Following a trial with a prototype, Holstebro cemetary on friday the 16th of december received the final vehicle.

A mobile power station
The EcoMotion Truck is a mobile power station, powered by two HT-PEM systems (High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membranes) that run on methanol. As a result of not needing a humidifier, compressor and radiator as in LT-PEMs (Low Tempeature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane), the HT-PEMs have a very simple internal architecture. This both reduces costs and broadens the application scope and effectiveness of the fuel cell systems in terms of lower parasitic power consumption, improved CO tolerance and a broader operating window temperature-wise. The higher CO tolerance compared to LT-PEM makes it possible to use the liquid methanol as fuel, which is reformed into a hydrogen rich gas internally in the system.

A Pioneer Fuel Cell System
The fuel cell system developed by Serenergy is the first commercially available mobile-RMFC (reformed methanol fuel cell) system in the world, based on the HT-PEM technology. Once the fuel cells are active, they will continuously and silently recharge the built-in truck batteries. This allows for gardeners to operate the EcoMotion Truck up to one week before the ten liter fuel tank is empty, depending on how intensely the truck is used. Thanks to the effective fuel cell system, the truck also produces power for an inverter and two built-in 230 VAC power outlets. Thereby, gardeners can avoid using long cable spools for e.g. the use of electric hedge trimmers.

Advantages Well Received at Holstebro Cemeteries
Cemetery Caretaker, Erik Søvndal, did not need to think twice before he accepted the offer to test the EcoMotion Truck:” We think this vehicle has three key advantages: It is environmentally friendly, quiet and it does not need constant recharging. The truck also makes our daily work easier and it gives our visitors a quiet walk around the cemetery”, says Erik. He adds that especially the continuous supply of power, which saves the gardening crew time, is an advantage.

Huge Green Potential of Methanol as Fuel
Methanol is traditionally made from wood and is also called wood alcohol. It is a very flexible fuel that can be blended directly with petrol to improve combustion properties, but it is also excellent as fuel for fuel cells. Methanol is currently produced mainly from natural gas, but in time will also be produced from a number of renewable energy sources such as biomass/biogas, household refuse and wind energy. In fact, surplus wind power can be stored as liquid methanol, thereby saving electricity for later use. It can also be used in the transport sector, which needs liquid, high energy density fuel.