PEM fuel cell cost minimization using ``Design For Manufacture and Assembly`` techniques
- Directed Technologies, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)
- Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI (United States)
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells fueled with direct hydrogen have demonstrated substantial technical potential to replace Internal Combustion Engines (ICE`s) in light duty vehicles. Such a transition to a hydrogen economy offers the potential of substantial benefits from reduced criteria and greenhouse emissions as well as reduced foreign fuel dependence. Research conducted for the Ford Motor Co. under a US Department of Energy contract suggests that hydrogen fuel, when used in a fuel cell vehicle (FCV), can achieve a cost per vehicle mile less than or equal to the gasoline cost per mile when used in an ICE vehicle. However, fuel cost parity is not sufficient to ensure overall economic success: the PEM fuel cell power system itself must be of comparable cost to the ICE. To ascertain if low cost production of PEM fuel cells is feasible, a powerful set of mechanical engineering tools collectively referred to as Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) has been applied to several representative PEM fuel cell designs. The preliminary results of this work are encouraging, as presented.
- Research Organization:
- National Hydrogen Association, Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-94CE50389
- OSTI ID:
- 330662
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970385-PROC.; ON: DE99001002; TRN: IM9915%%178
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 8. annual U.S. National Hydrogen Association meeting, Alexandria, VA (United States), 11-13 Mar 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of 8. annual U.S. hydrogen meeting: Proceedings; PB: 546 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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