Pilot scale PCBFC manufacturing

Bramble has developed a disruptive and innovative approach to designing and manufacturing hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen fuel cells are zero emission technology, utilising green hydrogen, fuel cell technology has a real potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the transport sector. Hydrogen fuel cells also offer advantages of quick refuelling (typically <5 minutes) and longer vehicle ranges than battery electric vehicles. In particular use cases there is therefore a demand for fuel cell vehicles in the light duty vehicle sector.

Different to any other fuel cell manufacturer, Bramble has designed a proton exchange membrane fuel cell within a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board fuel cell (PCBFC(tm)) has a series of advantages, including a simpler design, lower bill of materials cost and a manufacturing process which leverages the existing PCB supply chain to scale-up fuel cell production.

The Pilot Scale PCBFC Manufacturing project will install a semi-automated assembly line for fuel cell stacks in the UK, with capacity to manufacture 2,000 fuel cell stacks per year. This will accelerate the manufacturing scale-up of low-cost fuel cell stacks, supporting the opportunity the APC has identified to produce up to 10 GW of fuel cell stacks/year from 2030 for the light duty vehicle sector. The Pilot Scale PCBFC Manufacturing line will enable low-cost hydrogen fuel cells to be manufactured in the UK, supporting high-value jobs in green technologies.