Shift Magazine - December 2021 - 8

Stefan Williams makes an
electrode for a membrane
electrode assembly at Los
Alamos National Laboratory.
The proton-exchange
membrane part of a fuel cell
converts hydrogen and oxygen
into electricity, with heat and
water byproducts.
HEAVY-DUTY
HYDROGEN
With Energy Dept. funding, researchers seek
big power from fuel cells for the long haul
BY JACK KEEBLER
F
8
ueled with hydrogen instead
of diesel, electrically powered
Class 8 trucks could offer a much
cleaner way to move freight.
But first, America's national labs must
light a development path toward more efficient
and durable " heavy-duty " fuel cells.
Many experts believe using these to energize
massive electric motors could easily
and affordably move tons of cargo, almost
like road-going locomotives. And recently,
a $100 million funding bet was laid to put
this commercialization effort on the rails.
Half the money will go toward a fuel
shift * december 2021
cell research initiative called the Million
Mile Fuel Cell Truck. This is a new U.S.
Department of Energy-funded consortium
of five main national labs and three affiliate
labs working on " pre-competitive "
ways to solve the cell durability and efficiency
challenges for heavy-duty uses.
This consortium coordinates the lab work,
provides expert oversight and stirs that
together with individual activity from private
industry developers and advanced
academic projects.
A fuel cell uses a supply of hydrogen
gas and oxygen to make electricity, water
and heat. Fuel cell efficiency - the percentage
of the potential energy that gets
The lab tests catalyst formulations to
increase fuel cell efficiency. A physical
vapor deposition system, above, makes
thin coatings on bipolar plates and
deposits catalyst materials on a support.
converted to useful work - is generally
40 to 60 percent. But projected breakthroughs
could drive that to 72 percent.
Further lab work is also required to stretch
cell durability.
After decades of R&D for light-duty
vehicles such as cars and crossovers,
where the focus was on low cell cost, it's
trucking's turn to get green and clean.
Shift Magazine - December 2021

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