Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - August 2023 - 22

BOSCH HIGH on HYDROGEN
Bosch claims that more than 3,000 of its employees work with hydrogen
technology, including those at the Stuttgart-Feuerbach site tasked with
assembling and testing the FCPM.
The end-of-line functional test records 450 variables under
real conditions. Gas composition, temperature, pressure and
humidity are the same as in the actual vehicle.
Bosch intends to make 1.25-megawatt prototypes
using proton exchange membranes available for electrolysis
pilot applications starting this fall. The units,
which can produce 23 kg (50 lbs.) of H2
per hour, are
Bosch also manufactures the individual components required for the fuel-cell
system, such as the hydrogen metering valve and an electric air compressor.
Keeping it in-house
Transferring technology and expertise from its established powertrain
business gives Bosch a competitive advantage in the hydrogen
market, according to Heyn. He specifically referred to Bosch's
systems know-how - the ability to control many components with
sensor technology and complex electronics - and the ability to
scale up new developments quickly into volume production.
" This is why we are also in demand in H2
production, where we are
new to the market, " he said. " Plenty of companies can build electrolysis
stacks in the laboratory. But only very few are capable of
mass producing such stacks. "
22 August 2023
expected to be market-ready in 2025.
Bosch has modified processes from the manufacture
of diesel and gasoline systems to produce fuel cells.
" For example, laser welding is something we are familiar
with from injector production. And whether in
coating technology or leak testing, technology transfer
is possible, " Heyn said. High-speed laser welding is
used to make 1,200 meters (3,940 feet) of welds in
each fuel-cell stack hydrogen-tight.
Maintaining in-house expertise in the hydrogen
business is vital, according to Heyn. " Over the long
term as well, we want more than half of the fuel-cell
powertrain by value to be created internally, " he said.
The same standard applies for fuel-cell manufacturing
and testing. Bosch Manufacturing Solutions supplies
more than 50% of the required manufacturing equipment.
The test benches in Feuerbach were developed
by the Homburg-based Bosch subsidiary Moehwald.
H2 ICE innovation
Bosch engineers also are working on the hydrogen
combustion engine, developing systems for both port
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BOSCH; BOSCH; SAE/RYAN GEHM
Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - August 2023

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