FuelCellsEtc

What FuelCellsEtc does

FuelCellsEtc is a private, US-based custom manufacturer of PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell and electrolyzer components, headquartered and producing out of a single facility in Bryan, Texas. The company builds Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) in 3-layer, 5-layer, and 7-layer configurations, Catalyst Coated Membranes (CCMs), Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDEs), Carbon Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs), Proton Exchange Membranes, and a proprietary line of precious-metal catalysts branded XT Catalyst, alongside fuel cell test hardware and electrochemical R&D services. It is the sole manufacturer of ELAT Carbon Cloth, a proprietary gas diffusion substrate offered in LT1400 and LT2400 variants, and maintains a catalog of more than 100 catalysts, 130+ gas diffusion layers, and 140+ membranes. The technical differentiators are proprietary MEA/CCM manufacturing processes, over 100 proprietary catalyst ink formulations, and the ability to produce custom components in any size, shape, or quantity with no minimum order quantity.

FuelCellsEtc serves three primary customer segments: OEM manufacturers building hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer systems for clean energy, transportation, space, and maritime applications; academic and commercial researchers requiring customized MEAs, CCMs, and GDEs for laboratory and proof-of-concept work; and educators needing reliable, educational-grade fuel cell components and test hardware. Revenue is generated primarily through custom hardware sales on a quote-based, build-to-order basis, supplemented by parallel sales through sister e-commerce company Fuel Cell Store (FuelCellStore.com) for standardized products. The company was identified by QYResearch as a key player in the global Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layer market, acquired BCS Fuel Cells in January 2011, and continues to extend its product line (most recently with Hydro-LAT GDLs in April 2024) and its partnership network (H-Tec Education, Magical Microbes).

Name

FuelCellsEtc

Legal name

Fuel Cells Etc

Website

https://fuelcellsetc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FuelCellsEtc is a US-based custom manufacturer of PEM fuel cell and electrolyzer components, including MEAs, CCMs, GDEs, gas diffusion layers, membranes, and catalysts, serving OEMs, researchers, and educators worldwide from its Bryan, Texas facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Components

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325)

SIC

Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Fuel Cell Distributed Generation (Hydrogen/Natural Gas SOFC/PEM) (EUACALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fuel Cell CHP (SOFC/PEM—Natural Gas/Biogas/Hydrogen) (EUACAKAG), Truck & Commercial Vehicle Electrification Manufacturing (eAxles/Battery Packs/Fuel Cells) (IMACABAK)

Keywords

• Membrane electrode assemblies
• Catalyst coated membranes
• Gas diffusion electrodes
• Proton exchange membranes
• Fuel cell components

Headquarters

HQ city

College Station

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Component Manufacturing: Revenue primarily from manufacturing and selling custom fuel cell and electrolyzer components including MEAs, CCMs, GDEs, GDLs, membranes, and catalysts. The company operates on a build-to-order basis with no minimum order quantities, serving OEMs, researchers, and educators globally.
2. Fuel Cell Testing Hardware: Sale of fuel cell testing hardware including single cell fixtures, stack testing equipment, cell voltage monitoring, and testing fixtures for R&D applications.
3. Research and Development Services: Electrochemical R&D services including membrane and catalyst selection assistance, testing support, and custom component development from concept through testing with no minimum order quantity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

FuelCellsEtc is a custom manufacturer of PEM fuel cell and electrolyzer components, building Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs), Catalyst Coated Membranes (CCMs), Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDEs), Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs) including proprietary ELAT Carbon Cloth, Proton Exchange Membranes, and XT Catalyst formulations. All production occurs at the Bryan, Texas facility on a build-to-order basis with no minimum order quantities, serving OEMs, researchers, and educators worldwide.

Product overview

FuelCellsEtc is a custom fuel cell and electrolyzer component manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of electrochemical products. The core offerings include Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) available in 3-Layer, 5-Layer, and 7-Layer configurations, Catalyst Coated Membranes (CCMs), Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDEs), Carbon Gas Diffusion Layers including proprietary ELAT® Carbon Cloth variants (LT1400, LT2400), Proton Exchange Membranes (PEMs), and XT Catalyst product line featuring platinum, iridium, and iridium ruthenium oxide catalysts. The company also provides Fuel Cell Test Hardware and Electrochemical Research and Development services. All products are manufactured at their Bryan, Texas facility and are proudly Made-in-America. The product portfolio serves diverse applications including hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers, Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction, and lithium battery technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• XT Catalyst: Proprietary line of iridium-based catalysts and platinum catalysts designed for electrolysis and fuel cell applications, including Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) and Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR).
• ELAT Carbon Cloth

Products and services

• Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) Custom Membrane Electrode Assemblies serving as the core electrochemical component of fuel cells and electrolyzers, facilitating proton/electron separation and recombination. Available in 3-Layer (Catalyst Coated Membrane), 5-Layer, and 7-Layer configurations with gasket materials for OEMs, researchers, and educators.
• Catalyst Coated Membranes (CCMs) 3-Layer MEAs consisting of a polymer electrolyte membrane with catalyst layers applied to both sides, enabling researchers to apply CCMs to various Gas Diffusion Layers for experimental flexibility.
• Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDEs) Specialized fuel cell components consisting of a catalyst layer on a porous gas diffusion layer substrate, enabling efficient electrochemical reactions by allowing reactant gases to diffuse through and contact the catalyst for OEMs, researchers, and educators.
• Carbon Gas Diffusion Layers (including ELAT Carbon Cloth LT1400 and LT2400) Porous carbon layers enabling simultaneous gas and liquid transfer in electrochemical processes, providing an electrical pathway for electrons while preventing flooding through wet-proofing treatments. Includes proprietary ELAT Carbon Cloth variants (LT1400 single-sided MPL, LT2400 double-sided MPL) for OEMs, researchers, and educators.
• Hydro-LAT GDLs with Hydrophilic MPL New GDL variant with hydrophilic microporous layer properties for enhanced water management in electrolyzers and fuel cells, designed to address flooding and reaction site access.
• Proton Exchange Membranes (PEM) Solid electrolytes that transfer hydrogen ions from anode to cathode while blocking electron passage, essential for PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers. The portfolio includes cation exchange, anion exchange, bipolar, and chlor-alkali membranes.
• XT Catalyst Proprietary precious metal electrocatalyst line including supported and unsupported platinum catalysts, iridium-based catalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction, iridium ruthenium oxide for electrolyzers, and custom alloy catalysts for clean energy applications.
• Fuel Cell Test Hardware Testing hardware and equipment for fuel cell development, including fixtures for single cell and stack testing, flow fields, endplates, and cell voltage monitoring systems for R&D and educational use.
• Electrochemical Research and Development Services Custom electrochemical R&D services including membrane and catalyst selection assistance, testing support, and custom component development from concept through testing for PEM applications including electrolyzers, hydrogen fuel cells, and Direct Methanol Fuel Cells, with no minimum order quantity.

Quantifiable outcome

• No minimum order quantities for custom components
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fuel Cell StorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company e-commerce store (fuelcellstore.com) that serves as the primary retail channel for standard FuelCellsEtc products including MEAs, GDEs, GDLs, membranes, and testing hardware. Provides consumer and researcher-facing storefront separate from custom manufacturing operations.
• H-Tec EducationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational technology partner offering fuel cell educational products and solutions for academic institutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• 3M: 3M manufactures membrane and catalyst materials for fuel cells as part of its broad specialty chemicals portfolio. It is a larger incumbent with overlapping components but a much wider product scope than FuelCellsEtc.
• Nel ASA: Nel manufactures PEM and alkaline electrolyzers and is a major pull-through customer for membrane, catalyst, and electrode suppliers. It is a broader incumbent that competes indirectly with FuelCellsEtc's electrolyzer component business.
• Ballard Power Systems: Ballard designs and manufactures PEM fuel cell stacks and systems for mobility and stationary markets. It is a large incumbent that consumes MEA and GDL components in volume and shapes supplier demand relevant to FuelCellsEtc's customers.

Direct peers

• SGL Carbon: SGL Carbon produces carbon-based gas diffusion layers and bipolar plate materials for fuel cells. Its SIGRACET GDL portfolio directly competes with FuelCellsEtc's carbon GDL and ELAT Carbon Cloth product lines.
• Advent Technologies Holdings: Advent develops and manufactures high-temperature PEM and PBI-based MEAs and CCMs, directly overlapping with FuelCellsEtc's MEA/CCM product line and targeting similar fuel cell and electrochemical applications.
• Asahi Kasei: Asahi Kasei produces the Aciplex and Selemion PEM and anion-exchange membranes used in fuel cells and electrolyzers. It competes directly with FuelCellsEtc in membrane supply for hydrogen applications.
• Greenerity (Evonik): Greenerity, an Evonik business, supplies MEAs, CCMs, and GDLs for PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers, directly overlapping with FuelCellsEtc's core MEA/CCM/GDE offering for hydrogen applications.
• IRD Fuel Cells: IRD Fuel Cells manufactures PEM fuel cell MEAs, CCMs, and stacks and competes directly with FuelCellsEtc in custom and small-batch MEA supply for research and commercial customers.
• Chemours: Chemours manufactures Nafion ion-exchange membranes, the dominant PEM material for fuel cells and electrolyzers. It is a direct competitor to FuelCellsEtc's membrane and catalyst-coated membrane offerings.
• W.L. Gore & Associates: Gore is a leading global manufacturer of PEM fuel cell MEAs, GDLs, and membranes (GORE-SELECT). It directly competes with FuelCellsEtc in custom and high-volume MEA supply, with significantly larger scale and OEM relationships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FuelCellsEtc
• Facebookfacebook.com/FuelCellsEtc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2327936

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FuelCellsEtc