In recognition of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently launched the Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck (M²FCT) and the H2NEW consortia in an effort to expand the research and development of fuel cells and hydrogen production.

Previously, the DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office’s announced its intention to invest up to $100 million over the next five years to cut costs related to fuel cells for trucks and electrolyzers for hydrogen production. 

"I am excited by the hydrogen and fuel cell progress we have seen to date. We need to continue to drive costs down if we want to accelerate large-scale deployments across the country," said DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Daniel Simmons.

Each consortia, under the leadership of a DOE National Laboratory, will collaborate with the hydrogen and fuel cell community to make these technologies more affordable, receiving up to $10 million per year over five years. The teams will focus on specific hydrogen production and fuel cell R&D areas:

• M²FCT (co-led Los Alamos and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories) will concentrate on fuel cell durability, performance, and cost for long-haul trucking.

• H2NEW (co-led by National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory) will focus on making large-scale electrolyzers more durable, efficient, and affordable.