Bramble Energy receives huge investment for one-of-a-kind fuel cell technology for Project HEIDI, made in million-pound collaboration.
Here’s an article posted in Hydrogen Central that talks about the hydrogen double-decker bus project HEIDI of Bramble Energy.
According to the article,
- Bramble Energy, a UK-based company, has secured £12 million in funding for the development of a new hydrogen-powered double-deck bus.
- The project, named HEIDI, is a collaboration between Bramble Energy, Equipmake, Aeristech, and the University of Bath.
Bramble Energy’s fuel cell technology, known as Printed Circuit Board Fuel Cell (PCBFC™), which is used in HEIDI, presents significant advancements over traditional hydrogen fuel cells in terms of efficiency and cost. Here are the key differences:
- Energy Conversion: Bramble Energy’s fuel cells can convert up to 60% of the hydrogen’s energy into electricity, which is notably higher than the average efficiency of internal combustion engines (around 20%) and competitive with other fuel cell technologies.
- Power Density: The PCBFC™ design allows for higher power density, supporting larger applications and enabling better integration with batteries. This means that vehicles powered by Bramble’s technology can achieve longer ranges and better performance.
- Manufacturing Cost: Bramble Energy aims to produce its fuel cells at a cost of $60 per kilowatt, a drastic reduction compared to traditional fuel cell technologies that can exceed $1,000 per kilowatt. Bramble Energy’s whitepaper also indicates that with increased production volumes, the cost could potentially drop to as low as $60 per kilowatt at a power rating of 1.5 Wcm², making it ten times cheaper than current fuel cell technologies. This cost reduction is achieved through the use of standard PCB manufacturing processes, which are already established and capable of high-volume production.
- System Simplification: The PCBFC™ technology simplifies the overall system architecture, reducing the need for expensive components such as power conversion units and complex cooling systems. This not only lowers manufacturing costs but also reduces maintenance and operational costs.
- Scalability: Bramble’s approach leverages existing PCB production capabilities, allowing for rapid scaling without the need for new factories. This flexibility can lead to economies of scale, further driving down costs as production increases.
These advancements position Bramble Energy’s technology as a promising solution for the hydrogen economy, potentially accelerating the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells across various sectors, particularly in transportation.
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