Last checked at 17 Jun 2008 07:00
| Press Release | 17 June 2008 |
Proton Power Systems plc
("Proton" or the "Company")
Proton Motor receives award for its triple-hybrid fuel cell technology
Proton Power Systems plc (AIM: PPS), a leading designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems for the "back to base" market, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH ("Proton Motor") has received the Bavarian Innovation Award for its triple-hybrid fuel cell forklift drive. Proton Motor's innovation has been chosen out of more than 100 nominations as one of 11 best technologies in the Bavarian region.
Proton's triple-hybrid technology efficiently manages the storage and output of power across a fuel cell, battery and supercapacitors to offer 30-60% energy savings for stop-and-go vehicle operations such as forklift trucks and city buses. The fuel cell can provide quiet and emission-free driving power with significantly higher efficiency than a combustion engine, while braking energy is also recovered and stored in the battery and supercapacitor for use on demand. An intelligent power management system optimises the power distribution between the three power units. Proton's triple-hybrid is the world's first vehicle hybrid that maximises a vehicle's fuel and drive potential by the efficient storage and distribution of drive power of the three power units.
The Bavarian Innovation Award is one of the most highly regarded business prizes awarded in Germany. Running in its seventh year and launched as part of the Future of Bavaria initiative, the Award honours outstanding innovations and developments that stimulate the Bavarian economy.
Felix Heidelberg, CEO of Proton, received on behalf of the Company the Award plus a € 5,000 prize from Prime Minister of Bavaria, Günther Beckstein, during a ceremony held on 2 June 2008 at the Bavarian State Chancellery. On receiving the accolade, Felix Heidelberg said: "The Bavarian Innovation Award recognises our cutting-edge fuel cell systems as one of the best technologies in Germany. We are immensely proud of this achievement and I would like to commend everyone on our team for their tireless efforts in developing our triple-hybrid concept into commercial reality."
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For further information:
| Proton Power Systems plc | |
| Felix Heidelberg, CEO | Tel: +49 (0) 89 12762650 |
| f.heidelberg@proton-motor.de | www.protonpowersystems.com |
| Noble & Company Limited | |
| Andy Yeo/Nick Athanas | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7763 2200 |
| www.noblegp.com |
Media enquiries:
| Abchurch Communications Limited | |
| Justin Heath / Monique Tsang | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 7712 |
| monique.tsang@abchurch-group.com | www.abchurch-group.com |
Notes to Editors
Proton Power Systems plc is a developer of fuel cells and fuel cell hybrid systems for motive and back-up power supply. Proton Power has more than 14 years of experience in the fuel cell market. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, the Company has developed and produced a fuel cell module running on hydrogen and integrated this with an energy storage system to create a hybrid electric fuel cell system. The system harnesses the excess power generated by the fuel cell during partial load (such as stop-start operations) and uses the stored energy in peak demand times. The system thus boasts lower fuel consumption and more consistent levels of power delivery than conventional combustion engine or fuel cell-only systems, in addition to producing zero harmful emissions.
Proton Power's market focus lies in industrial applications where 'back-to-base' refuelling occurs at the end of each shift or work period, such as in the materials handling and mass transportation sectors. In these markets, the commercialisation of applications is possible at a very early stage, as they do not depend on the existence of a ubiquitous hydrogen infrastructure. Through partnerships with leading OEMs such as Skoda Electric and Karmann, Proton Power's technology is already deployed in city buses and forklift trucks.
Proton Power also targets the upcoming market for marine transportation applications and provides the hybrid fuel cell propulsion system for Europe's first fuel-cell powered passenger / river boat ferry, which will be operating in Hamburg from 2008.
Proton Power Systems plc was admitted to trading on AIM on 31 October 2006 and is incorporated in the UK. Its operating subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, is located in Puchheim, near Munich, Germany.