Nissan Canada Puts Fuel Cell Technology to the Test in British Columbia

SURREY, BC, Feb. 14 /CNW/ - Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) today announced an
initiative that will put its newest fuel cell-equipped vehicle to the test.
The new 70 megapascal (MPa) high-pressure hydrogen-powered Nissan X-Trail FCV
(fuel cell vehicle) arrived in Canada for testing which will take place in and
around the Greater Vancouver Area.
The Nissan X-Trail FCV contains a Canadian-built hydrogen fuel cylinder
manufactured by Dynetek Industries Ltd. of Calgary, Alta. The vehicle is being
tested at Surrey, B.C.-based Powertech Labs Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
BC Hydro, in conjunction with Fuel Cells Canada. Fuel Cells Canada manages the
Hydrogen Highway(TM), a coordinated, large-scale demonstration and deployment
program intended to accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen and fuel-cell
technologies. Nissan joined these organizations today in Surrey to kick off
the testing.
"Through Nissan's advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology, we hope to
improve the practicality of fuel cells as a future clean power source," said
John Junker-Andersen, Director, Parts, Service and Quality Assurance at NCI.
"Together with the assistance of Powertech and BC Hydro, we are working hard
to make the benefits of fuel cells and their promise of high efficiency and
zero emissions a viable reality."
A fuel cell vehicle is in effect an electric vehicle, using a fuel cell
to convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity. The electricity is generated
by a chemical reaction inside the fuel cell stack when hydrogen from the fuel
cylinder combines with oxygen in air. The only by-product is water, making
FCVs completely emissions-free.
"With partners such as Nissan and BC Hydro, we are able to test
compressed hydrogen in real world situations," said Robb Thompson, Dynetek
Industries Ltd. "Through these tests, we have demonstrated that compressed
hydrogen is the best commercially suitable alternative for the success of the
hydrogen economy."
Nissan will test the vehicle in a number of environments and drive
cycles, including moderate cold-weather, high-speed hill climbs and highway
driving, to evaluate the vehicle's capabilities and the hydrogen fuel system's
performance.
"As members of the Hydrogen Highway(TM), we are pleased to support
Nissan's vehicle testing program," said Livio Gambone, Manager, Vehicle
Programs at Powertech. "Our climate and geography, plus access to our 70 MPa
hydrogen filling station, make the Vancouver area the best and only place to
test the viability and endurance of this FCV."
The 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen-powered Nissan X-Trail FCV is the
company's most-recent developmental fuel cell vehicle. Equipped with the
first-ever Nissan-constructed fuel cell stack, the X-Trail FCV also boasts a
more compact design and increased power. A previous 2003 model offered a
cruising range of 350 km, but thanks to improved stack efficiency and a
30 percent increase in the high-pressure Dynetek hydrogen cylinder's storage
capacity, the new X-Trail FCV is expected to achieve a cruising range of more
than 500 km.
"We applaud Nissan Canada's decision to test their newest hydrogen
powered fuel cell vehicle along the Hydrogen Highway(TM)," said John Tak,
President and CEO, Fuel Cells Canada. "As a world-leading centre for hydrogen
and fuel cell expertise, British Columbia's Hydrogen Highway(TM) is an ideal
proving ground to test and demonstrate these technologies."
Nissan has been working on FCV development since 1996. In addition to
design and engineering work conducted in Japan, extensive testing and
development has also been conducted in other markets, including the United
States, where Nissan is a member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership
(CaFCP).

About Nissan Canada Inc.
Nissan Canada Inc. is the Canadian sales, marketing and distribution
subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc. With offices
in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC), Nissan Canada directly
employs 290 staff, while 146 independent businesses hold exclusive Nissan
dealerships and 29 hold exclusive Infiniti dealerships.

About Powertech Labs Inc.
Powertech is recognized internationally for its expertise in fuel storage
and delivery systems for compressed gas fuelled vehicles, and is the only
provider in the world of 70 MPa hydrogen filling stations. With over 18 years'
experience with high-pressure fuel systems for vehicles, Powertech dedicates
its expertise to the testing of hydrogen and CNG rather than their production,
to ensure that the products entering the marketplace are reliable and
certified.

About Dynetek Industries Ltd.
Dynetek Industries Ltd. designs, produces and markets one of the lightest
and most advanced fuel storage and refueling systems for compressed natural
gas, low emission vehicles and compressed hydrogen, zero-emission fuel cell
vehicles. Dynetek is recognized around the world for its solutions-of-choice
to the alternate fuel vehicle sector, evidenced by strategic relationships
with major manufacturers around the globe. Dynetek is listed on the Toronto
Stock Exchange, symbol: DNK.

About Fuel Cells Canada
Fuel Cells Canada is a non-profit, national industry association. It
works closely with industry, government and academia to achieve its mandate of
accelerating the development of Canada's world-leading fuel cell and hydrogen
industry. FCC provides services and support to Canadian corporations,
educational institutions and business alliances promoting, developing,
demonstrating, and deploying fuel cell and related products and services in
Canada.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo of the all new Nissan X-Trail FCV with
representatives from Nissan Canada Inc., Powertech Labs Inc. and Fuel
Cells Canada is available on the CNW Photo Network./



For further information: or photography, please contact: John Lindo,
Nissan Canada Inc. at (905) 629-6461 or john.lindo@nissancanada.com; or
Barb Bryson, Cohn & Wolfe at (416) 924-5700, ext. 4057 or
barbara_bryson@ca.cohnwolfe.com; or For a photo of Nissan's latest X-Trail
FCV (vehicle only), please visit:
http://press.nissan-global.com/EN/PHOTOGRAPHS/technology.htm



(From left to right) John W. Tak, President and CEO, Fuel Cells Canada, Richard Marchant (inside car), Chief Operating Officer, Powertech Labs Inc., and John Junker-Andersen, Director, Parts, Service and Quality Assurance at Nissan Canada Inc., celebrate the kick off of testing on Nissan's all new X-Trail Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV). The X-Trail FCV, which features Nissan’s first in-house built fuel cell stack, is being tested at Surrey, B.C.-based Powertech labs in conjunction with Fuel Cells Canada in an effort to make FCVs a viable future clean power source. With water as their only byproduct, FCVs are completely emissions free. (CNW Group/ Nissan Canada Inc.)