SBIR/STTR FY15 Phase 1 Release 2 Awards Announced—Includes Fuel Cell-Battery Electric Hybrid Truck and Fuel Cell Manufacturing Quality Control Processes

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the 2015 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I Release 2 Awards, including projects demonstrating fuel cell-battery electric hybrid trucks and developing a real-time, in-line optical detector for the measurement of fuel cell membrane thickness.

US Hybrid Corporation of Torrance, California, will develop and demonstrate polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell-battery electric hybrid trucks for medium-duty or heavy-duty bucket trucks with drivetrain-integrated electric power take-off systems. US Hybrid will help establish a business case, mitigate the cost of hydrogen fuel infrastructure, supplement utility industry evaluations of introducing hydrogen generation on their grids, and demonstrate fuel cell-battery electric hybrid truck technologies.

Mainstream Engineering Corporation of Rockledge, Florida, will develop a real-time, in-line optical detector for the measurement of fuel cell membrane thickness. Previously, the Fuel Cell Technologies Office funded the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop non-destructive in-line quality control techniques for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) components production. Mainstream Engineering’s project involves technical transfer of NREL intellectual property on optical techniques. Mainstream will design and fabricate a quality control device that is readily implementable in a roll-to-roll production line for the production of one or more MEA component materials. Their quality control device will help to drive down the costs of fuel cells by reducing waste and improving the process efficiency of roll-to-roll manufacturing of PEMs.

Learn more about the Energy Department's broader efforts to develop affordable, efficient fuel cell and hydrogen technologies on EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cells page.