Tropical S.A., Athens, Greece

TROPICAL S.A. (http://www.tropical.gr) is a Greek based company located in Athens, which consists of two major departments having on its portfolio more than 100 products with its own technology as well as know how on most of these products. Forty (40) of these products are associated with A/C units for vehicles and sixty (60) are associated with Hydrogen + Fuel Cell technologies & Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Moreover, it has been certified from TUV HELLAS (Member of TUV NORD GmbH, Germany) for the Design and Production of Fuel Cell Systems with Certificate Reg. No: 04 100 20021692-E9. TROPICAL is a member of the JTI on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.

TROPICAL is manufacturing Fuel Cell Power Systems ranging from 100Watt to 20kW as well as electric & hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (bicycles, scooters, boats, cars & minibuses). For all hydrogen related products of TROPICAL the storage tanks utilise conventional room temperature metal hydrides at the moment, whose limits concerning weight related storage capacity are well known. Tropical S.A. is participating on several projects at the moment, following a few examples:

1.    Design & development of a Hydrogen MiniBus for operation at the inner centre of Athens.

2.    “Green Future Home” (Electrolyser Unit and Management Control System) - Design & development of a hybrid management system which includes photovoltaics, wind generators, water electrolyser for hydrogen production, metal hydride storage tanks, fuel cell stack for power production and a “smart” parametric controller with recorded data on last 10 years weather data for the area.

3.    Nanotubes & Nanoscrolls – Hydrogen in Nanostructured Carbon – based materials for light hydrogen storage tanks designed for the automotive industry as well as for portable applications

4.    Hybrid Poly-generation (All-In-One) Unit for Islands – Design & development of a hybrid system which includes photovoltaics, wind generators, desalinisation unit for producing drinkable water, water electrolyser for hydrogen production, metal hydride storage tanks, fuel cell stack for power production and fuel cell GreenCityCar.

TROPICAL S.A. developed and presented in 2006 the 2-seated «CITYCAR» as well as the 4-seated «GREENCAR» which are the first European small two and four seated hydrogen operating cars (H2 fuel cell cars). The construction of these city cars has been made with the “Modular” method, the construction of the steady modular-chassis, which includes the chassis, the front and rear axles, the metal hydride tank the fuel cell-engine and the body. Both cars have an increased range which can reach more than 200km with zero emissions.

TROPICAL will bring its expertise on use of conventional metal hydride storage tanks in combination with fuel cells for different applications as well as its overview over the storage tank and fuel cell market into the project. It will focus on the techno-economical evaluation of the materials to be developed.

PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT

Mr George Lagios (CEO & President), has more than 30 years working experience on A/C units and bus body modifications and moreover is the designer as well as the developer of many type of A/C units. On the RES & Hydrogen Technology field, he has participated in a lot European as well as Greek Research Projects.

Mr George Kaplanis (Director of RES & H2 Technologies), holds a Masters Degree (Post Graduate Degree) on Mechanical Engineering & Energy Management and has more than 5 years experience on Renewable Energy Sources (wind, solar & geothermal) and Hydrogen Technologies. He has participated in more than 5 research projects so far especially on hydrogen storage and membranes for fuel cell stacks. He has worked extensively on the integration of Fuel Cell & Storage systems on vehicles and on the design & development of Reformate Fuel Cell Systems.

Contact:

Mr. George Kaplanis
Tropical S.A.
98 Kifisou Avenue
121 32, Peristeri
Athens
Greece

Phone +30 (210) 578 54 55
Fax +30 (210) 578 54 57

http://www.tropical.gr