NuCellSys' next generation automotive fuel cell systems: Meeting the requirements for expanded fleet applications

摘要

Development of vehicular fuel cell systems has meanwhile left the prototyping phase and entered automotive development. The present generation fuel cell systems has been the first to go through a complete automotive development cycle. Over 120 fuel cell vehicles built by DaimlerChrysler and Ford have already accumulated more than 2 million kilometers. The comprehensive experience resulting form this fleet demonstrations is being used to develop a next generation vehicular fuel cell systems. The key technology areas being addressed comprehend: Fuel cell stacks: Increased lifetime, fast start-up from sub-zero conditions and reduced platinum load. Fuel cell systems: Reduction of system complexity, improved packaging characteristics, increased robustness and maturity and sophisticated systems control strategy. Fuel cell vehicles: Vehicle energy management and fuel storage. Ballard's next generation fuel cell stack has already demonstrated over 2000 hours of durability and start-up at -20°C, within 100 seconds. NuCellSys' next generation automotive fuel cell systems will be able to fulfill reproducible freeze starts from -15°C and be developed using ISO 14001 and ISO/TS 16949 certified processes. A hybrid approach using one or two automotive fuel cell systems will be used in further heavy-duty applications.