Materials issues in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.
Fuel cells have the potential to reduce the nation's energy use through increased energy conversion efficiency and dependence on imported petroleum by the use of hydrogen from renewable resources. The US DOE Fuel Cell subprogram emphasizes polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells as replacements for internal combustion engines in light-duty vehicles to support the goal of reducing oil use in the transportation sector. PEM fuel cells are the focus for light-duty vehicles because they are capable of rapid start-up, demonstrate high operating efficiency, and can operate at low temperatures. The program also supports fuel cells for stationary power, portable power, and auxiliary power applications where earlier market entry would assist in the development of a fuel cell manufacturing and supplier base. The technical focus is on developing materials and components that enable fuel cells to achieve the fuel cell subprogram objectives, primarily related to system cost and durability. For transportation applications, the performance and cost of a fuel cell vehicle must be comparable or superior to today's gasoline vehicles to achieve widespread penetration into the market and achieve the desired reduction in petroleum consumption. By translating vehicle performance requirements into fuel cell system needs, DOE has defined technical targets for 2010 and 2015. These targets are based on competitiveness with current internal combustion engine vehicles in terms of vehicle performance and cost, while providing improvements in efficiency of a factor of 2.5 to 3. The overall system targets are: a 60% peak-efficient, durable, direct hydrogen fuel cell power system for transportation at a cost of $45/kW by 2010 and $30/kW by 2015. DOE's approach to achieving these technical and cost targets is to improve existing materials and to identify and qualify new materials.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 993383
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/CSE/JA-62452; TRN: US201023%%316
- Journal Information:
- Mater. Matters, Vol. 3, Issue 4 ; Nov. 2008
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
Similar Records
Durable Bulk Metallic Glass Catalysts for Medium- and Heavy-Duty PEM Fuel Cells
Advanced Integrated Traction System
Related Subjects
08 HYDROGEN
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROLYTES
ENERGY CONVERSION
FUEL CELLS
GASOLINE
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MANUFACTURING
MARKET
MEMBRANES
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
POLYMERS
POWER SYSTEMS
TARGETS
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
US DOE