수소연료전지 시스템 전문 기업 에스퓨얼셀이 2kW급 연료전지와 액화수소용기를 채용한 수소 드론을 개발하는데 성공했다. 27일 에스퓨얼셀은 2kW급 수소 드론을 개발했다며 수소 모빌리티 진출에 대한 본격적인 행보를 시작하게 됐다고 의미를 부여했다. 기존 배터리를 채용한 드론은 30분 이내의 짧은 비행시간으로 인해 장거리 및 장시간 임무수행 등에 한계가 있어 활용도가 떨어졌다. 사업 현장에서는 드론에 대한 해당 성능향상과 함께 드론의 범용적 활용 촉진에 걸림돌이 되고 있는 짧은 비행거리를 늘려달라는 내용을 주요골자로 획기적인 기술 개발을 요구하는 의견이 많았다. 이러한 현장의 목소리를 수렴한 에스퓨얼셀은 올해 2월부터 희망기업들을 대상으로 수요조사를 실시해 관련 DB를 구축하고 그 결과를 심층분석, 최종적으로 설계에 반영함으로 드론 이용자의 편의성과 범용성이 제고된 수소 드론을 개발하게 됐다고 강조했다. 에스퓨얼셀이 이번에 개발한 액화 수소연료전지 드론은 비행시간을 비약적으로 늘림으로 현재 배터리 드론으로 불가능 했던 수색, 정찰, 물류 운송, 농업 방재 등의 사업분야에 폭 넓게 활용이 가능할 것으로 기대된다. 이번 수소 드론에 주목되는 점은 수소연료전지 파워팩 개발에도 이용자의 편의성 및 범용성을 높였다는 점이다. 이용자가 상황에 맞게 고압기체수소와 액화수소 연료를 모두 사용할 수 있는 제품개발로 편의성 및 범용성을 높였으며, 수소드론 비행에 사용된 드론과 모터 또한 세계에서 가장 많이 이용되는 제품을 사용하여 시험 비행을 했다.
에스퓨얼셀은 2018년에는 연료전지 업계에서 처음으로 코스닥 상장을 한 수소연료전지 전문기업으로 건물용 연료전지의 기술력을 바탕으로 수소 모빌리티 시장에도 연료전지 파워팩 시스템 개발을 통해 진출을 하고 있다. 이번 수소 드론 개발 성공을 시작으로 지게차, 선박 등의 연료전지 파워팩 개발도 추진하고 있다고 에스퓨얼셀은 설명했다. 향후 수소 연료전지를 기반으로 다양한 응용 분야를 창출하고, 글로벌 시장에서 매출을 확대해 나갈 계획이다. 에스퓨얼셀 관계자는 "현재 진행중인 유상증자를 통해 유입되는 자금을 통해 수소 연료전지 파워팩 시스템의 개발과 원천기술 확보, 상품화에 적극적으로 투자해 시장에 빠르게 진입할 예정"이라고 밝혔다.
HYZON's new proton exchange membrane fuel cell is designed to power ultra-heavy vehicles and machinery without compromise in performance or economics
Third party testing from TUV Rheinland validates record peak power density above 6kW/L – the highest power density fuel cell stack in the world
First units based on the new technology platform to be shipped in 2021, aiming to power some of the world's most challenging mobility applications
HONEOYE FALLS, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hydrogen mobility and clean energy company, HYZON Motors Inc ("HYZON") has today revealed new test data from the latest generation of its proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells.
HYZON's new automotive grade PEM fuel cells have been optimized for durability and long operating life, addressing the most demanding usage scenarios for commercial vehicles and machinery.
This specifically includes challenging, high utilization mobility applications such as trucks, trains, and airplanes.
Most fuel cell modules used in heavy vehicles to-date deliver continuous power around 100 kilowatts (kW) or less – with peak power density under 3kW/liter, whereas recent test data validated by highly respected testing and certification services business TUV Rheinland shows HYZON's new PEM fuel cells achieve volumetric power density exceeding 6kW/l, and gravimetric power density exceeding 5.5kW/l (between end hardware).
Although the performance data is from short stack testing, it validates the potential of using full power fuel cells up to 500hp (370kW) for heavy mobility applications, reducing dependence on batteries and therefore saving on weight, size and cost.
The new PEM fuel cell is the result of nearly 20 years of fuel cell development
Craig Knight, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of HYZON Motors, commented:
"For nearly 20 years now, the HYZON founding team have been fully focused on developing world class proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology – the 'engine' of any hydrogen-powered vehicle – with the aim of producing the world's most advanced fuel cell to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonize heavy commercial mobility.
"With greater electrification of equipment and systems, there is a need for more powerful and lighter fuel cells to power heavy vehicles, machinery, trains and aircraft. This is where our PEM fuel cells will really excel; high power output and high power density enable applications previously out of reach of fuel cell technology."
With production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, HYZON expects to deliver thousands of fuel cell trucks and buses globally over the next three years. By 2025, HYZON's expected turn-key capacity will be more than 40,000 fuel cell vehicles annually. Production of the groundbreaking PEM fuel cell is expected to start in 2021.
HYZON is a global supplier of hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles, including heavy duty trucks, buses and coaches. Established as a spin-off from Horizon in early 2020, HYZON commercializes Horizon's almost 20 years of fuel cell technology development for applications in global mobility applications.
About HYZON Motors Inc (www.hyzonmotors.com)
HYZON Motors Inc is a US-headquartered hydrogen vehicle company on a mission to help operators of heavy vehicles transition to cost effective, zero emission, sustainable operations. HYZON achieves this by offering attractive economics with no compromise on performance.
HYZON has also made significant commercial progress in Europe, Asia and Australia. The company anticipates its novel zero emission mobility model will expand in global markets over the next few years.
German researchers and companies are about to test the world's first emission-free pusher towboat on the rivers and canals between Hamburg and the capital Berlin, reports Stefan Seewald in the Welt am Sonntag. The inland water vessel dubbed Elektra, which runs exclusively on electric engines powered by hydrogen fuel cells and batteries, is due to be finished this autumn, said Gerd Holbach, who developed the boat with a team at Berlin's Technical University. "With this canal push boat, we can demonstrate for the first time this hybrid energy concept," Holbach said. "We have created a blueprint that can also revolutionise the construction of cargo, work, ferry and river cruise ships."
Elektra carries 750 kilograms of hydrogen for the fuel cells. Apart from the electric motors, there is no other type of engine on board. In regional operation, the batteries are currently expected to last for about eight hours or 65 kilometres at a thrust load of 1,400 tons. On a supra-regional voyage, Elektra will be hybrid-electrically powered by fuel cells and batteries, with an operating time of about 16 hours or about 130 kilometres a day. In order to increase the range, the construction of a corresponding refuelling infrastructure is planned, according to the article.
[DETROIT] General Motors is moving ahead in its talks with startup Nikola Corp over a proposed partnership to make electric and fuel-cell-powered trucks, a senior executive at the Detroit automaker said.
GM and Nikola announced a tentative agreement last month but have yet to come to final terms. Nikola's stock price has plunged in the wake of allegations of deception by a short seller, raising questions from investors about GM's due diligence and commitment to a deal.
"Right now we are going forward," Mark Reuss, GM's president, said in a Bloomberg TV interview taped Oct 16. In what he called "the exciting piece" of those discussions, Mr Reuss said GM plans to share hydrogen-fuel-cell technology developed with Honda Motor with Nikola for use in both a pickup and big-rig trucks.[DETROIT] General Motors is moving ahead in its talks with startup Nikola Corp over a proposed partnership to make electric and fuel-cell-powered trucks, a senior executive at the Detroit automaker said.
GM and Nikola announced a tentative agreement last month but have yet to come to final terms. Nikola's stock price has plunged in the wake of allegations of deception by a short seller, raising questions from investors about GM's due diligence and commitment to a deal.
They are taking what I believe is the best fuel cell in the world - with our fuel cell that is made in our joint venture with Honda right here in Michigan - and taking that fuel cell and looking at deploying it in the heavy-duty transport market with the large trucks - the Class 7 and 8s - and also in the light-duty Badger truck," he said.
The proposed deal would give GM an 11 per cent stake in Nikola and allow the startup to use its hydrogen-fuel-cell technology. GM also said it plans to manufacture the Badger pickup truck for Nikola, which initially would be battery-electric and eventually fuel-cell powered.
