Article Contributed on: 5/29/2008 11:45:06 AM
Golden fast becoming Silicon Valley of renewable technology
Vehicle Projects LLC, a world leader in the engineering design and development of prototype fuel-cell powered rail vehicles, is moving from downtown Denver to Golden.
"Golden has reached a critical mass in the renewable energy area, and we are pleased that Vehicle Projects has recognized the synergy and opportunities of Golden," said Golden Mayor
Jacob Smith. "Golden is poised to become the Silicon Valley of renewable energy technology, and I warmly welcome this leading company."
In June, the company is moving into a new, expanded industrial facility located at 200 Violet St., Golden. The building was constructed in 2007 and is state-of-the-art in energy-efficiency and structural design. Vehicle Projects LLC has been located in downtown Denver since 2001, where it executed its engineering design and project management activities. It is now adding a new dimension to its business by bringing the fabrication of fuel-cell powerplants and hydrogen storage in-house.
"We inspected 22 properties in metro Denver before selecting the Chase Building," said Dr.
Arnold Miller, president of Vehicle Projects LLC. "We selected the facility for several reasons: Its quality of design and construction are consistent with our corporate image. It's within a kilometer of the convergence of three major freeways, allowing easy access by employees from throughout the metro area. And it's part of the burgeoning west-Denver/Golden corridor of renewable energy companies. For example, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is within sight of our new facility."
The new facility provides Vehicle Projects LLC with unique capabilities, including its on-site hydrogen and fuel-cell testing capabilities, unparalleled in the world. By taking development of a vehicle from concept to engineering design to power plant fabrication to high-power testing will add a new level of focused expertise and quality control.
With financial support from the BNSF Railway Company and the U.S. Department of Defense, and in cooperation with a consortium it manages, the company is currently developing a full-sized switch locomotive to be completed by September. At 127 tonne (280,000 lb), continuous power of 250 kW (330 hp) from its fuel-cell prime mover, and transient power well in excess of 1 MW, the fuel-cell hybrid locomotive will be the heaviest and most powerful fuel-cell land vehicle yet built.
The new capabilities are consistent with the company's evolution since its founding in 1998. Two years ago, the company brought fuel-cell powerplant engineering design in-house, and the new facility will complete the evolution for fabrication and high-power testing of powerplants and hydrogen storage.
For more information on Vehicle Projects LLC, visit www.fuelcellpropulsion.org. For more information about doing business in Golden, visit www.cityofgolden.biz.
Sabrina D'Agosta is the communications manager for the city of Golden.