Platinum and fuel cells

Platinum requirements for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been identified as a possible problem with FCV market penetration. Platinum is a necessary component of the electrodes of fuel cell engines. It is deposited on porous electrodes, where it serves as the electrocatalyst to promote the rate of el...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transportation research. Part D, Transport and environment Transport and environment, 2004-09, Vol.9 (5), p.357-371
Main Author: Spiegel, R.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Electrodes
Fuel technology
Platinum
Q1
Technology
Transportation
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Summary:Platinum requirements for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been identified as a possible problem with FCV market penetration. Platinum is a necessary component of the electrodes of fuel cell engines. It is deposited on porous electrodes, where it serves as the electrocatalyst to promote the rate of electrochemical reactions required to encourage H 2 to release electrons and become H 2 ions. Because there could be potentially millions of FCVs added to the US fleet in the next 30 or so years, the availability of platinum as a limited global commodity could be an issue. Using projected US market penetration of fuel cell vehicles out to the years 2030 and 2035, as based on US Department of Energy’s Office of Transportation Technologies Vehicle Size/Consumer Choice (VSCC) model and Argonne National Laboratory’s All Modular Industry Growth Assessment (AMIGA) model, respectively, the yearly platinum requirements for different scenarios were estimated. Sales of FCVs for the various scenarios yielded peak US platinum consumed at levels ranging from 60 to 200 Mg/year. Except for the most aggressive market penetration cases (those with the fastest and largest ramp-up of FCV sales), estimated yearly platinum demand does not appear to be a limiting factor for long-term sales of FCVs. In all cases yearly demand was small in regard to total world reserves.
ISSN:1361-9209
1879-2340
DOI:10.1016/j.trd.2004.07.001