GM, Dow Chemical to share fuel cell info

WASHINGTON May 8, 2003; Dee-Ann Durbin writing for the AP reported that General Motors Corp. will soon generate electricity with fuel cells for Dow Chemical Co. in a bid to gain experience with the technology that could eventually power most automobiles.

The deal, which will benefit both companies, is the largest commercial application of fuel cells to date.

"We've got to take this new technology and get it to a higher level of reliability," said Timothy Vail, who markets fuel cell technology for GM. "The only way we can do that is to get units built in some other market and then transfer that to cars."

Under the plan announced Wednesday in Washington, D.C., GM will provide Dow manufacturing plants with trucks containing fuel-cell conversion equipment. Dow will provide the hydrogen fuel, a byproduct of one of Dow's principal products, chlorine.

Dow will pump hydrogen into the trucks, where it will be converted into electricity through hydrogen fuel cell technology. The electricity then will be pumped back into the facility's power plant for general use.

Automakers already are developing prototype hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and many are convinced the technology is the wave of the future. President George W. Bush is among those promoting fuel cell technology, including $1.5 billion for research and development in his latest budget proposal.

Dow expects to get at least 35 megawatts of power, enough to power 25,000 homes for one year, over the lifetime of the agreement. It will run from 2005 to 2010 but could last longer if both companies wish.

Vail said the deal helps GM build a relationship with a potential hydrogen supplier. Dow, which is based in Midland, has supplied Detroit-based GM with other products for decades, he said.

Dow sells much of its leftover hydrogen to energy companies.

The announcement came the same day GM delivered a fleet of fuel cell vehicles for use by lawmakers on Capitol Hill.