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Fuel cell cars are in demand
There is a widely recognised need for the automotive industry to move away from fossil fuels in the longer term: oil prices are rising and there is a need to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and inner city pollution. The success of hybrid cars shows that consumers want an environmentally friendly car – if it won’t punish their wallet.
Developers let down by catalysts
Fuel Cell developers have worked hard to produce an effective solution, but the platinum catalysts they have been forced to use undermine their efforts. The amount of platinum required to power a fuel cell car is wholly out of line with targeted unit costs. Moreover there is not enough platinum in the ground to meet the needs of a widespread fuel cell vehicle launch.
Acta’s breakthrough HYPERMEC™ catalysts solve the problems
Affordable long term pricing
Price is key for automotive applications. Platinum catalysts are one of the most expensive components of the fuel cell and the metal is so scarce that growing demand will likely drive prices even higher. Our HYPERMEC™ catalysts perform excellently, yet are platinum-free: therefore Acta can offer the prospect of true industrial pricing with increasing volumes, saving hundreds of millions of dollars in fuel cell costs.
Multiple fuels offer flexibility
HYPERMEC™ catalysed fuel cells can use ethanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, methanol, gasoline, sodium borohydride or hydrazine as well as hydrogen. This offers developers unrivalled flexibility in devising entry strategies for fuel cell cars that are not dependent upon the completion of a multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment programme for hydrogen filling stations.
Interim options for the first time
HYPERMEC™ catalysed fuel cells mean that developers can consider combustion engine/fuel cell hybrids or fuel cell/battery hybrids and the introduction of fuel cells to the consumer in the form of auxilliary power units to supply air conditioning with the engine off. These options offer entry strategies for fuel cells to consumers which have hitherto been just a dream.
Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells (AMFC) – a new option
- Anionic membranes are commercially available and perform well
- Fuels such as ethanol and gasoline can feed both combustion engine and fuel cell
- Ethylene glycol and ethanol are already distributed in the automotive supply chain
- No carbonate precipitation has been observed on the membrane in use
- System performance is excellent, even after relatively little investment compared to DMFC
- Use of ethanol fuel is environmentally friendly, carbon neutral and reduces the use of fossil fuels
Technical Benefits in use
- Selective, platinum-free catalysts at the anode and cathode are unaffected by fuel crossover
- Anionic system increases fuel efficiency by reducing osmotic tendency for fuel crossover
- No catalyst sensitivity to carbon monoxide
- Ethanol and ethylene glycol are safe fuels in use
Partners
We are looking to partner with developers of fuel cells for automotive and transportation applications. Our catalysts offer numerous advantages of existing technologies (see above) and we are looking to further validate their use for these applications. We are looking for partners with:
- Existing fuel cell development programs
- Established automotive market penetration
- Willingness to invest in new technologies
- Technical capabilities for integrating catalysts into existing fuel cell technology
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