Proton Motor Fuel Cell
Proton Motor Fuel Cell was a German developer and manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cell systems for stationary, rail, maritime and heavy-duty applications, headquartered in Puchheim near Munich, before its UK parent entered an orderly wind-down in late 2024.
Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH was founded on 1 January 1998 as a spin-off from Magnet-Motor GmbH and developed and produced fuel cell systems from that point. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Proton Motor Power Systems, a UK holding company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) from October 2006.
In 2022 the company signed a lease for an expanded site in Fürstenfeldbruck, around 12 km from the Puchheim headquarters, covering 25,700 m² of land with 13,500 m² of usable space, of which over 10,500 m² was intended for production, testing and development. The site was to be taken into use in stages from the second quarter of 2023.
Products and rail applications
Proton Motor developed its own proton exchange membrane (PEM) stacks (HyStack) and built them into modular hydrogen fuel cell systems. The portfolio spanned stationary systems (HyModule, HyFrame, HyCabinet, HyShelter), road vehicles (HyRange), maritime propulsion (HyShip) and rail (HyRail).
HyRail was the company’s product for rail traction and propulsion: a 214 kW multi-stack configuration built from two redundant 107 kW units. It was delivered in 2021 to Austrian machine builder Linsinger for the MG 11 Hydrogen rail milling train, described by the companies as the first hydrogen-powered rail milling machine.
The company’s second rail-facing application was stationary backup power for rail infrastructure, replacing diesel generators for uses such as signal boxes and control centres.
Customers and partnerships
Proton Motor supplied hydrogen fuel cell backup systems to DB Bahnbau Gruppe, a Deutsche Bahn subsidiary, under a cooperation agreement running since 2015. A HyCabinet S24 system of three redundant HyModule S8 units, delivering 24 kW with 48 hours of hydrogen backup, was completed under this agreement and operated by DB Bahnbau under its EnerRail H024 brand.
In October 2024 the company announced a 26th system order under the same agreement, with delivery projected for 2025, subject to financing.
In 2021 the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Czech company Thein Industry, whose subsidiary Hydrogenic Technology integrates hydrogen technologies into rail and road transport.
Wind-down and delisting
In September 2024 Proton Motor Power Systems warned it risked being unable to operate beyond the end of the year without new financing, and disclosed net liabilities of around GBP 116 million as of 30 June 2024. Discussions with a German industrial partner over potential funding were terminated, and in November 2024 the board concluded that an orderly wind-down of the business was the most appropriate course of action.
The parent company delisted from AIM on 17 February 2025 and re-registered as a private limited company. The group has since remained in wind-down, with efforts focused on realising its remaining assets, including its patent portfolio.
Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH remains registered in the German commercial register, but production has ceased and the staff at the Puchheim site were made redundant.
