Abstract: A method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle with an external power source. In an exemplary embodiment, the method receives one or more utility rate preferences from a user, determines the utility rates of a local utility company, determines the total charging time needed to charge the plug-in electric vehicle, uses the utility rate preferences, the utility rates and the total charging time to develop several charging options that are presented to a user, and charges the plug-in electric vehicle according to the charging option selection made by the user.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising: a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si—O group, at least one polar group and at least one group including a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain.

Abstract: A method for conditioning one or more aspects of a vehicle, where a user may customize their vehicle by providing desired departure times and conditioning preferences so that the vehicle automatically wakes up, performs the requested conditioning, and is ready for operation by the requested departure time. Some examples of potential conditioning events include activating: a heated or cooled seat, a heated steering wheel, a heated engine block, a heated mirror, a cabin heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a heating or cooling element for a battery pack, a heating or cooling element for a battery charger, and a heating or cooling element for a fuel cell, to name a few.

Abstract: A composite separator plate for use in an electrochemical fuel cell as well as a method of forming same is disclosed. The plate may be formed of polymeric material and electrically conductive material having a non-conductive polymeric outer layer by compression molding, or alternately of a metallic material having an outer metal oxide layer. Contact regions of the plate surface are subsequently ablated with a laser to remove the outer layer of material from the plate. The removal of the outer layer reduces the contact resistance of the plate when used in an electrochemical fuel cell stack, while offering adequate strength and corrosion resistance for the fuel cell stack environment.

Abstract: A process comprising: depositing a coating on a fuel cell bipolar plate using plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: Methods and materials to improve water management in a fuel cell by microtexturing fuel cell elements, including the separator plate and/or the gas diffusion media. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes a separator plate and/or a gas diffusion media that are microtextured. Selective ablation of material and stamping can impart microtexturing, where the microtexturing facilitates water management in the fuel cell.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising: a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si—O group, at least one polar group and at least one group including a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain.

Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a hydrophilic coating formed on flow field channels extending through a tunnel region between a cell active area and the inlet and outlet manifolds. The flow field plates are an assembly of a cathode side unipolar plate and an anode side unipolar plate. The hydrophilic coating is deposited on the unipolar plates prior to the unipolar plates being assembled into the flow field plate so that line of site deposition processes can be used to coat the flow field channels in the tunnel region. The unipolar plates can be any suitable fuel cell unipolar plates, such as stamped unipolar plates or composite unipolar plates.

Abstract: A method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle with an external power source. In an exemplary embodiment, the method receives one or more utility rate preferences from a user, determines the utility rates of a local utility company, determines the total charging time needed to charge the plug-in electric vehicle, uses the utility rate preferences, the utility rates and the total charging time to develop several charging options that are presented to a user, and charges the plug-in electric vehicle according to the charging option selection made by the user.

Abstract: A method for conditioning one or more aspects of a vehicle, where a user may customize their vehicle by providing desired departure times and conditioning preferences so that the vehicle automatically wakes up, performs the requested conditioning, and is ready for operation by the requested departure time. Some examples of potential conditioning events include activating: a heated or cooled seat, a heated steering wheel, a heated engine block, a heated mirror, a cabin heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a heating or cooling element for a battery pack, a heating or cooling element for a battery charger, and a heating or cooling element for a fuel cell, to name a few.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed includes a product comprising: a fuel cell component comprising a substrate and a first coating overlying the substrate, the coating comprising a compound comprising at least one Si—O group, at least one polar group and at least one group including a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain.

Abstract: A method of making an electrically conductive element, particularly a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, comprises molding an element from a composite material comprising a polymer and an electrically conductive material to produce an element having a polymer-rich skin and removing at least a portion of the polymer-rich skin with a plasma.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a first fuel cell component comprising a first face, a first hydrophilic coating overlying at least a first portion of the first face, and a second less hydrophilic coating overlying at least a second portion of the first face.

Abstract: A method of making a fuel cell component using a mask, which is removed after further processing to yield a surface with variable properties.

Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a hydrophilic coating formed on flow field channels extending through a tunnel region between a cell active area and the inlet and outlet manifolds. The flow field plates are an assembly of a cathode side unipolar plate and an anode side unipolar plate. The hydrophilic coating is deposited on the unipolar plates prior to the unipolar plates being assembled into the flow field plate so that line of site deposition processes can be used to coat the flow field channels in the tunnel region. The unipolar plates can be any suitable fuel cell unipolar plates, such as stamped unipolar plates or composite unipolar plates.

Abstract: A composite separator plate for use in an electrochemical fuel cell as well as a method of forming same is disclosed. The plate may be formed of polymeric material and electrically conductive material having a non-conductive polymeric outer layer by compression molding, or alternately of a metallic material having an outer metal oxide layer. Contact regions of the plate surface are subsequently ablated with a laser to remove the outer layer of material from the plate. The removal of the outer layer reduces the contact resistance of the plate when used in an electrochemical fuel cell stack, while offering adequate strength and corrosion resistance for the fuel cell stack environment.

Abstract: Methods and materials to improve water management in a fuel cell by microtexturing fuel cell elements, including the separator plate and/or the gas diffusion media. A method of manufacturing a fuel cell includes a separator plate and/or a gas diffusion media that are microtextured. Selective ablation of material and stamping can impart microtexturing, where the microtexturing facilitates water management in the fuel cell.

Abstract: A WVT unit that humidifies a cathode inlet airflow to a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell system. In one embodiment, the WVT unit includes a series of membranes separated by plates defining flow channels at both sides of the membrane. The humidifying gas, typically a cathode outlet gas from the fuel cell stack, flows down the flow channels on one side of each membrane and the cathode inlet air flows down the flow channels on an opposite side of each membrane. According to the invention, the plates have a hydrophilic film so that more water vapor in the humidifying flow channels is exposed to the membrane, and therefore more water is transferred to the cathode airflow.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (60) for a fuel processing system (10) that produces a hydrogen reformate gas. The heat exchanger (60) includes a catalyst for converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The heat exchanger (60) can be any suitable heat exchanger, such as a tube and fin type heat exchanger, that is able to cool the reformate gas and includes a suitable surface on which the catalyst can be mounted. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger (60) is part of a WGS reactor assembly (48). The WGS reactor assembly (48) includes a first stage WGS adiabatic reactor (52) followed by the catalyzed heat exchanger (60) and a second stage WGS adiabatic reactor (68). Also, in one embodiment, both the first stage and the second stage WGS reactors (52, 68) are medium temperature reactors. By catalyzing the heat exchanger (60) in the WGS reactor assembly (48), the assembly (48) can be smaller than what is currently known in the art.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (60) for a fuel processing system (10) that produces a hydrogen reformate gas. The heat exchanger (60) includes a catalyst for converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The heat exchanger (60) can be any suitable heat exchanger, such as a tube and fin type heat exchanger, that is able to cool the reformate gas and includes a suitable surface on which the catalyst can be coated. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger (60) is part of a WGS reactor assembly (48). The WGS reactor assembly (48) includes a first stage WGS adiabatic reactor (52) followed by the catalyzed heat exchanger (60) and a second stage WGS adiabatic reactor (68). Also, in one embodiment, both the first stage and the second stage WGS reactors (52, 68) are medium temperature reactors. By catalyzing the heat exchanger (60) in the WGS reactor assembly (48), the assembly (48) can be smaller than what is currently known in the art.