Karma Automotive, Blue World Technologies collaborate for fuel cell propulsion system

American tech and EV manufacturer Karma Automotive has announced its collaboration with Denmark-based Blue World Technologies an advanced developer and manufacturer of methanol fuel cell components and systems.

As per the understanding, Karma Automotive will integrate Blue World Technology’s fuel cell system in its electric vehicle architecture and pilot in GS-6 development vehicles for evaluation purposes. The testing and validation will take place in the United States and Denmark over the next few months.

The carmaker says an EV powered by methanol fuel cells provides the same convenience as fuelling an internal combustion engine with gasoline. This technology has a methanol reformer to produce hydrogen on board. Methanol is a hydrogen-carrier commodity fuel already traded world-wide and it can be stored and distributed using the existing infrastructure in many countries around the world. As a green alternative to fossil fuels, methanol can be produced using renewable sources ensuring a CO2 neutral proposition.

Dr. Lance Zhou, CEO, Karma Automotive said: “We are investing in these types of powertrain technologies now to prepare for an emission-free world by having various extended-range electrification solutions that include hydrogen, ethanol and methanol fuel cells as a propulsion system. This collaboration brings together Blue World’s strength in fuel cell development and our vast expertise in engineering hybrid propulsion systems and integrating electric vehicle technologies.”

Mads Friis Jensen, chief commercial officer and co-founder, Blue World Technologies said: “We are very excited about the collaboration with Karma and see great potential in combining their expertise within hybridisation and powertrain solutions with our flexible fuel cell concept that is suitable for both engine bay or skateboard platform integration.”