UCLA Breakthrough Extends Fuel Cell Lifespan Beyond 200,000 Hours, Paving the Way for Clean Long-Haul Trucking

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Schematic illustration of the graphene-protected nanocatalyst structure with a scanning transmission microscope showing the platinum nanoparticle embedded in a pocket of graphene | Huang Research Group/UCLA

UCLA Breakthrough Extends Fuel Cell Lifespan Beyond 200,000 Hours, Paving the Way for Clean Long-Haul Trucking

UCLA Samueli Newsroom | Apr 25, 2025

For trucks and heavy-duty vehicles that must travel long distances without frequent, time-consuming charging stops, batteries often fall short. Hydrogen fuel cells — which can be refueled as quickly as traditional gasoline — offer a cleaner, more efficient alternative.

Now, researchers at UCLA have made a breakthrough that could dramatically extend the lifespan of these fuel cells, making them a more viable clean energy source that can help bring sustainable, long-haul trucking closer to reality.

Led by Yu Huang, a professor of materials science and engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, the research team has developed a new catalyst design capable of pushing the projected fuel cell catalyst lifespans to 200,000 hours, which is nearly seven times the U.S. Department of Energy’s target for 2050. Published in Nature Nanotechnology, the research marks a significant step toward the widespread adoption of fuel cell technology in heavy-duty vehicles, such as long-haul tractor trailers.

Although medium- and heavy-duty trucks make up only about 5% of vehicles on the road, they are responsible for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas automobile emissions, according to federal estimates. This makes heavy-duty applications an ideal entry point for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology...more
https://samueli.ucla.edu/ucla-breakthrough-extends-fuel-cell-lifespan-beyond-200000-hours-paving-the-way-for-clean-long-haul-trucking/