Loop Energy wins $7.5M from SDTC to support battery/fuel cell powertrains for heavy-duty trucks
04 March 2016
Loop Energy—formerly known as PowerDisc Development—has been awarded a $7.5-million grant from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to accelerate deployment of the company’s new zero-emission powertrain for heavy-duty trucks.
The Loop heavyduty powertrain combines an electric battery with a hydrogen fuel cell designed around its patented eFlow technology. eFlow addresses unequal current distribution in the fuel cell by improving the flow of oxygen, fuel and water within a fuel cell and avoiding degradation of the fuel cell membrane and stack materials.
The net result is that eFlow increases overall fuel cell durability, enables higher peak power, and significantly reduces cost due to greater membrane resiliency, the elimination of costly system components, and improved lifetime, the company says.
Loop says that its powertrain is ideally suited for urban freight applications, such as yard trucks and delivery trucks operating at commercial distribution centres, and drayage trucks operating at ports. The SDTC grant will accelerate the deployment of the Loop system in Class 8 trucks built by Peterbilt that will be put to work at a customer location.
Loop’s chairman is Dr. Andreas Truckenbrodt, who as CEO/CTO of Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (Daimler/Ford/Nissan), Andreas was responsible for driving fuel cell commercialization. He also led the Hybrid Development Center for DaimlerChrysler.
Loop’s director of product development is Ron Wingrove, who worked for Ballard for 13 years and then served as Program Manager with the Daimler/Ford Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, leading three generations of fuel cell stack programs from conception to the Mercedes F-Cell fuel cell test cars.
Improved FCs may be ideal for heavy vehicles, specially those used within city cores, to reduce pollution where it is often concentrated.
Could also become a competitor for city e-buses.
Posted by: HarveyD | 04 March 2016 at 10:57 AM
"..drayage trucks operating at ports.."
Long Beach and L.A. could use better air quality.
Posted by: SJC | 05 March 2016 at 11:10 AM