GM General Motors Company

By Dominic Chopping

Nel ASA said Wednesday that its U.S. hydrogen subsidiary has agreed with General Motors Co. to help accelerate the industrialization of Nel's proton exchange membrane electrolyzer platform.

Under the joint development agreement, the two companies are looking to set up more cost-competitive sources of renewable hydrogen by combining Nel's electrolyzer knowledge with the auto maker's fuel-cell expertise.

A PEM electrolyzer uses electricity and water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, while a fuel cell reverses the process, using hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water.

The Norwegian hydrogen company said GM has made major steps and gained expertise with fuel cells and the two companies see substantial synergies by transferring this to Nel's PEM platform.

"Adding Nel as a strategic collaborator is an important step to help us commercialize fuel cell technology," said Charles Freese, GM's executive director of its Hydrotec hydrogen fuel-cell business. "Electrolysis is key to creating consistent, clean sources of hydrogen to power fuel cells."

Financial details weren't disclosed, but Nel said it will compensate GM for the development work and intellectual property transfer. It will also pay a license after successful commercialization, depending on how much of the end product is based on GM technology.

Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 16, 2022 02:48 ET (07:48 GMT)

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