Center for Fuel Cell Systems and Powertrain Integration


Governor Jennifer Granholm and Dr. Joel Berry

The Center for Fuel Cell Systems and Powertrain Integration is housed in the new $35 million, 120,000 square foot C. S. Mott Engineering and Science Center completed in July 2003.  The “Center” will serve as a leader in the development of fuel cells by providing faculty and engineering students, as well as manufacturing suppliers and consortium partners, with the opportunity to conduct leading-edge fuel cell systems research, testing and evaluation, and participate in the education and training of the future workforce necessary for a hydrogen fueled economy. Supported by a $3.0 million grant from the federal Department of Commerce, which includes matching funds from the State of Michigan, industry, foundations, and Kettering University, the Center is poised to take the lead in fundamental and applied research for both mobile and consumer fuel cell powered applications which will ensure a 21st century that offers a clean and sustainable energy for generations to come.

C. S. Mott Engineering and Science Center
Specific Center initiatives include:

  • Development of leading-edge research initiatives in collaboration with other universities, industry, and federal national laboratories that span the range of technical challenges to fuel cell commercialization and market acceptance (costs of manufacturing fuel cell systems, safety issues, public perception, reliability/durability and infrastructure needs), and technologies likely to drive fuel cell systems development (fuel cell membranes, balance-of-plant systems development and controls, hybrid electrical systems integration, MEMS sensors integrated with electrical signal processing, and power electronics and packaging.
  • Development of world-class fuel cell engineering curricula for pre-college, undergraduate and graduate engineering and science students prepared to contribute to the development of fuel cell systems. In addition, through collaboration with other educational (Mott Community College, Henry Ford Community College, Baker College) and professional training organizations (ASME, SAE, IEEE), develop high-quality educational programs that prepare current and future automotive, manufacturing and service technicians for the hydrogen-powered service economy. 
  • Development of testing and validation services for fuel cell codes and standards in collaboration with SAE, ASME and the U.S. Fuel Cell Council, as well as, demonstration and beta testing new fuel cell systems. The validation services also impact fuel cell test stand manufacturers, as well as, suppliers of fuel cell components and systems.
  • Development of fuel cell business consortium comprised of tier-one and tier-two fuel systems and component suppliers without necessary infrastructure and technical expertise for development and testing. The Center will seek to build and foster alliances among the world’s leading fuel cell developers, manufacturers, suppliers and customers, as well as federal and state agencies, to support industrial R&D, encourage technology transfer, overcome technical barriers, and speed the commercialization of fuel cell power plants for stationary and mobile applications.  The consortium membership fee structure is covered within a separate document.
  • Development of fuel cell business incubator for promising new technologies that could benefit from and be accelerated by tapping into the Center’s R&D, technical support and consortium expertise, eventually spinning off into Kettering University’s adjacent research park. Center will house 6-8 new companies when fully developed and will assist with their full scale development yielding the creation of wealth and high skilled jobs for mid-Michigan.

The Center represents over 12,000 square feet dedicated to advancing fuel cell technology and positioning Kettering University as the leader in Michigan and the mid-west for preparing engineers for the next transportation revolution.

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