The advanced technology, featuring ultra-high power density and a lightweight design, is said to be two-thirds lighter than traditional fuel cell systems. This partnership promotes the use of sustainable hydrogen-powered propulsion systems in high-performance automotive, motorsport, and aviation sectors.
AVL, a leader in mobility technology, is embarking on a collaborative venture with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the high-performance division of the Red Bull Racing Group, to forge the next wave of ultra-high-power density fuel cell technology. This initiative is set to produce lightweight solutions that are projected to weigh two-thirds less than traditional fuel cell systems, marking a significant advancement toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions in sectors like high-performance automotive, motorsport, and aviation.
This partnership leverages AVL’s top-tier expertise in PEM fuel cell technology along with Red Bull’s acclaimed capabilities in lightweight design, construction, and aerodynamics. The goal of this project is to develop a fuel cell system for high-performance applications that surpasses the capabilities of existing systems worldwide.
The collaborative research has shown promising indications that, upon successful completion, significant enhancements in gravimetric power density could be realized, potentially reaching up to 6 kW/kg at the stack level and 2 kW/kg at the system level. This breakthrough has the potential to position this technology as the global leader in gravimetric power density for PEM fuel cell systems.
The anticipated outcomes of this project represent a crucial step forward in the innovation of net-zero carbon technologies, potentially enabling industries such as aerospace, future motorsport series, and various other applications requiring maximum payload to achieve the necessary power density figures essential for hydrogen mobility.
Rob Gray, Technical Director at Red Bull Advanced Technologies, expressed enthusiasm about the joint effort, highlighting the impact of integrating F1-inspired engineering to enhance fuel cell power density and overall performance, thereby addressing pressing global challenges.
Jürgen Rechberger, Vice-President at AVL, shared his pride in the partnership, noting that the collaboration will pool the knowledge and skills of their experts to triple the gravimetric power density of their fuel cell technology, thereby fulfilling the stringent demands of high-performance sectors like aviation and racing.
