APC will do fuel cell research
APC is joining Exxon and GM to develop technology that could convert gasoline to hydrogen for feed to a fuel cell which would supply electricity aboard an electric car. "We need to be looking ahead at future business opportunities," says E&T's Jack Segal, who notes that APC is committing significant resources for two years to the project.
"We'll look at different fuel systems.
It's like putting a small refinery in a vehicle. The challenge
is to figure out how to do that and still meet reliability requirements."
A fuel cell system using gasoline, Segal says, is currently more commercially viable than a battery operated electric car because it would use current infrastructure, and have better range, miles per gallon, and price.
If a fuel cell system looks feasible, a phase two could involve development of a commercial prototype.