Nikola Receives $1.7 Million Research Grant From DOE
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Nikola Motor Co. announced it has been awarded a $1.7 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy to advance research into fuel cell membrane electrode assembly.
The manufacturer will partner with Carnegie Mellon University, Northeastern University and Georgia Tech on fuel cell technology research, according to the Phoenix-based company.
Nikola, together with its academic partners, is pursuing a new approach and unique MEA architecture to satisfy the high-power output and durability requirements of heavy-duty applications.
In this project, Nikola will bring together advanced concepts in catalysts, ionomers, proton exchange membranes and gas diffusion layers within a robust MEA by using appropriate, scalable fabrication methods.
The Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Transportation Office funded the joint grant program under the recently announced fiscal 2019 commercial trucks and off-road applications.
Nikola’s hydrogen station partner, NEL Hydrogen of Oslo, Norway, also was awarded a $2 million award from DOE. Nikola executives are serving as the technical lead on that project as well. — Transport Topics
