Commercially viable fuel cell stack technology for hydrogen-powered vehicles can be demonstrated by 2010, according to a Technology “Road Map” released today by Ballard Power Systems. The “Road Map”, announced to coincide with the start of the National Hydrogen Association’s Annual Hydrogen Conference in Washington, D.C., comprises four technology trendlines and targets for fuel cell stack durability, cost, freeze start and volumetric power density. It is widely agreed that demonstrating the ability to meet the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) targets for these four performance attributes is key to the successful commercialization of automotive fuel cell technology.
“Ever since Ballard stack technology was first introduced into a customer vehicle demonstration in 1993, timing of commercial fuel cell deployment has been the number one question for consumers, investors and policymakers. With today’s release of our Technology ‘Road Map’, we’re making a public commitment that Ballard will demonstrate the commercial viability of automotive fuel cell stack technology by 2010,” said Dennis Campbell, Ballard’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Our targets are aggressive, but achievable. By laying out our detailed five year technology plans, Ballard is again demonstrating its commitment to setting the standard and leading the way to proton exchange membrane fuel cell commercialization,” said Mr. Campbell. “With our technology ‘road map’ we’ve set the course, a course to the post-oil hydrogen future.”
Earlier this month, U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Lindsay Graham (R-SC) introduced the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Act of 2005, a comprehensive 10-year initiative aimed at accelerating programs that will trigger widespread commercialization and adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
Also this month, Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) introduced a second piece of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that calls for a five-year investment tax credit to lower the procurement cost of non-vehicular fuel cells.
Technology Targets
Durability. Over the next five years, Ballard plans to demonstrate its technology leadership in fuel cell stack demonstration units of between three and five kWs that embody technology advancements such as reduced active area, improved catalyst, increased membrane conductivity and high volume manufacturing processes that are required to meet a cost target of $30 USD/kWnet in 2010. Most importantly, Ballard also plans to concurrently demonstrate advances in durability, volumetric power density and operational characteristics, such as freeze start, necessary to meet customer requirements for internal combustion engine performance equivalency.
For tomorrow’s consumer of fuel cell powered vehicles, durability means delivering the same level of performance and reliability they expect from today’s internal combustion technology. Ballard has already demonstrated, using real drive cycle testing, more than 2,200 hours of durability in technology demonstration, equivalent to 100,000 kilometers under regular driving conditions. Ballard’s target for 2010 is 5,000 hours.
Freeze Start. Managing the water produced by fuel cells presents a challenge in freezing temperatures and, as such, to the commercialization of fuel cell technology. Ballard has already achieved fuel cell stack start-up at -20 degrees C, within 100 seconds, to 50% of the rated power for the stack. Ballard’s 2010 target for stack freeze start is -30 degrees C, in 30 seconds, to 50% rated power.
Volumetric Power Density. Reduction in volumetric power density is the ability to package the fuel cell stack into increasingly smaller spaces within a vehicle. Ballard’s target of 2,500 Watts net/Liter is more aggressive than the DOE’s target of 2,000 Watts net/Liter, and will go a long way towards liberating the true design potential of fuel cells in future automotive designs.
Cost. The cost of automotive fuel cells will need to be competitive with today’s internal combustion engines for the technology to be adopted widely. The DOE’s target cost for commercial introduction of a fuel cell system in 2010 is $45 USD/kW of net system power at a volume of 500,000 units. This target is divided between the fuel cell stack ($30 USD/kWnet) and the supporting balance of plant ($15 USD/kWnet). Ballard’s target cost for the fuel cell stack is $30 USD/kWnet by 2010. Stack technology innovation, new materials development and system optimization are the drivers for achieving this cost target.
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