Hyundai and Kia announce new partnership with materials firm

Hyundai motor Company and Kia Corporation have signed an agreement with U.S.A-based advanced materials firm W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) that will see all firms collaborating on the development of an advanced Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) for use in hydrogen fuel cell systems.

The firms intend to develop an advanced PEM for use in the next generation of fuel cell electric commercial vehicles with applications for passenger vehicles as well as in non-automotive sectors to follow later.

The PEM blocks the direct combination of incoming hydrogen and oxygen gases in a fuel cell, facilitating the selective conduction of protons and, in turn, generating an electrical current to power a vehicle. The membrane is said to play a crucial role in the performance and durability of a fuel cell system.

Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Gore are said to have been collaborating in the field of fuel cells for over 15 years. This new partnership will focus on the development of an optimal fuel cell system for commercial vehicles, with a specific emphasis on enhancing performance and durability.