Researchers at the University of Aalto in Finland have developed a new method that can reduce the cost of manufacturing fuel cells. Common fuel cells require the use of expensive precious metal powder catalysts to fully react the anode and the fuel, so the high catalyst cost is the biggest obstacle to the widespread use of fuel cells.

Researchers at Aalto University used atomic layer deposition (ALD) to prepare nanoparticle catalysts, making the fuel cell's anode catalyst coating much thinner than before, and reducing catalyst requirements by 60%, significantly reducing costs and improving quality. The results show that the precious metal nanoparticle catalysts prepared by this method have lower catalyst loading compared to current commercial fuel cell catalysts, but can provide similar activity.

Through this research, researchers are developing better fuel cells that use methanol or ethanol as fuel. Alcohol fuels are easier to handle and store than commonly used hydrogen fuels, and palladium catalysts can also be used in methanol fuel cells. Despite the high price of fuel cells, they have already been used in aerospace and other fields and are expected to drive electric vehicles in the future. Fuel cells made using this method may begin commercial production within 5 to 10 years.

Toyota Automatic Weaving Machinery Co., Ltd. has developed multiple charging systems for electric vehicles. According to reports, in order to meet the charging needs of future hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles, multiple vehicles are prevented from being overloaded at the same time in the area where the community or charging facilities are located. Toyota Automatic Weaving Machinery Co., Ltd. has developed a multi-vehicle charging and distribution control system that has recently begun demonstration in Toyota City.

Toyota City is one of Japan's smart city construction demonstration cities. Toyota's Auto Loom Co. develops multiple car charging systems that will be part of the smart grid. It will be deployed in seven places such as the municipal government parking lot for a trial period of three months. After listening to the user's comments and collecting relevant data, they will be distributed around the city.

The charger used in the intelligent charging and dispatching control system is mainly for the Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle. When two to three vehicles are simultaneously charged, they can automatically determine the type of charging car and the maximum supply capacity of the charging device, and thus automatically Adjust the power to ensure that the power usage does not exceed the upper limit of the limited power.

Germany has successfully integrated OLED lighting technology into the roof lighting system for the first time. In recent days, BASF and Philips have cooperated with OLED technology for the first time to integrate automotive lighting technology into automotive roof lighting. Due to the use of transparent organic light emitting diodes and solar cells, the lighting system is transparent in the closed state and can be used as a vehicle perspective window. When turned off during the day, the system can also use solar energy for charging.

One of the advantages of OLED technology is its high energy efficiency. The new OLED material used for vehicle ceiling lighting is only 1.8 millimeters thick and can remain transparent. Compared with the traditional point lighting method, this novel technology can provide the driver with a full-space, soft shadowless lighting in the vehicle.

This new technology provides a new design possibility for the roof of the vehicle and also provides a new way for future vehicle production. This research work of BASF and Philips was supported by the joint project of “TOPAS 2012” (application in the illumination system of organic light of thousands of lumens) implemented by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).