in California upon the acquisition of US chipmaker TSI Semiconductor. Today’s press release affirmed that the South Carolina facility will manufacture fuel cell stacks for electric vehicles.The dream of a zero emission hydrogen economy seemed like a climate protection oxymoron just a few years ago, when fossil energy — natural gas and coal — were the primary sources for the global hydrogen supply.
“Bosch technology starts with electrolysis and ends with the hydrogen engine,” the company emphasized, in case there is any doubt. “Only with hydrogen can there be a climate-neutral world. For Bosch, that is crystal-clear. The company therefore strongly advocates the establishment of a hydrogen economy.”
In consideration of competition from the US and elsewhere, Bosch Tech Day underscored a brief but sharp message for policy makers in Europe: Do more. They are not letting any grass grow under their feet. Bosch set to work on proton exchange membrane electrolysis systems earlier this year. They expect to have 1.25-megawatt prototypes available for pilot applications in short order towards volume production in 2025.
Bosch expects its hydrogen engine to be ready for production next year. That seems particularly ambitious, but as Bosch explains, “more than 90 percent of the development and manufacturing technologies needed for it already exist.”