QUANTUM Ships Hydrogen Storage System for Fuel Cell Bus
IRVINE, Calif., July 2 - QUANTUM Technologies WorldWide, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:IMCO) announced today that it developed and shipped its advanced hydrogen storage system for the first ThunderPower® fuel cell bus, being built via a partnership between Thor Industries (NYSE:THO) and ISE Research Corporation. Thor has been a market leader in the utilization of alternative propulsion systems for bus applications. This bus will go into commercial service at SunLine Transit in Thousand Palms, CA later this year.
QUANTUM provided system integration of the roof-mounted hydrogen storage and delivery system, incorporating nine (9) hydrogen tanks, regulators, valves and fuel lines that deliver a specific pressure to the fuel cell propulsion system. QUANTUM used its all-composite, ultra-lightweight Type IV TriShield(TM) hydrogen storage tank -- uniquely designed and manufactured with a single end boss, one-piece seamless polymer liner and a carbon composite overwrap. The QUANTUM Type IV hydrogen storage tank is tested and validated to all regulatory standards, including OEM-specific validation tests.
According to Syed Hussain, President and CEO of QUANTUM, ``There are two key reasons why this is an important milestone for QUANTUM and for the mobile fuel cell industry. First, it demonstrates the selection and use of our ultra-light weight tank technology for a fuel cell bus. Weight is of utmost importance in buses to minimize gross vehicle weight which already is approaching limitations with the equipment required to support low floor access and other additional equipment. Second, QUANTUM has entered into the fuel cell bus market, which is anticipated to evolve faster than the automotive fuel cell market. We are very pleased to be playing such a significant role in this project and plan to enable the future commercialization of fuel cell buses through the development and manufacture of hydrogen storage and handling systems for the fuel cell bus market.''
The Thor fuel cell bus will use a ThunderPower® hybrid-electric drive train developed by ISE Research Corporation, San Diego, CA, in a 30' low-floor bus built by Thor's subsidiary, Eldorado National. International Fuel Cells (IFC), a division of United Technologies (NYSE:UTX), is developing the fuel cell power plant.
Thor is the largest manufacturer of mid-sized buses and the second largest RV builder in North America. IFC is the world's leading manufacturer of fuel cell power plants. ISE Research is a leading developer of hybrid drive systems for heavy-duty vehicles. ThunderPower, L.L.C. is a partnership between Thor and ISE Research chartered to develop and commercialize fuel cell powered hybrid-electric buses.
For more information, please contact:
Alan Niedzwiecki, Executive Director, Business Development
QUANTUM Technologies WorldWide, Inc. Tel: (949) 399-4552
Eileen M. Oswald, Director of Communications
QUANTUM Technologies WorldWide, Inc. Tel: (949) 885-7547
George Schuh, Director of Marketing
ISE Research Corp. Tel. (619) 287-8785, ext. 129
QUANTUM Technologies WorldWide, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:IMCO). QUANTUM is focused on the development of fuel system enabling technologies for manufacturers of alternative propulsion and energy in emerging global markets.
Certain matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current trends. These include the company's ability to design and market advanced fuel metering, fuel storage or electronic control products, the company's ability to meet OEM specifications, and other such risks as cited in the 2000 annual report on Form 10-K for IMPCO Technologies, Inc., and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.