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Fuel cell

Designed for real-world performance and a low-carbon future

From design to industrialisation, we’re driving the transition to zero-emission power with reliable, scalable fuel cell solutions for real-world applications across transport and industrial.

Fuel Cell in test chamber 1

Fuel cell systems designed to power the shift to low-carbon energy

Ricardo combines innovative design and deep engineering expertise to develop and integrate fuel cell solutions, across mobility, defence and industrial energy applications, enabling our customers to go to market faster.

Bringing together technical expertise with strategic insight, we support customers to make informed, confident decisions on where and how to deploy fuel cell technologies.

We design and develop high-power fuel cell systems tailored to your needs-including system architecture definition, Balance of Plant (BoP) controls, fuel and electrical systems and system integration.

Our experience spans commercial vehicle, high-performance vehicle, off-highway, maritime and rail, including the containerisation of fuel cell solutions, supporting scalable deployment across maritime and stationary power applications.

How we can help you

1
Strategy and planning
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Ricardo works with customers as a trusted partner, supporting critical decisions on adopting and scaling fuel cell technologies. We assess the suitability of fuel cell technology, evaluate options and define the right fuel cell system strategy for each application.

Through technology road mapping, market and cost analysis, business case support and supply chain considerations., we support customers to make informed, confident decisions.

2
Concept and feasibility
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Through advanced modelling and simulation, Ricardo evaluates fuel cell configurations, including multi-stack systems and Balance of Plant to assess technical feasibility, performance potential and the ability to meet emission targets. 

We use data driven insights to improve system efficiency and reduce system complexity, ensuring fuel cell solutions  are robust, scalable and ready to support the decarbonisation of the global transport and energy sectors.

3
Design and development
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Icon Pentip

Ricardo specialises in delivering fully integrated, production-ready hydrogen fuel cell solutions within short timeframes. 

Our experts design and engineer complete systems in-house, including multi-stack configurations, balance of plant, as well as containerised solutions. We ensure systems are optimised for performance, efficiency, and real-world deployment across industrial and transport applications. 

Using a virtual engineering toolchain, we reduce the need for physical prototyping–lowering cost and risks, accelerating development timelines whilst also providing a deeper understanding of system behaviours under real-world conditions.  

4
Production
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Icon Building

Ricardo delivers industrialisation and niche volume assembly solutions for fuel cells, supporting complex systems from prototype to production. Our expertise enables efficient, high-quality manufacturing, and scalable, reliable integration for advanced fuel cell applications.

5
Test and certification
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Ricardo operates specialised facilities including dedicated hydrogen and fuel cell test centres. We assess performance, durability, and safety at both component and full-system level, ensuring solutions meet demanding operational and regulatory requirements. 

Our safety and certification methodology for maritime applications has achieved Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register, supporting deployment of fuel cell systems in ocean-going environments. 

What we've worked on

Cruise Ship

Development of a high power density multi stack fuel cell system for passenger ships

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Toyota Fuel Cell Truck

Fuel cell electric zero emissions truck

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Project Fresson

Sustainable Aerospace Propulsion

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Capabilities and solutions

Containerisation

Ricardo tailors containerised fuel cell solutions to customer requirements, integrating fuel cell stacks, balance of plant, power electronics and control systems into fully self-contained units. Our expertise includes structural analysis, integration of fluid handling and the incorporation of critical safety measures. Supported by dedicated build facilities, we ensure every solution is ready for real-world deployment.

Fuel cell integration

Ricardo has delivered some of the most complex fuel cell integrations across applications including heavy-duty trucks, buses, passenger vehicles, maritime and industrial energy systems.

We have deep expertise in integrating fuel cell stacks with balance of plant, power electronics and control systems and are a trusted partner to world-leading OEMs.

Multi-stack fuel cell systems

For large scale applications, Ricardo brings deep expertise in the design, build and testing of compact, high power, multi-stack fuel cell systems. Utilising our balance of plant expertise, we support customers to deliver significantly enhanced power density with reduced system level parasitic losses

Supporting customers  with stack selection, design, integration, certification and deployment, we ensure multi-stack fuel cell solutions are viable, efficient and optimised for industrial, maritime and heavy-duty applications.

Fuel cell applications

Stationary power 2659534145

Stationary power

Passenger Cruise Ship

Maritime

Kalmar Terminal Tractor

Off-highway

right-hand drive Truck on road 1025490817

Commercial vehicle

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