources were introduced to the Shell Eco-marathon, opening up new environmental perspectives for this unique competition. The term "alternative energy" includes all non-fossil energy sources like hydrogen, solar energy, ethanol and fuels derived from biomass.

Shell believes that the development of alternative energy sources is critical to the future of transport and the global energy industry.

...

Electrifying times at the Shell Eco-marathon Europe with debut of e-mobility demonstration run

03/05/2010

06-07 may event at Eurospeedway Lausitz, Germany will see introduction of e-mobility demonstration run; first step to possible introduction of new e-mobility category at future editions

* 17 teams scheduled to participate
* In total, 213 teams from 22 european nations and beyond are under starters’ orders at eurospeedway lausitz
* Shell Eco-marathon Europe 2010 receives european commission endorsement

There’s a real electric feeling in the air at this year’s Shell Eco-marathon Europe as the 2010 edition of the competition sees the introduction of a demonstration run for an all-new E-mobility project.

Shell has introduced an E-mobility demonstration run to the 2010 edition of the Shell Eco-marathon Europe in order to test the possibility of including all-electric vehicles as a separate fuel-type category in future editions of the Shell Eco-marathon. This new initiative underlines Shell’s interest in electricity as a potential fuel. Of course this isn’t the first time that electric cars have been involved in the Shell Eco-marathon Europe: the vehicles taking in this race have been modified from a pool of hydrogen- and solar-powered vehicles competing this year. Hydrogen- and solar-powered vehicles have been competing in the Shell Eco-marathon Europe since 2003.

Matthias Bichsel, Member of the Executive Committee of Royal Dutch Shell plc and Projects &Technology Director, explains the thinking behind the introduction of this demonstration run:

All of the 213 teams competing in this year’s competition have been invited to take part in the E-mobility demonstration run, of which 17 have taken up the challenge. The race is open to teams running either Prototype or UrbanConcept vehicles, which will be fitted with a battery for this race only. The E-mobility demonstration run will take place on 06 May on the race track of EuroSpeedway Lausitz.

All vehicles will be equipped with a Joulemeter to measure the electrical consumption. In line with the overarching ambitions of the event, teams compete 3 runs with the lowest energy consumption possible. As the E-mobility run is for demonstration purposes only, there will be no formal prizes for top-performing teams.

...

Mr. Lovins’s other clients have included Accenture, Allstate, AMD, Anglo American, Anheuser-Busch, Bank of America, Baxter, Borg-Warner, BP, HP Bulmer, Carrier, Chevron, Ciba-Geigy, CLSA, ConocoPhillips, Corning, Dow, Equitable, GM, HP, Invensys, Lockheed Martin, Mitsubishi, Monsanto, Motorola, Norsk Hydro, Petrobras, Prudential, Rio Tinto, Royal Dutch/Shell, Shearson Lehman Amex, STMicroelectronics, Sun Oil, Suncor, Texas Instruments, UBS, Unilever, Westinghouse, Xerox, major developers, and over 100 energy utilities. His public-sector clients have included the OECD, the UN, and RFF; the Australian, Canadian, Dutch, German, and Italian governments; 13 states; Congress, and the U.S. Energy and Defense Departments.