AVL and Red Bull develop ultra-light fuel cell

Hydrogen AVL and Red Bull develop fuel cell

2024-04-18 From Lina Demmel | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

AVL and Red Bull are jointly developing an ultra-lightweight fuel cell technology. It also has the highest power density in the world.

The partnership aims at the application of sustainable hydrogen-powered drive systems in the high-performance area for automobile, motor sport and aviation.(Image: AVL_Red Bull Advanced Technologies) — The partnership aims at the application of sustainable hydrogen-powered drive systems in the high-performance area for automobile, motor sport and aviation.
(Image: AVL_Red Bull Advanced Technologies)

AVL is collaborating with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, a division of the Red Bull Racing Group. The aim of the partnership is to develop a new generation of fuel cells with ultra-high power density. The lightweight design is expected to be two-thirds lighter than conventional fuel cell systems. This is intended to make them a pathfinder for net-zero emissions in the automotive, motorsport, and aviation industries.

The cooperation combines the service provider's portfolio in the field of PEM fuel cell technology with Red Bull's competencies in lightweight construction, design, and aerodynamics. Jürgen Rechberger, Head of Hydrogen & Fuel Cell at AVL, hopes that by bundling knowledge and experience, the gravimetric power density of fuel cell technology can be increased by a factor of three.

Fuel cell with highest power density to date

This should surpass all systems currently available worldwide. As AVL reports, joint investigations have shown that improvements in gravimetric power density can be achieved: The predicted values are 6 kW/kg at the stack level and 2 kW/kg at the system level.

The pursued system represents an important milestone for both companies on their way towards climate-neutral mobility. Sectors such as aviation, future motorsport series and a multitude of other applications with maximum payload are thereby expected to achieve the performance density dimensions required for hydrogen mobility.

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