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Hydrogen fuel cells, long hailed as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, have faced slow implementation due to expensive and intricate fuel cells and a scarcity of refueling infrastructure. However, a Swiss startup named EH Group is aiming to tackle these fundamental issues, promising cheaper, lighter, and marine-ready hydrogen fuel cells.
Based in Switzerland and with manufacturing operations in India, EH Group's core innovation revolves around simplifying the design and production of fuel cells. By developing a unique cell architecture that enables a streamlined, single-line manufacturing process, they are able to deliver higher power density at significantly lower costs, addressing two of the primary barriers to fuel cell adoption. Their systems are already gaining traction in maritime, aviation, and data center sectors.
"There are two main reasons why hydrogen fuel cell technology hasn't been adopted more widely," explains Christopher Brandon, CEO of EH Group. "First, the infrastructure for hydrogen—its production, storage, and refueling—is still being developed, and second, despite significant innovation, most of it is incremental. Using a fuel cell is still too expensive and too complicated for many users."
EH Group is addressing these pain points by focusing on the fuel cell stack itself. Their internal cell structure, designed for both performance and manufacturability, enables production at scale and lower cost, even in small volumes. By integrating what are usually separate processes—coating, welding, sealing—into one continuous production line, they have removed a lot of complexity.
One of the key advantages of their design is the increased power density. Chris notes, "It comes down to our unique cell structure. Typically, the spacing between cells is around 1 to 1.4 millimeters. We're already at 0.8 and moving toward 0.6. At the same time, we ensure proper thermal management and efficient hydrogen flow, allowing for more power to be generated per square centimeter. The result is industry-leading power density."
EH Group's technology is gaining attention and could potentially compete with battery electric systems, particularly in heavy applications such as marine vessels and aircraft, where batteries are either too heavy or lack the necessary endurance. Chris says, "We're seeing strong traction in marine applications like tugboats, cruise ship auxiliaries, and in aviation for aircraft in the 20 to 150-seat range. Batteries just can't compete there."
Industry experts are keeping a close eye on EH Group as they navigate the challenges posed by hydrogen infrastructure, focusing on adaptability in response to what the market and infrastructure provide. As EH Group continues to advance, they may well play a significant role in accelerating the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells in various industries.
"The primary barriers to the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology are its high costs and intricate design, as well as the underdeveloped hydrogen infrastructure," says Christopher Brandon, CEO of EH Group. In response, EH Group is focusing on simplifying and scalable production of fuel cells, using a unique cell architecture to deliver higher power density at lower costs, particularly in marine, aviation, and data center sectors.
