Vehicle direct hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered

Direct hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered vehicles have reached a level of development where the major automotive companies have publicly announced that initiation of commercialization is imminent around 2015. The targets of performance, durability, and cost agreed upon by various organizations, including the US DOE, appear to be achievable in the specified time frame. Well-delineated pathways and strategies have been established to address the barriers of cost and durability of PEMFC stacks and achieve the automotive targets. The principal directions for reduction of cost and enhancement of durability of key fuel cell components, i.e., electrocatalysts, membranes, and bipolar plates are briefly summarized in this section. 

Ahluwalia, R.K. and X. Wang, Direct hydrogen fuel cell systems for hybrid vehicles. /. Power Sources, 139(1-2), 152-164,2005. 

A key element of the automotive fuel cell membrane electrode assembly is the proton exchange membrane (PEM), also referred to as the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), which is composed of a thermoplastic elastomer coated with a platinum catalyst. U.S. car-makers expect to have fuel cell-powered cars on the market by 2004. Polymer selection depends on, among other criteria, fuel selection such as Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) or Direct Hydrogen Fuel Cell (DHFC). One prototype fuel cell vehicle is the product of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), comprising U.S. automotive companies and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ... 

Fuel cell is sized to provide all the power needed to run the vehicle. A battery may be present but only for start-up (such as a 12-V battery). This configuration is typically possible only with direct hydrogen fuel cell systems. A system with a fuel processor would not have as good a dynamic response. Also, a small battery would not be sufficient to start up a system with a fuel processor. 

Halvorson, T. G., Terbot, C. E. and Wisz, M. W. (1996). Hydrogen Production and Fuelling System Infrastructure for PEM Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicles. Final report, prepared for the Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI, USA, under Ford Subcontract No. 47-2-R31157 Direct Hydrogen Fuelled Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell System for Transportation Applications . 

Boettner, D., Moran, M. (2004). Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell-powered vehicle performance using direct-hydrogen fueling and on-board methanol re-... 

Crosslinked sulfonated PI types have been developed for use as cation exchange membranes. The sulfonated Pis have excellent proton conductivity and a low cost of preparation. These membranes can be used as polymer electrolyte membranes in hydrogen or a direct methanol fuel cell for electric vehicles and portable electric power sources [99]. 

Darwish, N.A., et al. 2004. Feasibility of the direct generation of hydrogen for fuel-cell-powered vehicles by on-board steam reforming of naphtha. Fuel 83 409 17. 

Some 10% of the world s demand for methanol is used as fuel for direct combustion. Since the first oil crisis in the 1970s methanol has been claimed as a potential substitute for fuel. Although this promise has not turned to reality yet, methanol has been studied intensively as energy carrier for on-board hydrogen production in mobile applications using fuel cell powered electrical vehicles. 

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