Press release

[ BoxID 210409, Energy / Environmental Tech ]  

Declaration of independence for electric vehicles: EFOY Pro fuel cell kit

Declaration of independence for electric vehicles: EFOY Pro fuel cell kit

(pressebox) Brunnthal-Nord, 15.10.2008 - .
- EFOY Pro fuel cell kit makes electric vehicles independent of the grid
- Installation demonstration in a StartLab Open electric vehicle at eco-move Berlin, Germany, Oct. 15 to 17
- EFOY Pro fuel cell kit can be retrofitted into any commercial electric vehicle
- SFC offers EFOY Pro fuel cell kit for electric vehicles at a special price until November 08

Electric vehicles are the mobility option of the future. If only they weren't so dependent on the grid! Now there is an alternative: All those who want to drive an electric vehicle without being forced to regularly seek electric sockets for a battery recharge can now buy the EFOY Pro fuel cell kit for their vehicle. Easily retrofitted into any electric vehicle type, the fuel cell will automatically recharge the batteries directly on board, no matter if the vehicle is driven or parked. From Oct. 15 to 17 at ecomove Berlin, SFC, world leading supplier of fuel cell products for mobile and off-grid power applications, will present the commercially available EFOY Pro fuel cell kit for electric vehicles in a StartLab Open electric vehicle by Solar StromBau - Hans Stalleicher in hall 4.2.

The kit's two EFOY Pro fuel cells get their energy from two EFOY fuel cartridges, and weigh only 8.4 kg apiece. These fuel cartridges are packed with power: an EFOY fuel cell produces 11.1 kWh electric capacity from one 10 l cartridge. This adds up to an energy density of 1,350 Wh/kg - 40 times more than the capacity of lead batteries and 12 times more than the capacity of lithium-ion batteries. With the two fuel cartridges, the vehicle has 22kWh available power on board - enough for a reach of up to 400 km in a lighter electric vehicle. And no need to ever resort to a socket in between.

The two fuel cells supply the StartLab Open with power without requiring any user intervention. They automatically recharge the battery when needed, whether the vehicle is being driven or parked. This hybrid operation of fuel cell and battery combines the strengths of the two technologies. The battery supplies peak power when needed, the EFOY fuel cell continuously and automatically recharges the battery on demand. In this manner electric vehicles can be used just as flexibly and independently as traditional vehicles with classical combustion engines. And best of all - the driver is free of having to always plan where he or she will find the next socket for a recharge.

Another electric vehicle that uses on-board power with EFOY fuel cells is Citycom AG's CityEL. In a test, a City-EL FactFour, also equipped with two EFOY Pro 1600 fuel cells, covered more than 200 km in one week without requiring recharging via the power grid.

"With our EFOY fuel cell kit we can liberate electric vehicles from the grid", says Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC. "Our EFOY fuel cells offer unprecedented energy density, operate automatically without requiring any user intervention and are always available on the vehicle. This eliminates one of the most urgent problems of electric vehicles: limited reach."

The StartLab Open's cargo area provides sufficient space for the EFOY fuel cell kit, including two fuel cartridges. The two EFOY Pro 1600 systems are connected to the batteries by a charge line and will continually recharge the battery directly. No additional changes in the vehicle's control electronics are required for retrofitting the EFOY Pro fuel cell kit. The EFOY Pro fuel cell kit also fits into most electric vehicle trunks; installation is simple. Until November 2008, the EFOY fuel cell kit for electric vehicles is available at a special price.

Contact person:

Mrs. Ulrike Schramm
Public Relations
Phone: +49 (89) 673592-379
Fax: +49 (89) 673592-368
field of activity: Public Relations Manager
Send a message

Mrs. Barbara v. Frankenberg
SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG
Phone: +49 (89) 673592-378
Fax: +49 (89) 673592-369
field of activity: Investor Relations Manager
Send a message