ElringKlinger supplies fuel-cell stacks to European automaker

The Elring Klinger joint venture EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies (EKPO) has received an order from a European automobile manufacturer for fuel cell stacks to be used in a future production vehicle. The agreement includes the development of a custom stack for the global OEM's future fuel cell production vehicle. The order encompasses not only development but also the delivery of prototypes and amounts to an initial volume in the single-digit million-euro range, according to reports. The delivery of the stacks is planned to begin as early as 2023.

“The customer has high-quality standards for their vehicles and production conditions. We are all the more pleased that we were able to convince them with our development and technological expertise,” explains Gernot Stellberger, Managing Director of EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, about the order.

The stacks meet the high requirements for a durable and compact design while maintaining high power density, thus offering the best combination in the market, the Dettingen-based company promotes. The existing stack family sets standards with values of over 6.0 kW/l in the cell block. Additionally, the manufacturer already has facilities at its headquarters in Dettingen/Erms that enable production according to automotive standards of initially up to 10,000 stacks per year. This makes them a reliable and innovative partner.

“Hydrogen plays a key role as an energy carrier on the path to climate neutrality. This order shows that it will also gain increasing importance for individual mobility. For this, EKPO's fuel cell technology offers the appropriate solutions,” Stellberger is convinced.

The customer receives a custom fuel cell stack for use in the vehicle. The challenge in this project is the combination of performance and compactness, as there is only limited space available for the stack in the vehicle, according to the provider. The combination of a custom bipolar plate and the matching high-performance MEA is expected to enable excellent peak performance of the stack. The bipolar plate, developed and produced by the Dettingen-based company, features a seal on the metal plate as well as a special coating for high performance and durability. The stacks will initially be produced at the headquarters.

Through its parent company ElringKlinger, the provider has been involved in the research and development of fuel cells for around 20 years. The compact stacks are based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology and convert chemical energy into electrical energy using hydrogen and oxygen. They offer stacks in various configurations that can be integrated into customer systems. Optionally, they feature peripheral components and system functionalities integrated into the media module, allowing for significant simplification and cost reduction of the fuel cell system. Through the system solutions of its parent company Plastic Omnium, EKPO can cover the entire value chain of a hydrogen-based fuel cell drive.