Volkswagen develops high-temperature fuel cell

Researchers at German car manufacturer Volkswagen say they have developed a new type of high-temperature fuel cell, designed for the automotive industry, which they claim is the first of its kind in the world.

According to Volkswagen, the fuel cell features a newly developed membrane and electrodes, and has significant advantages over the low-temperature fuel cells typically used in fuel cell-powered cars.

"The high-temperature fuel cell independently developed by Volkswagen in seven years of research work will make the overall system in the car lighter, more compact, stable and cheaper," claimed Professor Jurgen Leohold, head of Volkswagen corporate research.

"And those are the decisive criteria for putting fuel cells on the path towards mass series production."

The company claims that the new high-temperature fuel cell allows them to dispense with expensive cooling and humidification systems.

"We believe that the high temperature fuel cell is part of the future. In contrast, we no longer give much chance to low temperature fuel cells going into series production," concluded Professor Leohold.

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Source: Adfero