Intermittent use of a low-cost alkaline fuel cell-hybrid system for electric vehicles

Alkaline fuel cell (AFC) hybrids with the capability to shut down completely between uses (by draining the circulating KOH electrolyte) can expect an operating life of about 4000 h, which is equivalent to 200,000 km of driving, They should be able to compete on cost with heat engines (US$50 to US$100 per kW). An early model is the hydrogen/air fuel cell lead–acid hybrid car, built by K. Kordesch in the 1970s. Improved air electrodes plus new variations of the bipolar stack assembly developed in Graz, make success probable. In cooperation with Electric Auto (EAC), an ammonia cracker is also in development. A RAM™ battery–AFC hybrid combination has been optimized.