Researchers from Forschungszentrum Jülich and the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences (Jülich Campus) are building and testing a light transport electric vehicle using a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) as a range extender. The team presented the SILENT-F vehicle for the first time on the Forschungszentrum campus earlier this month.

By the end of the project, which began in 2013, a demonstration vehicle equipped with a DMFC hybrid system will be ready for application-oriented tests.

The SILENT-F project is based on a commercially available vehicle for in-house transport or municipal use.

SILENT-F. Project leader Nicola Kimiaie and Herbert Feilbach (front). The fuel cell is already mounted on the vehicle. A plastic cover serves temporarily as protection from the rain. Source: Forschungszentrum Jülich. Click to enlarge.