Kettering's Fuel Cell Center Grows

Delphi Corp. has made a $100,000 contribution to Kettering University to further establish this university's fuel cell program. Kettering's Center for Fuel Cell Systems and Powertrain Integration will receive the funding over the next four years.

According to Kettering officials, the center will provide world-class fuel cell engineering education and help Michigan and the Midwest develop a trained workforce. Along with excellence in fuel cell research, testing, and evaluation, the program aims to develop companies for the emerging fuel cell industry and attract the world's leading fuel cell developers, manufacturers, and suppliers to the region. Program goals include the education of engineering students, pre-college programs, and continuing education for practicing industry engineers.

In January, Kettering received a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, helping the university start construction of the Center. The fuel cell center will include 8,600 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratories, a teaching studio and control room, and space to support business incubators for new and existing companies in Kettering's new C.S. Mott Engineering and Science Center.