Fuel Cells

Fuel Cells

Delphi has been developing fuel cell technology for over 10 years, and is a leader among industry-wide efforts to bring fuel cell technology to the marketplace.

Delphi is focusing on the development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells that generate auxiliary electric power for commercial vehicles, stationary applications, military applications and passenger vehicles. The Solid Oxide fuel Cell converts chemical energy in conventional fuels, such as diesel, gasoline, or natural gas, directly into useful electrical power without combustion. It has very few moving parts and, as a result creates only a low level of sound. In addition, the Delphi SOFC system produces high quality by-product heat that can be used for a range of purposes.

Delphi and its partner Battelle Pacific Northwest Division are one of the industry teams in the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program at the Department Of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy. The SECA program objective is to accelerate development and commercialization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology. Details of the Delphi program can be found here.

Commercial Vehicle Applications

For commercial vehicles, Delphi's Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology will be implemented as an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide an energy efficient, compact, quiet, low emissions device for powering climate control and electrical accessories as an alternative to idling the main engine. In future variations, the Delphi Solid Oxide Fuel Cell APU will also be able to power current belt-driven vehicle loads such as engine cooling fan and water pump, thus removing them from the primary engine and resulting in improved fuel economy.

Delphi Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit

Delphi Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit

A demonstration model of the Delphi Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit is shown mounted to a commercial vehicle. The unit provided a "hotel load" electricity requirement to the driver in a simulated overnight environment.