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Revolutionizing Transportation: Advancements in Fuel Cell Technology

Learn about fuel cells, their benefits, and types like Phosphoric Acid, Molten Carbonate, Alkali, PEM cells. Explore the development and applications in mobile sources. Discover bus, car, and truck initiatives by Ballard Power Systems, Daimler-Benz, and others. See fuel cell vehicles in use like GM Zafira and Daimler-Benz NECAR. Stay informed about the future predictions for fuel cell technology.

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Revolutionizing Transportation: Advancements in Fuel Cell Technology

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  1. Fuel Cells used in Mobile Sources Clark, John, Joy, Scott

  2. Introduction • What is a fuel cell? • A fuel cell is like a battery that runs on hydrogen and never needs recharged. • Why are we interested in fuel cells? • Fuel cells produce electric power yet they produce none of the typical waste byproducts associated with power generation.

  3. What kinds of fuel cells are there? • Phosphoric Acid • Molten Carbonate • Alkali • Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM)

  4. Phosphoric Acid • Most developed type of commercial fuel cell • Operating temperature around 220 degrees C • Large, heavy designs - used primarily in stationary applications • Can power large vehicles like busses and locomotives

  5. Molten Carbonate • Not as well developed commercially as PA cells • Operating temperature around 600 degrees C • Offer high efficiencies (higher if the heat is used as well) • High temperatures limit MC cells to stationary applications

  6. Alkali • The type of fuel cells used by NASA • Very efficient - up to 70% BUT very expensive • Mobil technologies - If you count satellites and the space shuttle

  7. Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) • Operating temperature around 100 degrees C • PEM Cells have a high power density and can quickly vary power output • According to the U.S. Department of energy, “they are the primary candidates for light-duty vehicles”

  8. PEM Cells • Required elements • Two electrodes - an anode and a cathode • polymer membrane electrolyte • platinum catalyst

  9. PEM Cells

  10. PEM Cells • General chemistry • Hydrogen fuel from free hydrogen or from hydrocarbons • The fuel (H) is ionized yielding free electrons and H+ ions • 2H2 --> 4H+ + 4e-

  11. PEM Cells • General Chemistry (continued) • Free electrons are conducted through the external circuit to the cathode - producing electric power • The protons move through the electrolyte to the cathode

  12. PEM Cells • General Chemistry (continued) • Once at the cathode, the H+ ions and the electrons react with oxygen (from air) to produce water • O2 + 4e- + 4H+ --> 2H2O

  13. PEM Cells

  14. Summary

  15. MOBILE SOURCES Fuel cells being developed in cars, trucks, buses, locomotives, golf carts, wheel chairs, and bicycles

  16. DEVELOPEMENT IN BUSES • Ballard Power Systems- first real demonstrations vehicle: 32 foot bus in 1993 • Chicago and Vancouver, B.C are conducting field trials on second generation buses • Georgetown is teaming up with others to develop full size transit buses for D.O.E

  17. BUSES

  18. DEVELOPMENT IN CARS AND TRUCKS • All major automobile manufacturers are developing fuel cells • Some are teaming up with other fuel cell companies and organizations • Ballard Power systems: Leading supplier of PEM fuel cells for use in transportation

  19. BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS • Leading supplier of pem fuel cells • Teamed up with daimler-benz and ford motor company to develop efficient and clean engines for transport • Comparable in size, weight, operating life, acceleration, range and refueling time

  20. OTHER FUEL CELL DEVELOPERS • Schatz Reseach Center- Truck: 6.5 kW PEM • United Technologies Corp. • Plug Power, L.L.C.- fuel cell engine expected to be twice as efficient & 90% less emissions • Denora S.p.A- PEM cells for buses and Marine applications • Zevco

  21. Zevco • Truck • Cost- $52,800 • Range- 125 miles • Top Speed- 62 Miles per hour • 1/3 heavier then conventional trucks

  22. FUEL CELL AUTOMOBILES • GM- Zafira compact van: powered by a 50kW PEM Fuel cell that utilizes methanol • Chrysler- Jeep Commander: fuel cell/battery hybrid, also working on methanol hybrid

  23. DAIMLER-BENZ • Road testing a fuel cell van: NECAR • Testing a hydrogen fueled passenger Bus in Germany • Plans on producing 100,000 engines for the year 2004

  24. FUEL CELL CARS • Volvo and Volkswagon- Golf-type vehicle: methanol fueled PEM • Toyota- RAV4 based vehicle: methanol and hydrogen-fueled • Use Toyota’s own PEM engines • Mazda- fuel cell concept car: fueled by Hydrogen

  25. CARS CONTINUED • Nissan- prototype car: runs on methanol and aided by Li battery for extra power • Plans to begin selling by 2003 • Contracted with Ballard • Honda- plans on developing fuel cell vehicles by 2003

  26. FUEL CELL VEHICLES ALREADY IN USE • Taxi- in London, alkaline fuel cell & cost $7,363 more • London- use a 1.5 ton hybrid fuel cell truck to maintain parks • Golf carts- Hydrogen fuel cell, 3 used in Palm Desert, CA

  27. SUBWAYS

  28. OTHER MOBILE USES • Wheel chairs • bicycles • All terrain vehicles • Golf Carts • Spacecraft- fuel cells provided power for on-board electronics, and now provide electricity and water for space shuttle

  29. FUEL CELLTECHNOLOGY FUTURE PREDICTIONS

  30. OFFICE OFTRANSPORTATIONTECHNOLOGIES

  31. VISION STATEMENT • WITHIN 10 YEARS • U.S. WILL TURN CORNER IN THE GROWTH OF PETROLEUM FOR HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION. • COMMERCIALIZE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION VECHICLES.

  32. TIMETABLE

  33. BARRIERS • LONG TERM NATURE OF RESEARCH • POTENTIAL FOR FAILURE • HIGH COSTS • PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES RELUCTANT TO INVEST

  34. WHAT IS NEEDED? • U.S. COMMITMENT TO BE A PRIMARY FUEL CELL USER • MARKET INCENTIVES FOR DEVELOPERS • DEVELOPERS TO PARTICIPATE IN MANUFACTURING COST REDUCTION EFFORTS

  35. PETROLEUM DISPLACEMENT WILL THERE BE RESISTANCE TO FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY?

  36. WHY RESIST? • OIL COMPANIES • INVESTORS • PREDICTED REVENUES OF $250 BILLION/YEAR BY 2010.

  37. CONSUMERS RESPONSE • HIGH INCREMENTAL COST • RANGE AND UTILITY • LACK OF OPERATIONAL AND SAFETY INFORMATION • LACK OF REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURE.

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