IHI Corporation has signed the technical collaboration agreement with AVL List GmbH regarding electric turbocharger for fuel cell system.
The world’s energy and mobility systems are moving towards decarbonization. That is why the IHI Corporation (“IHI”) and AVL LIST GmbH (Headquarters: Graz Austria, hereinafter "AVL"), the world’s largest independent company for the development, simulation and testing of powertrain systems, signed a Technology Collaboration Agreement on electric turbochargers for fuel cell systems.
With both companies able to leverage particular aspects of their individual portfolios, new energy and technology solutions can be developed that will help pave the way towards this global goal.
Towards the realization of carbon neutrality, automotive manufacturers around the world are proceeding with development to shift from conventional gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles to HEVs (hybrid vehicles), BEVs (electric vehicles), and FCVs (fuel cell vehicles).
As for large commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses, FCV development and alliances among the major players are becoming very active. FCV is advantageous in terms of cruising range, filling time, and load capacity.
In FCV, hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the air to generate electricity and drive the motor. Our electric turbocharger (hereinafter referred to as "ETC") is responsible for supplying oxygen in compressed air, which are important elements in this fuel cell system.
IHI has been developing and commercializing air turbochargers for fuel cell systems, including those for FCVs and stationary systems, for about 20 years.
In 2018, IHI was the first in the industry to launch an ETC equipped with a turbine for fuel cell systems, for FCV.
AVL has been promoting fuel cell related business for about 20 years and has experienced many projects from automotive to stationary purpose.
Currently, AVL has fuel cell development/engineering locations in Graz, Austria, Canada and Hungary and about 350 engineers are engaged in fuel cell-related businesses and is working to further expand the business.
AVL has knowledge and technology for fuel cell systems, power trains, batteries, motors, etc., whereas IHI has knowledge and technology for automotive turbochargers for internal combustion engines and FCVs. Together with AVL, IHI is aiming at realizing a fuel cell powertrain system with highest efficiency.
In this collaboration, firstly AVL plans to equip the HyTruck fuel cell system for commercial vehicles currently under development with ETC developed and manufactures by IHI, and IHI has already supplied prototypes. The HyTruck fuel cell system is a modular platform with a power output of 150kW which is dedicated towards the use in truck and busses. The development of this system is supported by the Austrian government. Beside to this project, AVL and IHI plan further cooperation in other projects.
IHI's ETC has two main features. Firstly, adoption of air bearings has realized oil-free measures against poisoning of catalysts used in fuel cells. Secondly, energy recovery from exhaust gas from the fuel cell by turbine, enables substantial improvement on system efficiency, which can contribute to compactness and weight reduction of the system.
IHI is developing next-generation ETCs to introduce series of S size, M size, and L size
corresponding to the output power of the fuel cell. Together with ETCs, IHI will continue to contribute the Earth through our hydrogen and fuel cell related technologies.
IHI’s electric turbocharger for fuel cell system
