A W.L. Gore membrane is playing a key role in a revolutionary hydrogen fuel vehicle from Honda.
Honda introduced its latest Clarity fuel cell vehicle in Japan in March and it is due to be available in the US in late 2016.
Japanese carmakers are investing heavily in hydrogen fuel cell technology in a drive to build earth-friendly vehicles. The technology has been around for decades but has never been able to overcome cost, size, fueling and other issues.
The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is the first fuel cell sedan that provides cabin space for five passengers. That’s due to a smaller fuel cell stack power train. It allows a high-power-density, zero-emissions engine to reside under the hood.
Inside that stack are next-generation fuel cell membranes developed by W.L. Gore & Associates.
Gore membranes facilitate the chemical reaction between the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle’s hydrogen fuel and oxygen. The design of the Gore membranes contributes to the fuel cell stack’s increased power density while meeting Honda’s requirements for durability and quality.
The design of the Gore membranes contributes to the fuel cell stack’s increased power density while meeting Honda’s requirements for durability and quality, a Gore release stated.
Since Gore entered the fuel cell industry in the early 1980s, its components have been used in thousands of applications worldwide.
Well known for its Gore-Tex fabric, the company’s lines include everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing components and aerospace electronics.
Privately held Gore posts annual sales of more than $3 billion and employed more than 10,000 associates with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China.
Gore is one of a few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984.
W.L. Gore, and Associates is based in Newark. The company has sites in the area, mainly to the west of its headquarters in Cecil County, MD.
