Fuel Cells in Switzerland – A Brief Retrospective View

Abstract

Starting with the work of C.F. Schönbein, Switzerland has made important contributions to the history of fuel cell research. Starting with early developments in the first half of the 20th century, some highlights are mentioned in this article. After a first wave of industrial interest in the 1960s, R&D in SOFC technology started about 1990 and is now on the road towards commercial introduction since about 2000. In parallel, polymer electrolyte fuel cell research has advanced at research institutions, including work on components, stacks, and complete systems.