James Lewis

Fuel cell materials company Bac2 will launch blank bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells at the Fuel Cell Pavilion during Hannover Messe 2008.

James Lewis, Bac2's marketing director, says the new plates, designed for prototyping, can be easily machined for individual applications.

Each plate measures 300mm x 200mm x 3 mm and Bac2 says its conductivity exceeds the US Department of Energy specifications for use in automotive applications.

"They are essentially an aid to rapid prototyping of fuel cells, enabling various designs of plate to be explored," Lewis says. "Once the design is finalised, customers would order moulded plates with the appropriate channels moulded into them."

He adds that the new plates are larger than the samples previously offered and are the first to be offered in quantities that would enable fuel cells to be produced. Up to 100 plates can be ordered on a seven-day delivery.

The ElectroPhen polymer has patents pending in Europe, US and Japan, and is used to create bipolar plates and end caps for PEM fuel cell stacks.

These parts constitute about 30% of the cost of PEM fuel cell stacks, Lewis says. The plates connect individual fuel cells and provide connections to the outside world, similar to connectors in batteries.

Bac2 announced it had raised GBP2 million (USD4.1 million) in private funds to market its key product last year (Forkliftaction.com News #339).

Industrial technology expo Hannover Messe 2008 will be held from 21-25 April in Hannover, Germany.