C-ALPS set for hydrogen fuel cell development

The C-ALPS facility has approved work that will create a dedicated 100m² Hydrogen Fuel Cell lab and upgrade its powertrain cells.

The new facilities will feature a fully equipped laboratory alongside the upgraded test cells for fuel cell and electrolyser, stack and cell-level testing and diagnostic/post-mortem work. It will also include areas for instrumenting and commissioning electric drive and fuel cell systems, plus equipment for environmental testing of powertrain components and systems from -40° to +120°.

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This investment is expected to supplement C-ALPS’ bespoke fuel cell test stands, which have been developed in-house and are said to feature advanced electrochemical diagnostics for detailed characterisation of application-scale fuel cells and stacks.

Construction and fit-out will be completed by late August 2021, after which researchers will be able to undertake fundamental and collaborative applied research with industry.

“Sustainable electric propulsion and mobile energy storage solutions are essential in decarbonising the transport sector and improving air quality. Hydrogen, as a fuel, will almost certainly play a significant role in this transition,” said Simon Shepherd, director of C-ALPS.