The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and KPIT correctly ran trials of India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) prototype automobile running on an indigenously evolved gasoline cell stack at CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune. The gasoline cell is a low temperature PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) kind Fuel Cell that operates at sixty five-seventy five degree centigrade, that’s appropriate for vehicular applications.

CSIR and KPIT have correctly evolved a ten kWe automobile grade LT-PEMFC gasoline mobileular stack based on CSIR’s know-how. The heart of the PEM gasoline cell generation consists of the membrane electrode assembly, that’s totally a CSIR knowhow. KPIT introduced in their expertise in stack engineering which protected lightweight steel bipolar plate and gasket design, improvement of the stability of plant (BoP), gadget integration, control software and electric powered powertrain that enabled running the gasoline cell car.

Process of working

In 2016, CSIR-NCL and CSIR-CECRI as a part of the Industry Originated Project (IOP) class of the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) scheme partnered with KPIT for the improvement of an automobile grade PEM Fuel Cell generation. Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) generation makes use of chemical reactions among hydrogen and oxygen (from air) to generate electric energy, putting off the usage of fossil fuels.

Further, the gasoline mobileular technology emits handiest water, for this reason reducing down the emission of dangerous greenhouse gases in conjunction with different air pollutants. The generation, with in addition adoption and use, is poised to make the arena a purifier vicinity with decreased air pollutants levels.

The trials have been run on a battery-electric powered passenger automobile platform retrofitted with the Fuel Cell Stack. However, it’s miles predicted that the generation is greater ideal for business vehicles (CV) along with buses and vans. Battery electric powered buses/ vans require a huge battery to gain the preferred working variety. In comparison, HFC generation calls for a far smaller battery for a completely huge working variety. Hence, HFC generation gives greater promise for the CV segment.

The FC car is equipped with a Type III business hydrogen tank. Its ability is round 1.seventy five Kgs of H2 saved at approximately 350 bar pressure, the FC car must run for about 250 Km variety below common Indian avenue situations at slight velocity of 60-sixty five Km/hr. The whole gasoline mobileular stack and its related additives with strength teach have been retro-equipped in a widespread 5-seater sedan automobile.

Mr. Ravi Pandit, Chairman, KPIT said, ” The generation has a amazing destiny and thanks to its indigenous improvement, is predicted to be greater commercially possible than ever before. It is an essential generation with a view to assist India appreciably lessen pollutants and decrease our fossil gasoline imports.”

Prof. Ashwini Kumar Nangia, Director, CSIR-NCL at the same time as congratulating the groups on their first successful automobile run on hydrogen gasoline mobileular the usage of indigenous CSIR-NMITLI generation and KPIT as enterprise partner said that, “the time has come for renewable electricity primarily based totally on hydrogen as gasoline to strength transportation withinside the country.

This will not only reduce the petrol, diesel import invoice however hydrogen is the cleanest gasoline with water as the only by-product. A long time funding of CSIR under NMITLI in a niche energy region has come to fruition.”