Fuel cell system production cost modeling and analysis

Fuel cell technology is seen as a promising option for decarbonizing global mobility. The costs of fuel cell systems are currently too high for increasing market penetration. The Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components at RWTH Aachen University has developed a cost calculation model for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems based on the method of Process Based Cost Modeling (PBCM) and is investigating possibilities for reducing manufacturing costs through economies of scale in production. The aim of this publication is therefore to present the results of cost modeling of PEM fuel cell systems and to derive design areas for technical innovations in terms of cost reduction through economies of scale in production. To this end, technical production parameters with the greatest influence on the cost structure of PEM fuel cell systems are identified and ranked by applying a sensitivity analysis. Finally, this work provides a recommendation for strategic investments and formulates the need for further research to reduce PEM fuel cell system costs by economies of scale. Crown Copyright (c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Automated summary

Fuel cell technology is a promising option for reducing global transportation carbon emissions, but the current costs are too high for widespread adoption. Researchers at RWTH Aachen University have developed a cost calculation model for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems and are exploring ways to reduce manufacturing costs through economies of scale. The study aims to present the results of cost modeling and identify areas for technical innovations that can lead to cost reductions through economies of scale. The research provides recommendations for strategic investments and highlights the need for further studies to lower costs through economies of scale in PEM fuel cell systems.