As the 19th century was the era of steam engines and the 20th century was the era of internal combustion engines, it is likely that the 21st century will be the era of fuel cell. We are soon to introduce fuel-cell technology commercially which will revolutionize the way we currently produce power. The Canadian department of National Defence and Ballard teamed to develop fuel cell with a significant increase in power density while reducing the amount of platinum required. This resulted into an inference that fuel cell could be smaller, powerful and cost effective enough to replace conventional power technologies. Ballard systems have been recognised as a world leader in PEM fuel cell technology. Ballard has formed an alliance with various companies like: Diamler Chrysler (DDAIF, Financial), Ford (F, Financial), Coleman & Ebara power in Japan.
Fuel cell application
Compared to engine-driven mobile, electrical generators fuel cell has significant advantage of being sound less and almost no emission. They operate almost silently. If the stored hydrogen is fuel, the only emission is pure water. A significant advantage of the fuel cell over the battery counterpart is that of its energy density. It is portable and comparatively much smaller and lighter in size. The graph shows the energy density of compressed hydrogen versus lithium ion and lead acid batteries.
Benefits
- Fuel cells are efficient
- Fuel cells are clean
- Fuel cells are quiet
Major automobile companies to buys fuel cell patents from Ballard
Honda motor (HMC, Financial), Hyundai (HYMTF, Financial), Toyota (TM, Financial) are those which made headlines in hydrogen fuel-cell development lately and Volkswagen (VLKAY, Financial) is soon following the trend and will make its presence visible.
Audi made an announcement that it will acquire patent from fuel-cell company Ballard Power Systems (BLDP, Financial) which will further be applied across all VW group. VW is a well-known luxury brand and they also want to venture fuel efficient vehicles.
Irrespective of all apparent interest, it is still not announced whether Audi or Volkswagen will launch a hydrogen car without adequate fueling infrastructure in place as they have limited source of hydrogen fuel refilling. "We are securing crucial expertise that will provide new impetus for the further development of this technology," Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi's development chief, said in a separate statement. The deal is worth $112 million to advance development of emission free vehicle by world’s second largest automakers.
Financial and technological outlook
This technology is the edge of innovation and financing mechanism. To identify the necessary technology shift, the primary challenge is to achieve the substitute of existing carbon- emitting technologies with non carbon-emitting technology or clean technology as it is popularly known as. This requires a pure market driven approach as these non carbon-emitting technologies are relatively newer and expensive. For market introduction, it is required to overcome the first movers and make sufficient monetary resources. Due to high risk and initial investment to enter an established market, the players are not taking initiatives and are not ready to explore a new place for the new technology.
In case, where the market introduction would be a success, this will be done in accordance to the business case that will be commonly established by public institution at the start of the project. The call for moving to a low carbon emitting economy by 2050 is driven by sheer societal and political choice to reduce vehicle’s carbon footprint. Today’s established markets for energy and transport will not cater for the necessary changes. The role of fuel cell and hydrogen in a decarbonized energy and transport system could be remarkable provided ongoing financial efforts are made by all public and private stakeholders, to introduce this technology to the open market and let the world use it. All stake holders should come forward and together make an effort to let the world know about the clean emission free technology.
