Is platinum a critical material for fuel cell vehicles?

igns cannot be assumed.2023 Johnson Matthey GroupSummaryWith an increasing focus on the materials requirements of the energy transition, this paper examines platinum as a critical material for fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) and other technologies, such as fuel cell stationary power systems and elec

Are platinum or platinum group metals used in battery electric vehicles?

Conversely, no platinum or platinum group metals (PGMs) are currently deployed in the batteries used to power battery electric vehicle (BEV) models that are solely battery powered.

Can platinum be used in the energy transition?

But this precious metal will be more useful in the energy transition in more ways than one. Platinum – already used to reduce transport emissions with catalytic converters in cars – is also found in PEM fuel cells. These operate like PEM electrolyzers in reverse to combine hydrogen and oxygen, also using platinum as a catalyst.

Is platinum a step-change in lithium-ion battery performance?

However, current research and development into lithium-air and lithium-sulphur chemistry using platinum and its sister PGM palladium in cutting-edge lithium-ion batteries looks poised to address those limitations and unlock a step-change in battery performance, including improvements in ‘cyclability’ and ‘discharge capacity’.

Can PGM be used in lithium ion batteries?

Development of PGM use in batteries has also shown that platinum and palladium are able to improve the energy density of existing Lithium-ion batteries.

Could platinum be a challenge to the energy transition?

Platinum, among the rarest of these, is invaluable in making electrolyzers and fuel cells cost competitive. But if supply – currently extremely limited – cannot be increased to meet demand, it could pose a challenge to the transition. Platinum’s role in the energy transition could lie in making clean hydrogen technologies commercially viable.