Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. Unveils Its One-Cylinder Alternative Fuel Internal Combustion Engine

[jpak]

http://www.sys-con.com/read/356788.htm

ALGONA, IA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/02/07 -- Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. (HEC) (OTCBB: HYEG) announced today that it has completed the initial design and engineering of its compact, single-cylinder internal combustion engine. The new engine is entering operational testing, and is designed to run interchangeably on hydrogen, propane, natural gas, ethanol or gasoline. This engine complements the Company's existing family of 2, 3, 6 and 8-cylinder Oxx Power(TM) alternative fuel internal combustion engines.

The one-cylinder engine greatly expands the potential market for HEC's engines and power generation products. This market includes applications such as powering industrial compressors, chemical and substance mixers and industrial conveyers.

HEC will initially supply this engine to U.K.-based ITM Power, pursuant to a previously announced teaming agreement. Under the HEC/ITM Power agreement, HEC engines are being integrated with ITM Power electrolyzers, to become a stand-alone power generation solution for industrial and residential customers. This HEC-powered system can revolutionize the residential energy market. In addition to industrial applications, the one-cylinder Oxx Power engine generator-set system will be able to provide all of the heating and hot water demands for homes. The system is designed to allow for "fuel by wire," using lower cost, off-peak electricity or locally produced renewable energy to generate hydrogen -- which then fuels the Company's engines and generator sets to produce, full time, lower cost, non-polluting home power. The first of these engines are to be delivered to ITM this spring.

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[Skink]

1. and they said it couldn't be done.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. So, you're using grid electricity to...

create and store the hydrogen, and then using that hydrogen to run the generator?

Using off-peak power, if it is discounted, could save a little money, but the net grid kilowatts will be a bit higher because each of these operations has some loss built in to it-- it's sort of like charging batteries from the grid.

Now, if you've got a windmill or something else to create the juice for electrolysis, and can make enough hydrogen that way, this could work, but then you've already got a windmill, so this is still just a storage system.

I can see it being useful, and a good alternative to a pile of batteries charging off the windmill or solar panels, but it's not such a huge leap forward.

[TheWraith]

3. Screw that. Why should I replace one internal combustion engine with another?

They're a pain in the ass to maintain and repair. Clean or not, why should I want to use one of them longer than I have to?

[Javaman]

4. My exact feeling. nt