PPS Develops Cleaning Vehicle

6 Feb 2007 07:00

Proton Power Systems PLC06 February 2007 PPS develops emissions free street cleaning vehicle with Swiss Bucher February 6, 2007... Proton Power Systems plc ("PPS"), through its subsidiaryProton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH ("PM"), one of the world's leading electric hybridfuel cells companies, today announced the commencement of work on a utilityvehicle project in Switzerland in collaboration with the Swiss Bucher Municipal,the world's leading supplier of municipal vehicles for road and airportmaintenance services. The project, called "hy.muve" (Hydrogen Driven Municipal Vehicle) will see thedevelopment of a cleaning vehicle using PM's fuel cell system for commercialvehicles. The "sweepers" have high and non-continuous power demand for theirvarious subsystems, such as driving motors, cleaning brushes and blowers, and assuch will benefit from PM's expertise in developing hybrid fuel cell technologywhich includes energy storage systems capable of providing power during peakdemand situations, and of recovering breaking energy. The contract will generate revenues for PM of up to approximately €396,000 overthe next 42 months, if the feasibility phase is completed successfully. Felix Heidelberg, PPS' Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our technology is idealfor a wide range of industrial applications where energy demands vary and back-to-base refuelingoccurs, both in terms of cost effectiveness and in reducing adverseenvironmental impact. Working with a leader in the municipal vehicle market on this project allows usto look at new applications beyond forklift trucks and city buses. The marketpotential for fuel cell hybrid cleaning vehicles in Europe is substantial and sofar largely untapped." The project is being coordinated by EMPA, the leading Swiss federal materialsscience and technology research institution, with other Swiss researchinstitutions 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 theSwiss Bucher Industries AG, is the world's market leader for municipal vehiclesfor road and airport maintenance services. Its product range includes roadsweepers, 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 andproduced a standard fuel cell module, fuelled by hydrogen integrated with anenergy storage system to create a hybrid electric fuel cell system capable ofproviding power during peak demand situations. The market focus is on industrialapplications where 'back-to-base' refueling occurs, on site, at the end of eachshift or work period. The Group has identified opportunities to replace lead-acid batteries with theirPEM fuel cell systems and has identified niche markets in the materials handlingand mass-transportation sectors where hybrid electric fuel cell systems offerconsiderable advantages over conventional engine technology and fuel cell onlydrive systems. The Group has identified two initial market segments in which theDirectors believe the advantages of hybrid electric fuel cell systems will leadto economic benefits for the end user - forklift trucks and buses. In mostcases, vehicles operate within a defined radius or return to central points ofoperation. The many advantages over current commercial alternatives include lower fuelconsumption, longer periods between refueling, shorter refueling, consistentlevels of power delivery and zero harmful emissions. PM's technology development has been undertaken with the key objectives ofmultiple 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