The Department of Energy sets goals for all new technologies. Through R&D and technology validation programs, DOE gathers and reports progress towards the goals. The most recent progress report, published in October, 2008, shows progress from the labs and vehicle data from more than 250,000 individual trips, traveling more than 1.5 million miles with about 60,000 kg of hydrogen produced or dispensed.
Fuel Cell Efficiency
60% for commercialization
53-58% efficiency from four test teams in the technology validation program
Fuel Cell Durability
2,000 operating hours in 2009; 5,000 operating hours for commercialization
Through the DOE’s Technology Validation program, some first-generation FCVs have shown 1,900 hours of real world durability, which indicates significant progress toward meeting the 2009 goal of 2,000 hours. To achieve overall system durability targets, the durability of components such as membranes and membrane electrode assemblies must be improved. In 2008, these areas have seen major improvement, including one manufacturer’s MEA operating in the lab for 7,300 hours—well beyond the 5,000 hour target. Technology validation demonstrated real-world MEA durability of 1,900 hours (about 57,000 miles) in 2007.
Fuel Economy
Undefined
"Window-sticker" fuel economy range of 42 to 56.5 miles/kg hydrogen from four test teams in the DOE technology validation program
Vehicle Range
250 miles in 2009; 300 miles for commercialization
Actual range of 100-190 miles from the four teams in the technology validation program. (Second and third-generation vehicles in late-2007 and 2008 vehicles demonstrated 250-300-mile range. Two 2009 vehicles have demonstrated 400-mile range.)
Refueling Rate
Similar to conventional fueling (about 1 kg/minute)
The median fueling time is .86 kg/minute, which is about the same flow rate for gasoline and other fuels. DOE concluded that hydrogen refueling rates are close to being acceptable.
Fuel Cell Cost
$30/KW by 2015
Projected high volume fuel cell stack cost has been reduced 65% from $275/kW in 2002 to $73/kW in 2008. Manufacturing R&D will also be required to help lower costs of components and integrated fuel cell systems.
Cost of Delivery Hydrogen
$1/gge
Reduced from $5/gge in 2003 to a projected $3/gge, assuming high-volume production of 500 units at 1,500 kg of hydrogen per day.
Hydrogen Produced from Bio-liquids
$2-3/gge by 2015
Catalyst improvements and increased feedstock control have reduced the cost of production by a factor of roughly 10 since 2005. Hydrogen production from bio-derived liquids is now approaching the goal.
