Bramble Energy, a UK-based innovator in fuel cell technology, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the EDAG Group, a global independent provider of engineering services, to collaborate on the integration of its patented printed circuit board fuel cell (PCBFC) technology into EDAG’s electric vehicle storage platform. Both groups have partnered to work on a project called ‘FC-STORM’. The project aims to create a design study that showcases the 3D integration of Bramble’s advanced hydrogen fuel cell system into EDAG’s storage platform designed for passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles. The biggest challenge of this project is the limited space available within the skateboard platform. To meet the stringent requirements, Bramble’s PCBFC was selected due to its versatility. It can be manufactured to almost any size or arrangement, delivering a high-power, flexible solution.
Bramble’s PCBFC solution will be digitally integrated into EDAG’s customizable energy platform, allowing for adaptable hydrogen and battery energy storage quantities. The study will showcase the various advantages of a combined fuel cell and skateboard solution, highlighting its flexibility, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness, ultimately demonstrating the superior performance values of a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The project requirement is to deliver a power output of over 40 kW, including batteries and hydrogen storage at 700 bar. This power output can be scaled based on the skateboard’s geometry variables, such as height and width, as per the customer’s selection. The system benefits include a high-voltage fuel cell that is adapted to a typical vehicle voltage level (i.e., 400 V or 800 V) and can be cooled without the need for deionized water, which enables a highly integrated electric power supply for mobility exceeding current technical standards.
The diversity of vehicle types and space requirements for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles pose a significant challenge in today’s scenario. Dr Tom Mason, the co-founder and CEO of Bramble Energy, believes that PCBFCs can provide a sustainable and efficient solution for these types of vehicles. The study aims to demonstrate the performance benefits of using hydrogen fuel cells as a viable and sustainable mobility solution. The resulting scalable top-level system designs and vehicle simulation data will provide compelling evidence of the advantages, and the project’s outcomes will act as a platform for future vehicles.