Ford selects Eaton for fuel cell vehicle air compressors

American industrial giant Eaton (NYSE: ETN) has been selected by Ford Motor Company to provide advanced air delivery compressors to the automaker’s FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership fuel cell demonstration program.

The vision of the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership is a clean and sustainable transportation and energy future centered on a hydrogen economy. Its partners include the United States Department of Energy and USCAR, whose members are DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford and General Motors Corporation; and five energy suppliers, BP America, Chevron Corporation, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil Corporation and Shell Hydrogen (U.S.). In addition, a large number of businesses, suppliers, national laboratories and universities participate in the research.

“Using fuel cells in automobiles presents a unique air delivery challenge,” said Glenn Gouldey, vice president, Technology and Planning, Eaton’s Automotive Group. “The combination of efficiency, pressure ratio, size, flow rate and cost requires a delicate balance that we’ve achieved through our relationships with multiple fuel cell stack manufacturers.”

Eaton has been developing engine air management components and systems for passenger vehicles and stationary engine manufacturers for decades. Its advanced engineering group has applied supercharger compressor technology to the unique fuel cell environment. Eaton now offers additional types of compressors and compressor technologies for various fuel cell stack sizes and applications.

Eaton's 2005 sales were $11.1 billion. It has 60,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries.

For more information:

www.eaton.com