Skip to main content

Platinum Supply and the Growth of Fuel CellVehicles

This report addresses problems associated with U.S. fuel cell vehicle production and a limited platinum supply.

Published onJan 26, 2020
Platinum Supply and the Growth of Fuel CellVehicles
·

Abstract

This report addresses problems associated with U.S. fuel cell vehicle production and a limited platinum supply. Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which use a platinum catalyst, could place strain on the platinum market if fuel cell vehicles are widely produced. We developed a dynamic hypothesis, identified causal relationships, and created a system dynamics model in iThink. Based on this model, we found platinum prices would likely reach $50,000 per kilogram in 30 years and the cost of platinum for a fuel cell vehicle would be $2,500. At this price, the platinum barrier is surmountable if the cost of other FCV components is drastically reduced. If a world FCV market takes hold, it was concluded that only about 15% global market penetration is feasible.

Read the full article.

Boudreau, J., Choi, E., Datta, R., Rezhdo, O., & Saeed, K. (2009). Platinum supply and the growth of fuel cell vehicles. Proceedings of the 27th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society (Ford, A., Ford, DN, and Anderson EG Eds.) (p. 62).

*denotes a WPI undergraduate student author

Comments
0
comment
No comments here
Why not start the discussion?