·     The technology allows for an easy gasoline-to-hydrogen transition
·     The ceramic membrane as an alternative to platinum, reduces production costs
·     The new hydrogen fuel cell system offers a 2,000 km range

Volkswagen has submitted a patent for an automobile and a new hydrogen fuel cell stack. The German carmaker is reportedly developing the technology together with German firm Kraftwerk

The new technology also allows vehicle owners to switch from gasoline to hydrogen without requiring a conversion kit

The company submitted a patent filing involving a stack that would be incorporated into a passenger car and that would boast a range of about 2,000 kilometres

The fuel-cell technology contains a ceramic membrane which is cheaper to manufacture than the polymer membranes. The membrane is more durable and offers better resistance to freezing and drying compared to Nafion. The material is more cost-effective than platinum, reducing overall production costs
If approved and developed, the system could lower hydrogen vehicle prices while increasing efficiency, and being the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle from Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s focus on the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle is instead a long-term approach towards climate protection, with Volkswagen planning to become carbon-neutral by 2040. The company is devoting funding to renewable power sources and unique technologies

Volkswagen is conducting a project to synthesize green hydrogen for the largest light metal casting in Europe, Baunatal, Germany. This project will decarbonize the foundry from conventional gas usage in aluminium production to green hydrogen