Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

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$1 Million Awarded to Five Universities to Advance Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

The US Department of Energy supports advancements towards transitioning commercial trucking to hydrogen fuel cell technology in various ways, including fundinghydrogen fuel cell technology a consortium of five national laboratories, called the “Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck” or “M2FCT.”  M2FCT includes members from:

  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

M2FCT partners with other laboratories, academic institutions, and industry representatives, including Cornell, Carnegie Mellon University, UC Irvine, GeorgiaTech, Cummins, Caterpillar, General Motors, Nikola Motors, etc.  The team estimates transitioning semi-trucks to hydrogen fuel could reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by 20%.

In November 2021, M2FCT announced they had awarded grants of $1 million to five universities conducting research projects to support the consortium’s mission.  The grants include:

  • State University of New York Buffalo, $200,000: Integrating Highly Durable Carbon Supports and Intermetallic PtCo Catalysts for Heavy-Duty MEAs
  • UC Irvine, $175,000: Materials and Design Solutions for PEMFC Durability
  • Drexel University, $200,000: Advanced PILBCP Ionomer Composites for Durable Heavy Duty PEMFCs
  • UC Merced, $150,000: Characterization and Simulation of Interfacial Transport Phenomena in the Membrane-Electrode Assemblies using Rheo-impedance and Imaging Diagnostic Tools
  • Florida International University, $200,000: Real-Time Continuous Monitoring of Ionomer Degradation with Ion-Sensitive Field-Effect Transistor (ISFET) Microsensors

According to Adam Weber, co-Director of M2FCT, “[This funding] will broaden M2FCT’s impact and move the needle on making fuel cells for long-haul trucking a reality by increasing fuel-cell efficiency and durability.”

Are you ready to join the hydrogen fuel cell revolution?

As hydrogen fuel cell technology continues to develop, the demand for hydrogen fuel will grow.  To meet Federal and State zero-emission goals, companies are showing greater interest in transitioning commercial trucking to hydrogen fuel cell technology because of its ability to provide substantial horsepower, long-range driving capacity, and quick refueling times.

Now is the time for fuel station owners to diversify their products with hydrogen fuel.

The Andretti Group with PowerTap Hydrogen allows fuel station owners to produce hydrogen fuel on-site, with a production unit taking up less than 1,000 square feet of space.  Our units can produce over 1,250 kg of pure hydrogen each day using only city water, natural gas, and electricity.  With PowerTap Hydrogen, it’s possible to produce fuel at less than $2 per kilogram–that’s about $9 less than purchasing hydrogen fuel from a wholesaler or producing it onsite via alternative solutions.

If you’re interested in diversifying your current product mix or would like to begin a journey in the exciting future of alternative energy solutions, contact our team at PowerTap Hydrogen today.  We’d love to show you how easy it is to be a part of the hydrogen fuel revolution.