Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies offer a pathway to enable the use of clean energy systems to improve air quality, enhance energy security, and stimulate the global economy. Due to the significant advances in fuel cell technology over the last 25 years, fuel cells have become competitive in certain markets. Ballard Power Systems Inc. is recognized as a world leader in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell development and commercialization. At the heart of each Ballard PEM fuel cell product is a stack of unit cells based on Ballard’s proprietary technology, for unsurpassed performance, durability and versatility. Ballard draws on intellectual property together with unmatched know-how in key areas, including fuel cell MEA/stack development and systems integration. Ballard’s fuel cell products deliver the required functionality at the right scale with optimum performance and low lifecycle costs. This presentation will provide an overview of current status of Ballard fuel cell development.

To enable wide-spread commercialization of fuel cells, particularly automotive applications, further cost reductions and durability improvements are still required. For longer term PEM fuel cell products, the catalyst is still a major cost factor due to the use of platinum group metals (PGMs). In addition to cost, these PGM catalysts have insufficient durability for certain long life applications, particularly at low catalyst loadings. Thus, the most significant remaining challenge for PEMFC catalysts will be to achieve excellent activity at low PGM loadings while also maintaining high durability/stability during operation. The advantages and possible limitations of various types of catalysts, such as Pt alloys (de-alloys), core-shell catalysts and shape-controlled nanocrystal catalysts will be assessed. This presentation will conclude with a discussion of potential future directions for PEMFC catalyst and catalyst layer research to help overcome the last remaining challenges of performance and durability and propel PEMFCs into the wider commercial market.