In this second part of EEWorld’s “virtual roundtable” discussion on fuel cells, our panelists delve into the impact of the emergence of fuel cells on energy storage compared with conventional rechargeable batteries: What factors determine when fuel cells are more cost-effective than rechargeable batteries? How do the maintenance and monitoring needs of fuel cells compare […]
Fuel cells power buses, trucks, trains, planes and ships
Fuel cells have begun to get traction in a wide variety of transportation systems. Recent announcements include Honda’s withdrawal from FIA Formula One racing to focus more resources on the development of battery and fuel cell-powered electric vehicles and ZeroAvia’s announcement of the world’s first flight of a hydrogen-electric fuel cell-powered passenger plane. Fuel cells […]
Fuel cells for backup power, microgrids and renewable energy
Fuel cells are increasingly being used in stationary power applications such as backup power, microgrids, and renewable energy systems. This is part two of a three-part FAQ series and digs into a wide variety of fuel cells in stationary power applications ranging from low power systems for residential backup power to the use of large-scale […]
Fuel cell technologies and operating characteristics
There are over 20 categories and subcategories of fuel cell technologies. This article will review several of the most common fuel cell technologies, especially as related to commercialization. This is the first of a three-part FAQ series. Part two will look into “Fuel Cells for Backup Power, Microgrids and Renewable Energy” and part three will […]
Flow batteries – What can you use them for?
Flow batteries are suited for use in several application areas, including utility-scale energy storage, microgrids, renewables integration, backup power, and remote and off-grid power. Flow batteries are highly scalable, and their power and energy ratings can also be scaled independently. They have very little or no self-discharge current. Flow batteries have demonstrated cycle lives of […]
How do flow batteries work?
The heart of a flow battery is a specially designed regenerative fuel cell module. A conventional regenerative fuel cell operates on the basis of a reversible electrolysis electrochemical process and can be either an open system (where water can be added, and hydrogen and oxygen removed) or a closed system. These electrolysis-based regenerative fuel cells […]
Charging electric vehicles, Part 1: The numbers
It’s nice to envision that recharging an electric vehicle is as straightforward as filling up an internal combustion vehicle, but it’s not: there are multiple charging, power, and connector options as well as limitations. You’re driving your internal-combustion (IC) car, and the gauge indicates it’s time to get “gas” (of course, it’s actually gasoline). So […]
Considerations for battery-powered designs
How can you make your resume really stand out? This has been the topic of books, articles, class assignments, and blogs for decades. It came up in conversation one day, and a friend of mine had a unique story. I’ve included it below, with some edits. “With so much written on the topic, there is […]
EV charger reference design employs GaN for 3 kW/L power density
VisIC Technologies, Ltd announced the availability of its On-Board-Charger (OBC) reference design for the fast-growing Electrical Vehicle (EV) market. The 6.7kW OBC features a size and weight of only 2.3L and 4.5kg respectively, providing close to 3kW/L power density and proving the disruptive capability of GaN switches. This is 3 x better power density compared […]
Maximizing efficiency and safety with rechargeable batteries
Some rechargeable lithium battery chemistries need more TLC than others when it comes to safety precautions. TOM BLAHA, MEMORY PROTECTION DEVICES RECHARGEABLE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY has come a long way, continually boosting performance with fewer annoying memory effects that severely limited the useful operating life of earlier generation cells. The most common rechargeable battery chemistries commercially […]