FUCHSIA: Fuel cell and hydrogen store for integration into automobiles

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0451

Key words (English)

Hydrogen; metalhydrides; fuel cell;
Economic Aspects; Environmental Protection; Energy Saving; Transport

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: ENK6-2000-00318

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4b.1 Cleaner energy systems, including renewables

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Université de Fribourg
Groupe de Recherche Physique du Solide

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: University of Birmingham (UK)

Abstract (English)

The proposed program will investigate novel and metallic materials giving hydrogen storage of greater than 7wt%. The resulting material will be incorporated into a hydrogen store suitable for the fuelling of a fuel cell powered light vehicle with a range of 500 km. A successful store will lead to a zero emission vehicle powered by a totally renewable energy store.

Description of work:
To achieve this, the program has been divided into following areas:
- A number of carbon-based materials will be explored for hydrogen storage including doped graphite, carbon nanotubes and high velocity milled carbon/metal hydride composites. The hydrogen sorption kinetics, capacity, thermodynamics and cost parameters, suitable for light vehicle application will be examined.
- The scale up target is a production process with a volume capability suitable for the demands of the major automotive manufacturers in the year 2020, when fuel cell vehicle production could reach 16 M/pa.
- In parallel with the scale up task, design work on the hydrogen store and fuel cell will be progressed. For these elements, the targets will be compatible with supplying the power demands (~100 kW) of a light vehicle with a range of 500 km.

Expected results and exploitation plans:
To ensure that the integrated hydrogen store and fuel cell are compatible with the end user needs the design and trials of these elements will be done in collaboration with parallel projects involving European light vehicle manufacturers.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0451