AFC Energy (AFC)   announced today it has successfully deployed the world’s first electric vehicle charger based on hydrogen fuel-cell technology, after 10 years of fuel cell research development at its laboratories.

AFC Energy’s CH2ARGE system saw a BMW i8 as the first ever car to be charged with power generated by a hydrogen fuel cell, at the BBC Top Gear test track. 

“By 2030, it is estimated that there could be nine million electric vehicles on the roads of Britain, up from 90,000 today,” said Adam Bond, Chief Executive Officer at AFC Energy.

The electric vehicle market is on course for rapid growth, with the UK government stating that 50% of new car sales are to be EVs by 2030, and 100% by 2040, leaving a UK fleet of 36 million cars becoming EVs in the future. 

Adam Bond continued: “For this transition, we need charging stations to be embedded throughout the country, as well as seeking innovative solutions to overcome the severe limitations of centrally generated electricity.”

Shares in AFC Energy were up 30% following the news

In order to meet the demand for this electricity generation, it will require extensive investment in new power stations and upgrades of distribution networks, unless the demands are met through localised power generation, according to the company.

It stated that its CH2ARGE system could potentially deliver locally generated electricity through thousands of installations that generate 100% clean electricity. 

Adam Bond commented: “By developing and demonstrating the effectiveness of our hydrogen fuel cell in the application of EV charging, AFC Energy has shown it is ready to lead the way not only in solving the challenges of increased demand for electricity, but also doing so in a truly zero emissions approach.”

Moreover, AFC Energy’s fuel cell is connected to an inverter that transfers energy to a charger, which can be tailored for both on and off grid applications, can be scaled up as required, and can be implemented with Smart Charging capabilities. 

The company stated it is aiming to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly power, and to enter discussions with potential original equipment manufacturers to produce its CH2ARGE systems for commercial deployment. 

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