Ohio Firm Gets $1 Mln. Grant to Develop Fuel Cells for Trucking

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n Ohio firm won a $1 million state grant to help develop fuel cells as a clean power source for the trucking industry, the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper reported Tuesday.

he Edison Materials Technology Center won the grant, and will work with fuel cell developer Technology Management, the paper said.

The prototype unit generates 1,000 watts by combining hydrogen with oxygen and includes a built-in device that makes hydrogen from diesel fuel, with water as a byproduct, the Plain Dealer reported.

The plan is to build a fuel cell auxiliary power generator capable of producing 1,000 to 5,000 watts, which would be able to power heaters, air conditioners and in-cab power, allowing drivers to operate small appliances without idling.

The fuel cell could also be used to power refrigeration units, which today are powered by small diesel generators, the paper said.

The $1 million grant was provided through Gov. Bob Taft’s (R) Third Frontier program, a $1.6 billion technology research program designed to create jobs and bring new products to market, the Plain Dealer reported.