GM fuel cell technology could enable faster charging of more EVs, helping to prevent power outages

As General Motors strives to fill its vehicle lineup with battery-powered passenger vehicles, it’s clear that it sees hydrogen fuel cell technology as an important part of future zero-emissions growth for the company. with larger vehicles. Think heavy commercial trucks, locomotives and aerospace applications.

On Wednesday, GM announced it would add a line of Hydrotec generators to its plan — as well as a DC fast charger that will use fuel cell power to charge where the grid might not allow it.

These portable generators can be used at construction sites, data centers or outdoor festivals, the company says, and all of them are powered by batteries. GM’s Generation 2 Hydrotec fuel, the company said. They will be offered with a variety of outputs from 60 kw to 600 kw, to suit a variety of uses.

GM Hydrotec fuel cell stack for trucks

The generator business push includes Portable Generators (MPGs) revealed Wednesday. Made by Utah-based Renewable Innovation, with Hydrotec power blocks, it will be demonstrated in mid-2022.

The California Energy Commission is funding the use of four MPGs to show how such systems can help offset power loss during wildfire mitigation.

Charlie Freese, managing director of GM’s global Hydrotec business, explains that fuel cells can also be used as grid buffers — in some very specific situations that don’t quite make sense for other businesses. Large battery pack.

While a battery pack is about 93% efficient, a fuel cell’s efficiency is around 60%. However, in situations of longer or greater demand, hydrogen may make more sense, Freese said. GM finds these fuel cell modules, in a way, take up the space that diesels have done in the past – providing power for the heaviest applications, while the battery does the rest. again.

General Motors Ultium Battery

“When you need to put more energy into storage, you get to a point where it’s not economical with batteries anymore, and that’s where hydrogen comes in,” explains Freese. Green Car Report. “So there will be demand for both.”

“Grid buffer is not just a 24-hour cycle… it is even more than what we talk about wind, which can flow for a week and then not flow for two weeks,” he argues, noting that if the sources on the grid are seasonal in nature and the load varies quite a bit, that makes sense.

“So to really optimize renewable energy on the grid, and to get things running at peak efficiency and maximize that investment, you have to have a place where you can deliver your energy.” quantity for many months.” Hydrogen solves that problem if demand is high and the grid is overloaded for a particular week or even month.

GM Hydrotec Portable Generator and Renewable Innovation – stowed version

As more renewables come online and cross the 20% mark, where it can become more difficult for local grids, a solution like this could be suitable, Freese summarizes – with additional potential to remove excess energy from the grid as a fuel cell device.

Funding for the MPG itself comes in part from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the U.S. Army — partly because fuel cells have such low thermal properties that they make sense in many military situations versus internal combustion engine. A leaderboard version of the system is being tested for that.

GM and Renewable Innovations have collaborated on a DC fast charger, which was originally designed for temporary replenishment at fuel stations, national parks, or other resort destinations. The companies say they will deploy 500 of them by the end of 2025.

GM-Navistar cooperation

Last year, GM and Navistar announced plans to create and support 2,000 long-distance fuel cell sales “Next time.” It is also clear that it It is not intended to use fuel cell technology in passenger vehicles.

GM has yet to respond to a request about how it views this as a future business — or how it compares to GM’s previous generator business. GM is still alliance with Honda for fuel cell technology, and it makes sense that as the business grows, it could clash with or compete with Honda’s longtime leadership in internal combustion generators.

But the highlight here is that it is ready to create applications for multiple uses.

“We can solve problems across multiple modes of transport if we do this right,” says Freese. “And that’s an additional windfall that comes with this as these infrastructure investments start to build. They will help each other; there’s a lot of synergy there. “