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DOE Expands IMPCO Fuel Cell Vehicle Technology Program

9 November 2000

DOE Expands IMPCO Fuel Cell Vehicle Technology Program - Technology Expanding Fuel Cell Vehicle Range to That of Gasoline Vehicles

    IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 9 IMPCO Technologies, Inc.
announced today that its Advanced Technology Center located in
Irvine, California, has been awarded an additional contract by the US
Department of Energy, Golden Field Office.  IMPCO's current FY 2000 programs
with the Department of Energy now total more than $3.5 million.  The expanded
Department of Energy program relates to IMPCO's advanced hydrogen fuel system
technologies designed for use on OEM produced fuel cell vehicles.
    The expanded scope of the program will focus on advancing IMPCO's hydrogen
fuel cell vehicle technologies to provide extended vehicle range, weight and
cost reduction advantages, and superior safety features thereby allowing for
more rapid commercialization of fuel cell vehicles.  Under the terms of the
new contract, IMPCO will perform safety and performance validation testing on
IMPCO's patented 5000 psi (350 Bar) hydrogen Crash Resistant In-Tank Regulator
"H2R 5000" and develop concepts to extend the ultra-lightweight TriShield
hydrogen storage tank technology to 10,000 psi (700 bar).
    Working closely with the Department of Energy, IMPCO has just completed
development of a commercially viable high performance hydrogen storage
cylinder with 7.5% hydrogen storage by weight.  This technology dramatically
lowers the weight of on-board fuel storage; for example, at 7.5% hydrogen
storage by weight, a fuel storage system can achieve a 400-mile range at a
total weight below 150 lbs. using IMPCO's technology versus over 660 lbs. for
existing technologies.  Current gasoline fueled vehicles have a fuel and tank
weight of 150-160 lbs. to achieve 400 miles at 20 mpg.
    Early in 2001, IMPCO will complete development and commence
commercialization of an 8.5% hydrogen by weight storage technology.  Recently,
IMPCO, together with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Thiokol
Propulsion, a division of Alcoa Automotive, achieved a new world record by
successfully demonstrating 11.3% hydrogen by weight storage tank technology.
The experiential data gained in this proof of concept development and
demonstration will be used to further advance and optimize the weight and
capacity of IMPCO's fuel cell vehicle hydrogen storage tank technologies to
exceed that of gasoline storage.
    Under the terms of the expanded Department of Energy contract, both IMPCO
and the Department of Energy will each share a portion of the costs.  The
technology resulting from this project will produce one of the world's
lightest and safest hydrogen fuel storage tank technologies while meeting or
exceeding applicable government regulations.
    Syed Hussain, Vice President and General Manager of IMPCO's Technology and
Automotive OEM Division said: "IMPCO continues to advance its proprietary fuel
cell vehicle fuel system technologies with tremendous support from the
Department of Energy.  The Department of Energy has been instrumental in
helping to advance technologies that will have a significant impact on the
worldwide reduction of pollution from mobile sources.  These are important
programs and critical to near term mass commercialization of fuel cell
vehicles.  IMPCO's objective is to develop a hydrogen storage system for fuel
cell vehicles that will provide a driving range that exceeds the driving range
of existing gasoline powered vehicles."