2006
Introducing GENEPAC, the First Fuel Cell Stack Developed by the Partnership between PSA Peugeot Citroën and the CEA
Jean-Martin Folz, CEO of PSA Peugeot Citroën and Alain Bugat, Chairman of the CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique , The French Atomic Energy Commission) unveiled the GENEPAC* fuel cell stack today (9th January 2006) at an event attended by Gilles de Robien, French Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research. Developed jointly by PSA Peugeot Citroën and the CEA, the new stack delivers world-class performance and power density. The partners’ goal was to design and build a compact, modular, efficient fuel cell stack with a rating of up to 80 kW (107 Bhp) and compatible with the technical automotive constraints.
To explore this promising technology, PSA Peugeot Citroën has built its own research facilities at its Research Centre in Carrières-sous- Poissy, France. Inaugurated today, the new unit is dedicated to fuel cells, their integration into vehicles, and their related technologies. Due to the high development cost of this technology, the Group is committed to the long-term, gradual integration of fuel cell technology into cars, with an initial focus on urban delivery vehicle fleets. In line with this commitment, PSA Peugeot Citroën is developing an innovative electric vehicle concept equipped with a range extender consisting of a hydrogen-powered fuel cell.
To design, develop and produce the GENEPAC fuel cell stack, the CEA used specifications prepared by PSA Peugeot Citroën and leveraged close to ten years’ experience in the field. As the only French research organisation working on the entire hydrogen chain – from production and storage to regulations and transportation applications – the CEA conducts research into the mechanisms that affect performance, ageing and deterioration of fuel cells in order to develop innovative technologies, further demonstrating its strong commitment to new energy technologies.
* GENEPAC: GENérateur Electrique à Pile A Combustible (Fuel Cell Electricity Generator).
