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120-ton, 1 MW Army fuelcell locomotive to be derived from diesel-electric locomotive (shown) (photo courtesy of Shane G. Deemer, Military Rails Online) Project Objectives Develop the fuelcell locomotive by retrofitting an Army diesel-electric locomotive with a fuelcell powerplant. Demonstrate the locomotive in a non-tactical application. Facilitate commercialization of fuelcell power for rail transportation. Project Overview Sponsor and Funding Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Army Tank-automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM), National Automotive Center (NAC), Warren, MI Period of Performance: Estimated 5 years, beginning May 2003 Total Cost: Estimated US$12 million Major Benefits Increased energy efficiency of the transportation sector. Increased national energy security by reducing dependence on imported oil. Improved environmental quality. Positioning the project partners into leadership roles in advanced rail transportatio Phase 1: Feasibility and Conceptual Design of Vehicle and Refueling System Period of Performance: 1 year (May 2003 through May 2004) Cost: US$1 million Press Release:   1 August 2003 Fuelcell Locomotive for Military and Commercial Railways       Link to Winn L. Rosch's article on the Army Locomotive Project (text from the Technology section of The Plain Dealer on 14 August 2003). Click on Power Training. Schedule: 27 May 2003 - Start date 12 June 2003 - Project kickoff meeting, Denver, CO 21 - 22 August 2003 - Project meeting, Cambridge, MA: Report on marketability and commercialization potential Technical performance evaluation complete Determine base vehicle based on trade study 22 - 23 October 2003 - Project meeting, Washington, DC: Determine type of fuelcell (PEMFC, SOFC, AFC, MCFC, PAFC) Determine fuel type (liquid ammonia, methanol, hydrocarbons, hydrogen) Determine potential for renewable energy sources based on trade study Evaluation of safety considerations 15 - 16 January 2004 - Project meeting, Monrovia, CA: Results of cost / benefit analysis Preliminary conceptual design of controls, sensors, packaging, and refueling 22 April 2004 - Project meeting, Hill Air Force Base, UT: Finalize conceptual design of controls, sensors, packaging, and refueling Determine the best method for fuel production based on trade study Establish demonstration site 26 May 2004 - Phase 1 complete. Submit final Phase 1 reports Key Challenge: The key technological / mechanical challenge for the retrofit of the locomotive from diesel to fuelcell is fuel storage. This challenge will be addressed after determining the type of fuelcell and the type of fuel. Project Management: Vehicle Projects LLC, Denver, CO Participants, Partners, and Subcontractors: Technical Analysis: AeroVironment Inc, Monrovia, CA - Powerplant design Defense NTG & Rail Equipment Center, Hill Air Force Base, UT - Locomotive packaging and integration Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX – Fuel identity and production Transportation Technology Center Inc (TTCI), Pueblo, CO – Applications, fuel storage, and locomotive performance Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Research Special Program Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Cambridge, MA - Safety, economics, and marketability Commercialization Guidance: Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co, Ft.Worth, TX - Heavy surface applications New York City Transit, New York City, NY – Subway transit applications Regional Transportation District - Denver (RTD-Denver), CO - Light rail applications Tube Lines / London Underground (pending), London, UK – Subway transit applications Specific Fuelcell Types: Intelligent Energy, London, UK - Proton exchange membrane fuelcells (PEMFC) Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe, Milan, Italy - Proton exchange membrane fuelcells (PEMFC) To-be-named solid oxide fuelcell manufacturer - Solid oxide fuelcells (SOFC) To-be-named phosphoric acid fuelcell manufacturer - Phosphoric acid fuelcells (PAFC) Specific Fuels: Fertilizer Institute, Washington, DC - Liquid ammonia as fuel Methanol Institute, Washington, DC - Methanol as fuel Nuvera Fuel Cells, Cambridge, MA - Hydrocarbons as fuel Fuel storage: HERA Hydrogen Storage Systems Inc, Longueuil, QC, Canada - Metal-hydride storage Stakeholder Education: Fuelcell Propulsion Institute, Denver, CO WestStart, Pasadena, CA   Phase 2: Fabricate and Test the Powerplant Period of Performance: Estimated 1 1/2 years Phase 3: Development and Integration of the Locomotive Vehicle Period of Performance: Estimated 1 year Phase 4: Demonstration and Testing of the Vehicle Period of Performance: Estimated 1 year