(Robert Schluter, co-founder and president of e1, and e1’s fuel cell electric vehicle golf cart | Photos by Ronni Wilde)
Element 1 Corp (e1), a business that develops zero-emission technology at its headquarters here in Bend, held an event yesterday to showcase its latest projects, introduce staff members and to say thank you to the community.
The open house took place at the e1 facility on Plateau Drive in the northeast side of town. Robert Schluter, co-founder and president, gave a short speech, and engineers on staff demonstrated some of the company’s technology, including a fuel cell electric vehicle golf cart that operates on renewable methanol.
“The heart of e1 is composed of skilled metal craftsmen, chemists and engineers. Many have been working on developing and refining our methanol-to-hydrogen generation technology for most of their professional careers right here in Bend,” said Schluter. “E1’s technology provides the hydrogen fuel that allows for the adoption of clean fuel cell power technology for our cars, trains, trucks and marine vessels. Essentially, e1 solves the cost and logistical challenges related to gas hydrogen.” He added, “Make no mistake, the technology has been homegrown right here in Bend. And e1, and thus Bend, is providing a small-but-critical piece of the clean-energy puzzle as we march toward a zero-emission future.”
Schluter thanked Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) and EDCO CEO Roger Lee for supporting e1, and OSU-Cascades. “Roger Lee and his team were one of e1’s first supporters. They provided the guidance and relationships that built our advisory board, initial investors and a path to some key founding employees.” He continued, “We have a very positive ongoing relationship with OSU-Cascades and their Energy Systems Engineering program. A number of our engineers are graduates of this program.” He also thanked the University of Oregon Office of Entrepreneurship & Economic Transformation, and Wigi Creek Golf Club, which donated the converted golf cart. “This is one of the first opportunities to run a fuel cell vehicle on renewable methanol that I am aware of globally,” said Schluter.
In attendance at the open house were members of the community, vendors, engineers on staff who are graduates of OSU and UO, as well as current engineering students from OSU-Cascades. “We have a very symbiotic relationship with OSU-Cascades,” said Schluter. “A key piece of the big clean-energy puzzle is being done right here in Bend. This open house is a way to say thank you to the community.”
