Honda and Celanese Sign Agreement to Improve Automotive Fuel Cell Systems

Autoparts Report,  Dec 15, 2000  

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Celanese AG and Honda said that their research subsidiaries Celanese Ventures GmbH, Germany, and Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Japan, will cooperate in the development of membranes and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) for automotive fuel cells. The purpose of this joint development is to improve the performance of automotive fuel cells, while at the same time making them less expensive, the companies said.

MEAs are made up of solid polymer membranes and catalytic electrodes. These two components control a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen which produces electricity to power a vehicle. Celanese Ventures GmbH said it has developed a solid polymer membrane for MEAs.

The cooperation with Honda R&D is expected to result in the development of a more efficient fuel cell system, Celanese AG said. Ernst Schadow, Board member of Celanese AG, praised the agreement: "It is our intent to become the leading MEA supplier to the emerging fuel cell industry. This agreement with Honda is crucial to our success in the automotive sector."

COPYRIGHT 2000 Ron DeMarines
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning