Electrical Turbo-Compressor for Next Generation Fuel Cell Powered Automobile

Liebherr-Aerospace has been selected by a major automotive manufacturer based in China to develop an electrical turbo-compressor and its power electronics for the next generation of a fuel cell-powered car that can transport up to five persons. This contract and cooperation with the automotive manufacturer represents a significant milestone in our long-term strategy to enlarge our footprint in China. It is also living proof that we are enabling our customers with our Liebherr technology to produce the next generation of fuel cell powered automobiles.

We will develop and validate an electrical turbo-compressor including power electronics and will also supply prototypes.

Robust, reliable and efficient

For more than one decade, we have been collaborating with major automotive manufacturers to develop the future generation of fuel cell vehicles. Our air bearings technology for centrifugal compressor - developed for aerospace activities - powered by a high-speed electric motor has been identified as the best candidate to supply compressed and pressurized air to the fuel cell system.

Our motorized compressor complies with the severe requirements of fuel cell systems for the automotive industry: very robust and reliable, it does not require oil, it is compact in size, highly efficient, optimized in cost and noise emissions, and it features a fast dynamic response. This has been demonstrated in the field where more than one hundred vehicles using motorized turbo compressors by Liebherr have already run millions of miles without any failure since 2007.