Opcon to develop entirely new component for fuel cell vehicle

SRM, a company within the Renewable Energy business area of the energy and environmental technology Group Opcon AB has received an order from a major automotive manufacturer to develop a prototype for an entirely new and unique component for fuel cell vehicles.

A fuel cell vehicle is driven by a chemical process in which hydrogen reacts with the oxygen in the air. The result is an electricity-powered vehicle with zero emissions. In addition, total efficiency of a fuel cell system is substantially higher than a traditional combustion engine.

SRM will develop a compressor that will re-circulate hydrogen in the fuel cell, thereby further increasing the efficiency of the process. This is a completely new application in addition to the air modules that Opcon Autorotor has delivered since the early 90’s in order to provide fuel cells with air. Not only the customer, but also SRM will have the rights to the developed prototype compressor.

“This is a smaller initial development order worth almost 15 million SEK, but the project as a whole involves potential future development orders with much higher values, along with future manufacturing for the same strategic partner. Furthermore, it represents a very strategic opportunity to broaden our product portfolio in the fuel cell segment”, says Opcon CEO, Rolf Hasselström.

”We are currently seeing increased interest from automotive manufacturers in fuel cell technology. With our knowledge of energy and environmental technology, in combination with our experience with compressor solutions for fuel cell vehicles, we see several interesting opportunities in this development”, says Opcon CEO, Rolf Hasselström.