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Hydrogen Powertrain Fuel Cell Testing & Research

A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. Hydrogen fuel cells have gained popularity as a future green energy source not only in the automotive world but also for stationary power production, due to its high energy density, high efficiency and low environmental impact emissions (water is its only emission). Southwest Research Institute’s hydrogen powertrain and fuel cell testing laboratory helps industry professionals develop new fuel cell technologies and extend lifetime, test reliability, and increase performance of current fuel cell systems.

Hydrogen Powertrain & Fuel Cell Testing Services

SwRI performs a variety of hydrogen powertrain and fuel cell standard tests in accordance with SAE and other specifications. Additionally, we are working with industry consortia to develop specialty tests and benchmarking procedures for fuel cell electric vehicles (FEVS).

SAE J2579 - Standard for Fuel Systems in Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Vehicles

SAE J2579 provides practices related fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen storage and handling systems, fuel cell systems and electrical systems. SwRI performs the following SAE J2579 procedures:

  • Drop Test
  • Surface Damage Test
  • Chemical Exposure/Poisoning Test
  • Extreme Usage Fueling – Ambient Temperature Pressure Cycling Test
  • Proof Pressure
Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Vehicle Fuel Cell
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Fuel Cell Stack Benchmarking & Development

  • Durability Testing
    • Dynamic/Transient Testing Profiles
    • Accelerated Life Testing – Thermal Cycling, Humidity Cycling and Load Cycling
    • Cell Poisoning
    • Cell flooding
    • Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)
    • Galvanostatic Charge Method

Stack Performance & Diagnostics

  • Standard Stack Operation
  • Scanning & Transmission Electron Microscopy
  • Polarization Curve
  • Cyclic/Linear Sweep Voltammetry
  • Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)
  • Galvanostatic Charge Method

Related Services

SwRI has a multidisciplinary team dedicated to hydrogen energy research and hydrogen powertrains to deploy decarbonization technologies across several industries, including:

Find more automotive and electric vehicle solutions below: