Daihatsu devises fuel cell tech to eliminate use of platinum

TOKYO September 15, 2007; Japan Today reported that Daihatsu Motor Co said Friday it has developed a new fuel cell technology that eliminates the use of platinum, a precious metal, which would reduce the cost of producing environment-friendly fuel-cell vehicles. Conventional fuel cells use expensive platinum in the electrode catalyst material to resist corrosion caused by highly acidic electrolyte membranes, according to Daihatsu.

The new technology uses hydrazine hydrate, a liquid fuel, which is produced by the oxidization of ammonia and can be solidified and liquefied again for convenient application, according to Daihatsu.