In fuel cell development, the partnership between Daimler Chrysler, Ford and Ballard is still a big force in the industry, but it changed substantially last October. The original structure, dating from 1998, comprised the three main partners plus two subsidiary companies Xcellsis, and Ecostar Electric Drive Systems. Last November, Xcellsis and Ecostar became wholly owned by Ballard, while the manufacturers increased their total holding in Ballard to 43.1 per cent, with Daimler Chrysler taking the lion's share of 23.6 per cent. In addition, the partners have entered into a new 20-year alliance. By doing away with three separate boards and providing a one-stop shop, Ballard expects a dramatic improvement in the response time to customers. Ballard continues to make alliances and acquisitions as well as supply automotive fuel cell systems to its partners at market prices. One of the overriding problems facing FCV manufacturers remains that of fuel: how to supply it and how to store it on board. So far, most FCVs have carried either compressed or cryogenically stored liquid hydrogen. Liquid fuel has provided greater energy density, though progressive evaporation of the fuel is still a problem and lightweight compressed gas storage technology is catching up fast. Two types are in vogue: aluminium-based Type 3 and composite Type 4. The advantage of the composite route is weight, but Type 3 exponents question the long-term effect of a plastic tank's lack of ability to conduct away heat generated during filling and potential weaknesses surrounding the insertion of metal endpieces. Though prototypes mostly rely on pure hydrogen fuel, the key to speedy deployment of fuel cell vehicles lies in using the existing liquid refuelling infrastructure to supply hydrocarbon fuel from which FCVs can liberate hydrogen on-board, using reformers. Most manufacturers are still considering both methanol and gasoline, while some have already taken a decision on one or the other.


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    Titel :

    Fuel cells


    Beteiligte:
    Crosse, J. (Autor:in)

    Erschienen in:

    Automotive Engineer ; 27 , 2 ; 78-80


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2002


    Format / Umfang :

    3 Seiten, 4 Bilder



    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Print


    Sprache :

    Englisch




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