Modine, Xcellsis To Jointly Develop Fuel Cell Components

Autoparts Report, Nov 18, 2001

Modine Manufacturing Co. said it has signed a new agreement with Xcellsis, a developer of fuel cells, expanding their relationship to include components for hydrogen powered vehicles.

Early introduction of this technology is expected to develop around various types of fleet vehicles, which can be centrally fueled, such as buses, taxis, and delivery vans, Modine said. For the past few years, Modine said it has been collaborating with Xcellsis to develop and provide heat transfer components that offer optimum solutions to the problems of heat and mass transfer facing the fuel cell industry.

Application of fuel cell technology will be driven, in part, as a solution to environmental and energy concerns.

According to a marketing report by the Freedonia Group, the global automotive fuel cell market will reach $1.8 billion by 2005, and exceed $3.9 billion by 2010. Modine said it expects to make up a significant portion of the critical components on Xcellsis' fuel cell system.

Xcellsis is a joint venture of DaimlerChrysler, Ballard Power Systems, and Ford Motor Co., which was formed to commercialize fuel cells for the automotive market. Recently, Ballard announced that they plan to acquire the interests of Xcellsis Fuel Cell Engines and Ecostar Electric Drive Systems from DaimlerChrysler and Ford.