3. April 2023

Celeroton solutions for light commercial vehicles

Hydrogen and fuel cells as key pillars of the energy transition
Climate change is a major society challenge, where massive reductions in emissions will be required in the years to come. A major part of these emissions come from road vehicles which will require strong technology shifts to reduce emissions. Hydrogen and fuel cells are considered as major pillars of the energy transition because of challenges, other technologies will not be able to solve such as driving range, refueling time and weight.

Important role of air compressors in fuel cells
Air compressors play a critical role in the functioning of fuel cells. In order to generate electricity, fuel cells react hydrogen with oxygen, producing water as a byproduct. The compressed air is delivered to the fuel cell stack, where it is combined with hydrogen to produce electricity and water. The compressor is supplying the stack with the required pressurized air and needs to be highly performant in terms of efficiency and reliability to maximize the fuel cell performance.

Fuel cells in light commercial vehicles
Among the various fuel cell applications for road vehicles, light commercial vehicles are particularly attractive because of the typical ranges required, weight constraints to avoid reducing payload and the possibility to have a central fueling station which does not require an extended hydrogen fueling network.

Celeroton as leading provider for light commercial vehicles
Celeroton specializes in the development and production of high speed electrical motors and turbo compressors and is one of the leading providers of such solutions to light commercial vehicles.

Celeroton’s turbo compressors are particularly well-suited for the use in fuel cell vehicles because of their compact size, high efficiency, and low noise levels. These compressors operate at speeds of up to 280,000 rpm, making them significantly faster than traditional mechanical compressors.

The recently launched CT-2000/CC-2000 is a novel turbo compressor system particularly suited for light commercial vehicles which typically have fuel cell stack powers of 30 to 60 kW.

Celeroton’s turbo compressors are designed to be highly reliable and require minimal maintenance, which is an essential factor for the operational efficiency of these vehicles. They also have a long service life, which translates into lower operating costs for vehicle owners.

Another advantage of Celeroton’s turbo compressors is their compatibility with a wide range of fuel cell systems and the possibility to rapidly adjust designs to meet customer specific requirements.

Celeroton CT-2000

Looking ahead
Celeroton’s turbo compressors are unique in terms of efficiency, noise levels and reliability. As the demand for fuel cell vehicles continues to grow, it is likely that Celeroton’s innovative solutions will play a significant role in the development of the next generation of fuel cell vehicles.

Find out more about our turbocompressors for fuel cells here.