PowerFlow™ fuel cell system proves itself in demanding industrial vehicle application

Cambridge, Mass., December 16, 2005 – The first ever hydrogen fuel cell-powered ice resurfacer – a machine that smoothes the surface of ice skating and hockey rinks – made its world debut last month in ice hockey-crazed Grand Forks, North Dakota. The vehicle is powered with a 5 kW PowerFlow fuel cell power module made by Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc., of Cambridge, Massachusetts and Milan, Italy.

The eP-ICEBEAR was developed by ePower Synergies, Inc. of Cordova, Illinois and the Resurfice Corporation of Elmira, Ontario, maker of Olympia and ICEBEAR brand ice refinishers. The eP-ICEBEAR is ideal for indoor use due to its zero-emissions powertrain that produces water as its only byproduct. The ice resurfacer was unveiled at the University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) on November 7, 2005. The unveiling was part of the Hydrogen Energy Summit sponsored by U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota.

“Nuvera is making a name for itself as the supplier of choice for industrial applications worldwide,” said Gus Block, Director of Business Development for Nuvera Fuel Cells. “The eP-ICEBEAR shows that Nuvera’s fuel cell technology is rugged enough for this environmentally demanding service. It is equally at home in other industrial vehicles where customers are looking for the power performance of an engine along with the benefits of emissions-free fuel cells. Along with East Penn Manufacturing Co., maker of Deka® motive power batteries, we are offering hybrid fuel cell power packs that are interchangeable with standard lead-acid batteries. We can repower forklifts, ground support equipment (GSE), mining locomotives, and many other types of construction, forestry, and powered-access equipment.”

“This development of a near-commercial ice refinisher underscores the fact that the fuel cell technology is ready, the hydrogen is available, and companies are developing products for commercialization,” said ePower Synergies President Bruce Wood. “Nuvera’s PowerFlow fuel cell module ran like a champ from the start, and continues to perform flawlessly.”

“We are very proud that our ICEBEAR is the first to use a hydrogen fuel cell,” said Andy Schlupp, president of Resurfice. “It is a no-compromise, high performance machine with no harmful exhaust. There is a strong likelihood of near-term commercial sales.”

Other partners include the hybrid electric drive systems company HyMotion, based in Concord, Ontario; Calgary-based Dynetek Industries, Ltd., supplier of the hydrogen storage tank; the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory; and EERC.

About Nuvera
Nuvera Fuel Cells (www.nuvera.com) is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of fuel cell power systems for the automotive, distributed generation, commercial, and industrial markets. Since 1992, its fuel processors, fuel cell stacks and power systems have been successfully tested and evaluated by major automobile and appliance manufacturers, research institutions, telecommunications organizations, and industrial and energy companies and end-use customers. Nuvera Fuel Cells operates facilities in Cambridge, MA in the U.S. and in Milan, Italy, where its manufacturing operation is ISO 9001:2000 certified.



Contact
Gus Block
Nuvera Fuel Cells
Tel: +1-617-245-7553
Fax: +1-617-245-7511
Cell: +1-978-852-5774
Email: block.g@nuvera.com