USA - Dana Incorporated of Maumee, Ohio, USA is applying its fuel cell expertise to designing and manufacturing composite and metallic bipolar plates for use in fuel systems in public transportation systems, such as electric bus (eBus) and Hydrail* applications. Dana said developing and validating fuel-cell component solutions for emerging, environmentally friendly public transportation vehicles was another milestone in its efforts to enable commercialisation of fuel-cell applications.

Featuring integrated seals, Dana's composite bipolar plate assemblies are manufactured to high quality standards and claimed to provide a reliable, high-performing, and cost-effective solution for ultra-efficient fuel-cell stacks. The bipolar plate assemblies work to distribute hydrogen and air evenly, conduct electrical current from cell to cell, and remove heat from the active area while preventing leakage of gases and water.  In addition, because there are hundreds to thousands of plates in large fuel-cell systems they play an important role in system volume, weight and cost. Dana says through its flexible manufacturing process, the durable composite plates can be customised to meet the individual needs and requirements of each customer.