"Next-Generation Hydrogen Vehicle Performance Improvement"…Hyundai Motor and Kia Jointly Develop Electrolyte Membrane with Gore in the US

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are embarking on a joint development of electrolyte membranes with the U.S. company Gore, a leader in fuel cell technology. The plan is to co-develop the core component, the electrolyte membrane, to create next-generation hydrogen fuel cells with improved durability and performance.

On the 5th, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced that they signed a joint development agreement with W. L. Gore & Associates at the Mabuk Research Center to develop electrolyte membranes for next-generation commercial hydrogen electric vehicles.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced on the 5th that they will jointly develop a membrane electrode assembly for next-generation commercial hydrogen electric vehicles with Gore in the United States. (Left in the photo) Kim Chang-hwan, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development Center, and Matt Rosa, Leader of Gore Performance Solutions, are posing for a commemorative photo after the signing ceremony.
[Photo by Hyundai Motor Group]

Gore is a global company with expertise in material science and engineering technology. It holds numerous foundational patents for electrolyte membranes and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) used in fuel cells and has succeeded in mass-producing electrolyte membranes. Gore has supplied electrolyte membranes for Hyundai’s first mass-produced hydrogen electric vehicle, the Tucson ix35 FCEV, launched in 2013, as well as for the second-generation hydrogen electric vehicle, Nexo.

The electrolyte membrane is the most critical component of a hydrogen fuel cell. It blocks the movement of electrons separated from hydrogen gas and selectively allows only hydrogen ions to pass through. The hydrogen ion conductivity of the electrolyte membrane affects the chemical reaction rate within the fuel cell. Therefore, the electrolyte membrane significantly impacts the overall output improvement and durability of the fuel cell system.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia plan to develop an optimal electrolyte membrane for next-generation fuel cell systems through this agreement with Gore. They expect to develop vehicles with greatly enhanced durability and performance compared to existing commercial hydrogen electric vehicles.

Kim Chang-hwan, Executive Vice President and Head of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development Center at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, said, "By developing next-generation electrolyte membranes, we will secure the latest technology in the fuel cell field and bring more competitive hydrogen electric vehicles to the world."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.