The EFOY Pro fuel cell integrator Arbuz launched their safety shelter project along the Kolyma federal highway from Magadan to Yakutsk in the far east of Russia in 2017. To date, various shelters equipped with EFOY Pro 2400 Duo fuel cells (corresponds to latest fuel cell generation EFOY Pro 2800) have been installed. In the heated cabins, travelers find first aid kits, water, food, and warm clothes. There is an alarm button for emergency calls and cell phones have a mobile network connection in a radius of 200 m around the stations.
A ride on the Kolyma highway is a dangerous experience: The road winds through rough terrain and over mountain passes exposed to fierce weather conditions and arctic temperatures up to -60 °C. So far, there was no stable mobile phone network along more than 80 percent of the highway. Between 2016-2017, more than 120 people have died in car accidents because they have not received timely medical assistance. Along the road, there is no unified notification system for rescue services and no infrastructure providing life support in emergency situations. Furthermore, the region is extremely remote and there is no power supply along the highway.
The EFOY Pro 2800, the latest fuel cell generation, is the ideal power supply solution for this application.
“Our EFOY Pro fuel cell/solar hybrid solution significantly increases the safety of travelers”
Our EFOY Pro fuel cell/solar hybrid solution significantly increases the safety of travelers on the Kolyma highway. Our solution enables us to save lives of people in difficult climatic conditions and emergency situations. In the cabins, there will always be a mobile network connection, power and heat for them.
Kirill Ettenko, Director of Arbuz LLC, Russia
The shelters are equipped with two EFOY Pro 2400 fuel cells (corresponds to latest fuel cell generation EFOY Pro 2800) in hybrid operation with solar modules to deliver reliable off-grid power. The fuel cell automatically starts when the solar module does not provide enough power in bad weather or during the long Russian winter. The hybrid power system ensures reliable all-season autonomy of the cabins, without requiring any user intervention. In case of failure of operation, the system performs self-diagnosis, which can also be done via remote access.
The EFOY Pro fuel cells enable a 270 days autonomous operation without service and an external power supply. They offer an environmentally friendly, self-contained power system without the necessity of constant maintenance. They are proven under extreme climatic conditions (-60 till +50 °C) and are a reliable and cost-effective solution compared to conventional alternatives. Furthermore, they are put into operation quickly, the “turnkey ready“ installation only takes 12 hours. The emergency shelters can be shipped easily to any location close to motorways. Since their initial operation, the emergency shelters proved to live up to the highest reliability and sustainability standards.
