Bosch Shows off its First U.S. Electrolyzer in Support of Hydrogen Research

March 30, 2026

Chris Clonts

All the proprietary machinery behind Bosch’s electrolyzer is contained in a relatively nondescript box. At top left you can see a UV/IR camera aimed at the hydrogen release stack. It can spot the nearly invisible flame of hydrogen to inform operators in the rare event a gas release ignites. (Bosch)

Two of the biggest hurdles to the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells are still the availability of hydrogen and its affordability.

Bosch recently took a small step toward addressing availability at its Farmington Hills, Michigan, engineering center, where the company unveiled a new electrolyzer that uses electrical current to split water into oxygen and hydrogen to power fuel cells.

The oxygen is released into the atmosphere while the hydrogen can be stored as a gas or compressed into liquid form. At the site, Bosch will use the hydrogen for R&D on its own fuel cell power modules, hydrogen internal combustion engines and more. There was even talk about possibly providing fuel for a small fleet of FCEV garbage trucks for a local community.

In addition to public remarks at a ribbon-cutting and hydrogen workshop attended by more than 100 engineers and executives, Peter Tadros, president of power solutions for Bosch North America, sat down with SAE Media to talk about the company’s support of a hydrogen future. “Here in Farmington Hills, we have the fuel cell power module (FCPM). We'll have engine dynos running hydrogen engines. In one of the use cases, again, to prove the economy of how to use the hydrogen, we can hook it up to the grid to supplement the energy.”

That local-to-grid exchange would be through the FCPM, which is also the powerplant that is being readied for Class 8 trucks.

Tadros stressed that the development is not meant to be a primary source of energy for any one entity, but “more of a demonstrator to show how electrolyzers can support all these different use cases.”

The Hybrion proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis stack is rated at 1.25 MW and can produce hydrogen at 22.9 kg/h with a max H₂ output pressure of 34 bar. It does this with a modest footprint of 85 x 100 x 154 cm (33 x 39 x 61 in), though the entire unit, which includes pumps, water purification and cooling systems is larger, about the size of a shipping container.

One key to Bosch’s support of an end-to-end hydrogen ecosystem strategy is the development of a next-generation cryopump by Bosch Rexroth that SAE Media learned about during a visit to a First Element Fuel hydrogen truck stop in Oakland, Calif. Bosch says the technology helps enable faster, safer and more energy-efficient handling of liquid hydrogen, an important step in supporting heavy-duty mobility, aviation and large-scale energy applications. Dave Hull, Bosch Rexroth regional vice president, said the cryopump makes delivery systems more efficient by quickly converting stored liquid hydrogen to gaseous H₂. “Our technology addresses critical challenges like boil off losses, reliability energy efficiency and scalability,” he said, adding that it is helping companies move from pilot projects to commercial deployment.

Peter Tadros, president of power solutions for Bosch North America, said the hydrogen produced would be used largely for R&D on fuel cell power modules and hydrogen internal combustion engines. (*Chris Clonts*)

For both the electrolyzer and the cryopump, Bosch’s expertise with very small valves, actuators, and injectors, as well as hyper-accurate measurement and system controls, is at the forefront.

But about that future…

Tadros freely admits that the price of hydrogen is far too high now. For instance, First Element is charging about $25 per kilogram (2.2 lbs), which, when used in a fuel cell, is roughly equivalent to one gallon of diesel. The industry often says the tipping point for hydrogen would be getting the price to about $4 to $5/kg. since that would roughly be at price parity with diesel, at least until the recent price hikes due to the war in Iran.

Bosch’s PEM electrolysis stack fits in a relatively small footprint. (*Bosch*)

“It is possible with scaling. It is possible to get there. The near term is going to be definitely a challenge without subsidies, but this is what everybody right now is working on between us and the integrators, how to bring this cost down,” Tadros said. “Hydrogen will have a place, but there are a lot of challenges because of the cost. The question becomes, what hydrogen can do that electrification can't do? Is it the long haul, fully loaded vehicle, the fueling time, things that the fleet operators depend on for total cost of ownership?” He also mentioned aviation and defense uses, as well as stationary fuel cells powering the burgeoning data centers that are projected to outstrip the grid’s current supply of electricity at some point.

Bloom Energy, one of the companies present at the Hydrogen Technology Day event, is aggressively pursuing the data center market with its focus on solid oxide electrolyzers and fuel cells. The solid oxide process runs at a higher temperature and is more efficient than the PEM process.

Alissa Cleland, Bosch’s VP for communications and government affairs in the Americas, said that despite the current federal administration headwinds against alternative energy, the company is actively pursuing a regulatory environment in which hydrogen could flourish. “I spend a lot of time pushing hard for hydrogen, and we haven’t given up,” she said. “We’re in a position to help produce hydrogen, store it and convert it (to electricity), all of it is part of the same ecosystem.”

Jason Smullen, a senior manager at consulting firm Roland Berger, agreed with Tadros about H₂’s chances of growth. “Despite the hype curve, there is a path to build scale and participation for fuel cells and hydrogen.”

Bosch partner Toyota sticking with hydrogen

Bosch communications and governmental affairs executive Alissa Cleland said the company is still working for a supportive regulatory environment that would allow hydrogen energy to grow. (*Bosch*)

Toyota’s group vice president, powertrain, Jordan Choby, gave a keynote presentation in which he shared why his company is optimistic about hydrogen’s future as part of a mix of fully or partially green energy alternatives. “By 2030, there's been many announcements and maybe many announcements don't make it the full way to final production, but announcements already total 440 GW worth of (renewable) energy” for hydrogen production, he said.

“Next year, our Class 8 trucks will be running routes in Southern California in Toyota parts logistics fleets, moving vehicle parts from the port and also to dealerships in that region,” he said. “Our goal is to build and show a sustainable logistics ecosystem, while lowering Toyota’s overall carbon footprint. In California, working trucks represent about 25% of the state’s overall pollution,” he said, adding that long-haul trucking is about 3% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. “That’s quite a large number when you consider the number of refineries and large industries included.”

Last fall, at Toyota’s Arizona Proving Grounds, SAE Media rode in a lass 8 fuel-cell-truck that was, essentially, drag racing a traditional diesel-powered rig pulling a trailer of equal weight. It was no contest.

Bosch completed the installation of a 2.5 MW Hybrion electrolyzer in November at its Bamberg, Germany, factory.

An emphasis on safety

In response to questions from local officials, Bosch said the hydrogen electrolysis process is extremely safe and the Farmington Hills facility meets or exceeds NFPA 2, the national fire protection code that deals with equipment containing liquid and gaseous hydrogen.

While Detroit is used to seeing the flares from stacks at oil refineries, an ignited release of hydrogen is an extremely rare event. Even so, the company has an ultraviolet and infrared camera aimed at the hydrogen-out stack on the electrolyzer, since a hydrogen flame is invisible in daylight and even hard to see at night. A representative said extensive outreach was done to emergency management agencies to ensure everyone knows how to deal with possible situations, no matter how unlikely.