Grant Funds Fuel-Cell EV Range-Extender Development

The Swedish Energy Agency issues a SK7 million ($941,000) grant to technology company PowerCell to develop a hydrogen fuel-cell system as a range extender for electric vehicles.

PowerCell will develop a modular and scalable fuel-cell system producing between 27 and 34 hp. The agency says the fuel-cell systems must be integrated and demonstrated in three different types of EVs by other partners in the project.

‟The fuel-cell stacks that are made for these small power classes (less than 30 kW) are typically designed for stationary applications where packing volume and cost targets are not nearly as stringent as in the automotive industry,” PowerCell Sweden CEO Magnus Henell says.

“These designs require a smaller initial investment cost than automotive fuel-cell stacks, but will never be anywhere near as cost-effective at high volume,” he says. “The PowerCell fuel-cell stack is developed according to the standard for vehicles and for use in automotive environment and a power range that is appropriate for the range-extender application.”

The project is aimed at raising consumer awareness and acceptance of EVs by increasing vehicle range. PowerCell is joined by the More Zero consortium, an R&D partnership comprising design, testing and engineering firms Idiada of Spain and Hexagon Studios of Turkey, and EV powertrain developers Triphase and E-Trucks Europe, both of Belgium.