From fuel cell electric vehicles to portable power, Los Alamos National Laboratory has been a pioneer in advancing offer alternatives that will reduce the nation's energy and petroleum requirements, as well as decrease U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Los Alamos' technology has enabled the manufacture of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with one-tenth the platinum content of earlier designs. This is a breakthrough that reduces the cost of fuel cells, as the prohibitive cost of platinum is one factor that has historically hindered the wide-spread adoption of fuel cells.

Los Alamos now plays a leading role in developing an approach to completely eliminate platinum from the fuel cell catalyst altogether. The laboratory has multiple projects that address issues that include fuel cell degradation, the effects of impurities on fuel cells, improving chemical hydrogen storage systems, and hydrogen fuel quality.

Positive Impact

EERE-funded LANL projects are helping to protect the environment by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Locations

New Mexico

Partners

Los Alamos National Laboratory

EERE Investment

$14 million over three years

Clean Energy Sector

Sustainable transportation

The Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) conducts comprehensive efforts to overcome the technological, economic, and institutional barriers to the widespread commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cells. 

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) success stories highlight the positive impact of its work with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other entities.