Unmatched Performance
The Clean Mobile on-board DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) provides plug-free power, which provides unmatched performance in today's LEV marketplace.
Contrary to the car industry, Clean Mobile is not using a Hydrogen PEM fuel cell. While this kind of FC delivers a higher power output than DMFCs, it has major disadvantages in the mobile applications area, simply due to the used fuel Hydrogen. Hydrogen is extremely expensive and problematic to handle, and a logistic concept comparable to the known gasoline filling stations network does neither exist today nor is it to be expected for at least a decade. On the other side, the fuel Methanol used by the Clean Mobile DMFC delivers only a fraction of the energy that is needed for a car engine with acceptable power, prohibiting the use of DMFCs in car applications. However, DMFCs can be used for small vehicles - as long as they can provide enough power also for situations with peak load requirements like climbing or starting.
Here is how a DMFC fuel cell works:
A mixture of methanol and water is introduced to the anode side by an internal water-management system. This allows the deployment of 100% pure methanol into the fuel cartridges. Ambient air is pumped into the fuel cell on the cathode side. An electrical circuit connects the anode and the cathode sides. Upon contact with the platinum catalyst, methanol releases its electrons which flow in the direction of the cathode. At the same time, protons are released and these penetrate the membrane to the cathode. There, oxygen reacts with the proton and electrons to form pure water.
During the chemical process, the fuel cell heats up to about 40 ° C, releasing water as vapor and carbon dioxide. The amount of water vapor and carbon dioxide released is comparable to that found in the breath of a child.
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