A regenerative zinc air fuel cell for industrial and specialty vehicles

Metallic Power has demonstrated a regenerative zinc/air fuel cell for applications in industrial and specialty vehicles. The fuel cell uses zinc pellets and atmospheric oxygen to generate electric current. The reaction product is zinc oxide, which is collected in a tank. In its present stage of development, the 36 V fuel cell will deliver approximately 6 kWh, with a maximum power of 4 kW. The device is refuelled at a zinc recycling/refuelling station where zinc pellets are pumped into each cell. ZnO is pumped from the tank and replaced with KOH electrolyte. The recycling/refuelling unit uses an electrolytic process to convert zinc oxide powder into zinc pellets.