Palm Springs, CA (November 19, 2002) -- Gore Fuel Cell Technologies unveiled, at the 2002 Fuel Cell Seminar, a developmental milestone with key new technologies that project 40,000-hour life under real-world stationary fuel cell operating conditions.
"This is the cumulative result of our worldwide research and development efforts spanning nearly a decade," said John Mongan, business leader, Gore Fuel Cell Technologies. "Gore''s MEA program has repeatedly enabled advancements in fuel cell development. Feedback from the market has been consistent regarding the ultimate need for a lifetime of at least 40,000 hours to enable high volume stationary applications. We believe we have now reached the point where we have critical technologies in hand necessary to achieve this."
These new technologies add to the thin composite membranes, low catalyst loadings, high power density, and broad operating window that characterize Gore''s MEA portfolio.
This broad technology offering, coupled with Gore''s high volume manufacturing platform, allows a new level of cost-effectiveness in stationary applications. Gore continues to work in close partnership with leading fuel cell developers to reduce life cycle cost within each system''s design.
Gore''s new technology is an outgrowth of the extensive learnings garnered through the commercial introduction of Gore Primea Series 56 MEA in 2001. Gore''s internal R & D effort, combined with knowledge from comprehensive technical support of customers, led to a fundamental understanding of the underlying durability mechanisms under varied operating conditions and different fuel streams. Critical advancements in Gore''s proprietary membrane electrode assembly technology, and new materials available exclusively to Gore, were developed to overcome identified limitations.
Gore''s accelerated testing protocols demonstrate the robustness of this new technology, both through longer membrane life and lower voltage decay rates. A preliminary sampling program is now underway. Product will be available on a broader basis to qualified customers in early 2003.
"We believe that now, for the first time, MEA technology will be able to meet the expressed needs of the commercial market for stationary fuel cells. These advances are a critical step to help fuel cells achieve economic viability. They will enable stationary applications, in particular, to realize their full mass market potential," said Mongan.