SAE Congress Will Include Fuel-Cell Focus

Fuel-cell technology will be one of the main topics discussed at the upcoming Society of Automotive Engineers International Congress & Exposition. The event, which will be held Mar. 1 - 4 in Detroit's Cobo Center, is expected to feature more than 1,100 exhibiting companies. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert energy directly into electricity without combustion. Ford Motor Co., along with other automakers such as Toyota Motor Corp., are expected to test fuel-cell-powered cars this year. Experts on fuel-cell technology will present papers on the topic. Among the presenters: Ken Dircks of Ballard Automotive Inc., who will discuss "Recent Advances in Fuel Cells for Transportation Applications;" Philip Pindo Mok, DaimlerChrysler, and Andre Martin, Ballard Automotive GmbH, who will discuss "Automotive Fuel Cells: Clean Power for Tomorrow's Vehicles;" and Richard K. Stobart, Cambridge Consultants, who will present the paper, "Fuel Cell Power for Passenger Cars: What Barriers Remain?"