EKPO to present three new FC stacks in Munich
EKPO Fuel Cell, the joint venture between ElringKlinger and Plastic Omnium, is shining the spotlight on various next-generation fuel cell stack platforms at next week’s IAA Mobility. They are said to feature an improved design and higher performance.
EKPO will exhibit a total of three different stack platforms in Munich. “The stacks set international standards in terms of absolute performance and power density,” emphasises Julien Etienne, CCO of EKPO Fuel Cell. The joint venture, which was founded in 2020, describes itself as a full-range supplier of fuel cell stacks and components with a focus on the passenger car market, light commercial vehicles, trucks and buses.
The NM5-EVO PEM stack module will be on display, which will go into series production this year and, according to the manufacturer, has integrated system functionalities. With an output of up to 76 kW (at 2.5 bar operating pressure), it is particularly suitable for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. EKPO and its partners AEDS and Quantron will also present a demonstration vehicle at the fair, in which an NM5-EVO module is integrated. According to EKPO, this is a light commercial vehicle.
The second stack EKPO will bring to Munich is the significantly larger NM12 TWIN EM stack module with 598 cells (2x 299 cells) based on metallic bipolar plates. With an electrical output of up to 205 kW, the plug-in module is primarily aimed at heavy commercial applications, such as trucks, railways and marine applications.
The trio is completed by the 359-cell NM12 SINGLE PEM stack module based on metallic bipolar plates with an electrical output of up to 123 kW and a power density of over 6 kW/L. According to EKPO, this is particularly suitable for heavy-duty commercial applications. According to EKPO, this is particularly suitable for automotive applications with high power requirements beyond 100 kW. In Munich, it will be on display in a demonstrator vehicle at the stand of parent company ElringKlinger.
“We trust our fuel cell products answer best the current market needs,” promotes COO Julien Etienne. “This and the fact we are already able to produce high volumes of stack assemblies and components – such as bipolar plates or media module assemblies – allowed us to secure major orders since the beginning of the year.” The EKPO manager is alluding, among other things, to an order from Aachen-based mobility company AE Driven Solutions (AEDS), which ordered NM5-EVO stacks in May for a high double-digit million euro sum.
Meanwhile, supplier ElringKlinger will be showcasing new solutions for all drive types at its IAA stand, including battery components, modules, complete storage systems and electric drive units. The group will also be presenting new lightweight products, including a new type of underbody shielding for battery systems.
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