Ener1 developing fuel cells for use as range extenders
Apparently, even a battery company can hedge its bets on future automotive powertrain technology. Such is the case with Ener1, which held its first quarter earnings call yesterday. We've regularly covered updates from Ener1's lithium ion battery subsidiary, EnerDel, which just last week announced a deal to possibly supply packs to Fisker Automotive in addition to its existing supply deal with Th!nk. Another of Ener1's subsidiaries is EnerFuel, a company focused on fuel cells. CEO Charles Gassenheimer said on the call that EnerFuel is making significant progress in development of its high temperature fuel cell. The stack is being developed primarily for use as a range extender. Several automakers have shown and tested concepts based on fuel cell extended range EVs, including General Motors and Ford.
Daniel Betts, EnerFuel's Principle Engineer, said on the call that the company's stack has been installed into an ER-EV and has been tested since December 2008. The complete fuel cell system consisting of stack, hydrogen storage and electronics weighs 176 pounds and adds 20 kWh of energy to the existing battery system. Using the fuel cell as a range extender for a plug-in vehicle allows it to be run at constant output, greatly increasing its efficiency as compared to using it as the primary power source. The EnerFuel stacks are being developed for an output of 3-15 kW, enough to maintain and extend battery range.
[Source: Ener1]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jake 1:03PM (5/12/2009)
That kind of power will never power a vehicle alone. 15kW is the minimum for highway travel (which is what the range extender is most likely going to be used for) with a small car. However it is an interesting idea. This may be the way to get hydrogen fuel cell vehicles cheaper. Currently you pay for fuel cells by their power, not their energy, so it's a better fit for range extending (lower power demands) than to power vehicles alone. Again I have to question how much even this small system cost though.
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Chris M 5:20PM (5/12/2009)
"High temperature" means it isn't the common PEM fuel cells used by others, it is either a molten carbonate fuel cell or a solid oxide fuel cell. Both can run directly on other fuels instead of H2, without the need for a reformer.
Molten carbonate fuel cells have been run on carbon in the form of charcoal, and solid oxide fuel cells can run on natural gas or other vaporized hydrocarbons. In both cases, the alternative fuel is both easier to store, more compact and less expensive than H2.
Disadvantages include corrosion problems for carbonate fuel cells, and potentially brittle ceramics in the solid oxide fuel cells.
It takes a long time to get up to operating temperatures, that isn't a severe problem for "range extender" use as the start-up can be initiated before the battery is too depleted.
Cost might be a problem, although a substantial battery pack allows the use of a much smaller "range extender", and the high temperature operation means that they can replace the platinum with less expensive catalysts.
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Bob 9:00AM (5/13/2009)
If you actually read the transcript from the call, you can see that Enerfuel is developing a High temp PEM fuel cell, not a solid oxide nor molten carborbonate. Supposedly these systems are good because of their simplicity, making them more affordable. Also it allows you to use hydrogen that is not 100% pure, making the fuel cheaper.