According to the Program Schedule of Part 1, the GEF/UNDP"Demonstration for Fuel-Cell Bus Commercialization in China "Project Management office organized related experts to visit Canada, Japan and Germany respectively in the periods of September 2 through 7, September 8 through 12, and September 17 through 20, 2003. A previously planned visit to the United States in September has been suspended due to failure to obtain visas by most members of the group, however, CTA John Robert Wallace, on behalf of the delegation, visited UTC and ISE during this period.

　　A group headed by Mr. Xu Jing, Deputy-Director General of Department of High & Tech Development & Industrialization, Ministry of Science and Technology, conducted study tour in Canada and Japan from Sep.2 through 12. The group consisted of the following people:

 

　　

      The group mainly visited the following Canadian Corporations: Ballard、 Westport Innovations 、Greenlight Power 、Hydrogenics 、Stuart energy, and the following Japanese Corporations: Ministry of Economic&Trade and Industry、Ministry of land & Transportation、Toyota Motor Corporation、Japan Automobile Research Institute、Iwatani International and Panasonic EV Energy. Here is a brief summary of above-mentioned study tour:

　　1) Ballard Power

　　The purpose of visit was to know about Ballard's fuel cell engine technology and its interest in participation in China FCB project. Bruce Rothwell, who is in charge of sales, gave an introduction of Ballard and the 30 Citaro buses under demonstration powered by Ballard's fuel cell engines in Europe. The group took a trial ride on one Citaro bus co-developed by Ballard and Daimler -Chrysler.

　　Both fuel cell engine HY205 (for transit buses) and HY80 (for cars) currently used Mark902 fuel cell stack (two stacks for HY205 and one for HY80). All fuel cell vehicles using above-mentioned engines (HY205 or HY80) were driven with single power.

　　2) Greenlight Power Technologies INC.

　　Mr. Plato, who was responsible for marketing and sales, briefed Greenlight profile and escorted a facility tour. Greenlight has been specializing in production of FC test equipment. The company used to be affiliated to Ballard Power and specially supplied FC test equipment to Ballard, and then became independent. It was purchased by Hydrogeics in 2003 and since then it has continued production of FC test equipment for sales world wide.

　　The company could supply 2KW-100KW FCS test equipment and FCS environment simulation test and performance test equipment, and now is developing MEA infra-red flaw detector and individual malfunctioning cell locator. The company has supplied in the past decades more than 300 sets of fuel cell test equipment to different parts of the world with outstanding credibility and technology. The group obtained the material about PEM Fuel Cell Test Stations, had technical exchange.

　　3) Hydrogenics

　　The visit aimed at understanding the technology of Fuel Cell and its integration, having technical exchange and establishing contacts with the company. Mr.Rivard, CEO of Hydrogenics, offered a presentation of the company and held discussion with the group.

　　Hydrogenics used to be a manufacturer of fuel cell test equipment, and then transferred that business to Greenlight, and now is engaged in integration development of stationed, mobile and vehicle onboard fuel cell engines.

　　The company used to assemble the "Phoenix " FCV for Shanghai Pan-Asia Automobile Corp.,China, which was powered by a 30KW FCE with working air pressure of 0.2Mpa. Now it has developed a 20KW H2-Air FCE using air of ambient pressure as oxidizer, and installed that engine on CWV. The group felt that the performance was good when riding the CWV(Commercial Work Vehicle) while a thin sound of the air stream could be heard during acceleration.

　　So far, as a prime partner, the company has undertaken a heavy duty bus developing project funded by Canadian government, and is planning to use 180KW hybrid FCE with super condenser as the bus power. They anticipate to complete the task of development in 2005.

　　4)Westport Innovations Incorporation

　　Vancouver based WI has 250 employees including 100 working for CW, and has been mainly engaged in R&D of natural gas delivery/supply equipment. Also with the headquarters located in Vancouver, CW is a joint venture between the US Commins and WI and has been specializing in R&D and sales of natural gas engines. Beijing Public Transit Corp. has had very good cooperative relationship with CW has more than 2000 CW made natural gas engines in use, which have shown excellent performance, quality and reliability. This visit mainly aimed at understanding CW's latest accomplishment in engine technology, particularly in application of hydrogen fuel, which would be of help and enlightenment to our FCB program.

　　Mr. Hugh S. Foden, the Presedent, introduced the development of CW; Mr. Patric Ouellette focused on the introduction to the latest development of Hydrogen-Compressed Natural Gas fuel(HCNG). HCNG could realize the mix-burning of 20% hydrogen with natural gas by means of changing the mass flow transducer and re- calibrating it, which allows significant reduction of emitting pollutants, especially nitride oxide, while maintaining the engine performance and fuel economic level. The buses to which this technology has is applied now is under trial operation in Sunline Transit. As further step, CW is conducting R&D on the performance of sole hydrogen fuel engine. Also the company is engaged in research and practice on hydrogen-related safety issues. The company believes that HCNG engine, even sole hydrogen fuel engine, should be a cost-effective power plant in the transition from conventional engine to HFC engine. Later on, the group had a facility tour to get an idea of the production status in the company.

　　Beijing Public Transit Corp. will continue its cooperation with CW in development of natural gas engines.

　　5) Stuart Energy Systems

　　The visit purpose was to study the system integration technology of hydrogen preparation and fueling station, and seek cooperation between the parties.

　　A group headed by Mr. Stuart, the founder of the company, received the delegation. Mr. Ry Smith briefly introduced the company's hydrogen fueling station. Mr. Robert Campbell made presentations titled "Introduction to Technology of Hydrogen Preparation through Water Electrolysis" and "Introduction to Technology of Bus Driven by Hydrogen Combustion Engine and Hybrid Power".

　　Stuart Energy System expressed the intent to bid for the hydrogen fueling stations, a part of the UNDP FCB demo. Technical exchange and information between two parties were exchanged.

　　6) Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry

　　The group was received by Mr. Ando (Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry) and Mr. Miyaxhida (Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry). Delegation learned Commercialization of Fuel Cell in Japan Program and organization and management of the Japan FCB program.

　　A policy research team for commercialization of fuel cell in Japan was formed in Dec.1999 consisting of representatives from Japanese enterprises, government, and research institutes. The team filed a report in 2001 on the commercialization of fuel cell in Japan and strategy of developing PEMFC and exploring hydrogen energy. In March of the same year, a conference was convened in Japan to discuss the issue of fuel cell commercialization. The organizer of the conference submitted to the government in July, 2003 a report on the policy of developing FC based on which Japanese government developed the policy for developing FC. At the same time, the government developed the road map for fuel cell commercialization: 2000-2005, the stage of basic work and technical demonstration aimed at developing strategy for development of fuel cell technology, implementing some demonstartion program and developing standards; 2005-2010, the stage of market piloting aimed at expediting commercialization of practical fuel cells by improving performance and lowering cost of fuel cells with the target of producing 50000 FCV and constructing 12000 sets of stationary fuel cells with a total generation capacity of 2.1GW by 2010. The plan would enter the market diffusion stage from 2010 with the target of producing 5 million FCV annually and building 50000 sets of stationary fuel cells with a total generation capacity of 10 GW by 2020. In order to fulfil those targets, the government developed a relevant schedule: complete the tests on FCV road condition, hydrogen fueling station and stationery fuel cell, and develop relevant safety standards and codes from 2002 through 2004; government agencies and fuel cell enterprises procurement of FCV from 2005 through 2010; and sell FCB to some enterprises and individuals.

　　In Japan, implementation of the whole FCV program is headed by the Ministry of Economics and Industry with a joint staff consisting of six government agencies including MEI, Fire Fighting Department, Ministry of Land and Transportation and so on. The joint staff held meetings and reported the cabinet regularly.
Ministry of Land and Transportation was mainly responsible for data collection, development of relevant safety and environment standards and codes; Fire Fighting Dept. responsible for standards for hydrogen fueling station and fire prevention; and MEI responsible for safety standards for high pressure vessels.
Also the government was planning to set up movable hydrogen fueling station in Osaka.

　　7) TOYOTA Motor Corporation

　　The group visited the institute on Sep.10, 2003 with the purpose to understand Toyota's latest development and accomplishment in hydrogen fuel cell technology including HFCV and technology and equipment for testing fuel cells.

　　Kiyoshi Nakanishi, the Managing officer of Higashifuji Technical Center and his associates received the group. Located in, Higashifuji Technical Center Mishuku, Susono, Shizuoka, Japan，was one of the 4 Toyota affiliated institutes and engaged in leading edge technology including FCV and hybrid drive vehicles. The group were given trial rides on FCHV-BUS2(fuel cell transil bus)、the latest FCEV fuel cell car)and Prius(hybrid drive car).The 10.5m long FCHV-BUS2 accommodate 60 passengers and was powered by Toyota fuel cell system consisting of 2 module designed stacks with max. output of 90KW per stack; The hydrogen was stored in five 35Mpa high pressure cylinders made of composite material. The secondary battery used was nickel-hydrogen battery. The vehicle featured a rear drive system driven by two AC synchronizing electric motors. A trial ride gave us feeling that the power was strong, low noise and riding smooth and comfortable. The vehicle was put into trial operation on Aug. 29, 2003 on the public transit line in the area around the hydrogen fueling station located in Toyoko.

　　The group visited in the facility the hydrogen fueling station, maintenance shop, laboratory, subassemblies, an anatomical model of the vehicle and other relevant equipment. Lastly, Mr. Hiromi Nakagawa and Mr. Takehisa Yaegashi respectively gave lectures on FCV and HV (Hybrid Vehicle)technologies, and the parties exchange opinions in interesting issues.

　　8) Japan Automobile Research Institute

　　The visit aimed at getting ideas about the hydrogen energy safety development, and hydrogen preparation technology, hydrogen fueling station technology and FCV operation in Japan.

　　Toshio Kobayashi, the president of JARI received the group. The group were invited to have a trial ride in batches in the test running site of the institute on a fuel cell car built by Toyota and rented by Iwatani International Corporation; heard the presentation by Mr. Watanabe, the person in charge of FC-ED center of the institute, about the accomplishment achieved in the Japanese government's "Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Identification Program" undertaken by this institute program; visited institute's FC-EC center, hydrogen fueling station and research room for purification of diesel vehicle exhaustion. The hydrogen fueling station used electrolysis for hydrogen preparation.

　　The institute had done a lot of painstaking work in the respect of hydrogen energy and FC related safety including compression test of high pressure hydrogen storage vessel, fire burning test, simulation test of hydrogen leak and conflagration test of fuel cell stack, which resulted in a conclusion the high pressure hydrogen had quite high safety.

　　9) Iwatani International Corporation

　　The purpose to visit the company is to understand the company's HFS(Hydrogen Fueling Station)technology and take a look at its HFS that it developed for JHFC demo.

　　Yutaka Yamada and representatives from Iwatani International Corporation received the group. The group listened to the report of "The State- of- Art of FCV and HFS", and had tech. exchange with the host, and visited the HFSs located in Yokohama and Tokyo Bay, and took trial rides on fuel cell cars, the Toyota FCHV and Honda FCX.The parties discussed further the opportunity of cooperation. Iwatani international Corporation in Japan showed its intent to participate in the bid for HFS of the UNDP demo. Program. The group acquired information on preliminary estimate of HFS investment and the comparison between investment of HFS and those of CNG station and Gas statio, which would be reference for our developing budget for HFS construction.

　　10) Panasonic EV Energy

　　The visit purpose was to understand the state-of-art and application of the company's NiMH technology.
During the visit, the group was taken care of by Mr. Akira Ohta, Mr YuiChi FuJii and listened to the report of"NiMH Battery for HEV Application",and also visited NiMH battery production line and had tech. exchange.
The visit had us understand the development and state-of-art of NiMH product mix(from the shape of cylinder to square), performance(capacity, specific power density, specific energy density, impedance and size, etc), production capability and application(from simple electric drive vehicle to hybrid drive vehicle) since the foundation of the company in 1996. Delegation got better knowledge of the company's battery production management, production line, and particularly, the auto-quality-control system. The group discussed with the company several important tech. issues such as the optimum charging and discharging performance zone of battery for HEV, condition for determining cycle life and the relation between current number of times of charging/discharging and meeting the life expectancy requirement of HEV, and etc.