The EFOY fuel cell is a fully automated battery charger that is quiet, easy to use and environmentally friendly, operating as a power generator in mobile homes, caravans, boats or cabins.
The EFOY fuel cell is a fully automated battery charger that is quiet, easy to use and environmentally friendly, operating as a power generator in mobile homes, caravans, boats or cabins.
The EFOY fuel cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy without any interim stages, moving parts or much loss of efficiency. The underlying principle is an electrochemical process that is also known as "cold combustion". It is in principle the reversal of electrolysis. The EFOY fuel cells are based on DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) technology. They generate power by using methanol provided in a fuel cartridge, in combination with oxygen from the air. Methanol is directly converted into power by the fuel cell. By products in the electromechanical process, include waste heat, water vapour and a small amount of carbon dioxide. Thus, a fuel cell is not an energy storage devise but an energy generating devise.
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Operating principle
The EFOY fuel cell converts the fuel in the fuel cartridge directly into electrical current without any moving parts. Thanks to this direct conversion, the fuel cell operates silently, is environmentally friendly, clean and extremely efficient.
Yes. A lot of our customers do this. The fuel cell switches on automatically when there is insufficient sun available to charge the batteries.
Solar energy is a fascinating subject, but solar energy systems only work when the sun shines directly on the solar module, i.e. without any shadowing effects and at the correct angle of incidence. This is not the case in most situations e.g. due to clouds, fog, rain, snowfall, tree shade, nighttime operation etc. Therefore an EFOY fuel cell is a good addition or alternative for those who are on the road the whole year or for those who do not get enough power from the solar cell due to weather conditions or shade.
An energy analysis is easy with our model check
Generators are very loud and not only disturb your own relaxation but also that of your neighbors. The emissions that they produce cause an unpleasant smell and are harmful to the environment. In contrast, the EFOY is as quiet as a whisper and environmentally friendly – which is good for you and for the environment.
Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries have many advantages over lead batteries. They have a high capacity at low weight and can therefore also operate high energy consumers such as coffee machines or hair dryers for longer. Despite their high capacity, they are energy storage devices. This means that even lithium batteries have to be recharged at some point. The EFOY fuel cell is the ideal combination with a lithium battery* and thus offers the complete powerful energy package. EFOY Hybrid Power is a perfectly matched energy package consisting of an EFOY fuel cell as the power generator and an EFOY lithium battery as the power storage device. The smart Battery Management System (BMS) of the EFOY lithium battery ensures intelligent communication between the fuel cell and battery.
*Silver EFOY 600-1200 fuel cells (production year before 2011) are not compatible with lithium batteries
SFC has already sold more than 45,000 EFOY fuel cells, which are in use day in, day out. The total operating time of all units amounts to over 10 million hours. In a survey of 955 EFOY owners, 93% of those questioned were satisfied with their EFOY fuel cells and would recommend them to other potential customers.
Customers’ performance requirements vary depending on usage profile, personal needs, type and power consumption of the appliance and environmental conditions. EFOY products with varying levels of output offer the customers the choice and opportunity to purchase the fuel cell that matches their needs.
Please have a look at our energy calculator and find out.
Installation / Operation
Installation is performed by an authorized dealer, or the unit comes pre-installed with your boat or mobile home.
Make sure there is an adequate air supply and sufficient ventilation for waste heat and spent air. Please also ensure that there is enough space for the fuel cartridges and the unit itself. You can refer to the User Manual for more details.
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An EFOY fuel cell can be easily installed at any time. It is simply connected directly to a normal battery. Please contact your EFOY dealer for more information.
No. The EFOY incorporates its own charge controller.
No. The EFOY fuel cell is a battery charger. Electrical appliances are supplied with power by the battery.
An EFOY fuel cell is an automatic charger for 12 V lead-gel, AGM, lead-acid or SFC certified Lithium Iron phosphate (LiFePo4)* batteries. The energy package consisting of an EFOY fuel cell and EFOY lithium battery offers even greater convenience.
*Silver EFOY 600-2200 fuel cells (production year before 2011) are not compatible with lithium batteries
Yes. We recommend that 2 x battery capacity is less than the total charging capacity of the EFOY fuel cell.
Yes. The EFOY can be used in combination with lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) from selected manufacturers. For an ideal energy package we recommend using the EFOY lithium battery. EFOY Hybrid Power is a perfectly matched energy package consisting of an EFOY fuel cell as the power generator and an EFOY lithium battery as the power storage device. The smart Battery Management System (BMS) of the EFOY lithium battery ensures intelligent communication between the fuel cell and battery.
Yes. All the fuel cells in the new EFOY series allow the switch thresholds to be adjusted via the EFOY App or the control panel.
No. An EFOY fuel cell has a mechanism to prevent exhaustive discharge and will activate even when switched "Sleep" in order to protect the batteries. SFC recommends always operating the EFOY in the automatic mode.
It produces very small quantities of water and carbon dioxide. An EFOY 80 for example produces as much spent air at peak load as a human breathes out.
The level of waste heat depends on the ambient temperature, which is why there is no simple answer to the question. The heat (measured in watts) is approximately three times as high as the electrical energy (rated power) generated by the unit. For example, an EFOY 80 fuel cell produces approximately 120 W of heat.
The exhaust air may also contain traces of methanol and methanol-based waste products. The quantities and concentration of these are below the legal thresholds. WARNING: Always expel exhaust air into the open. Inhaling the exhaust air or drinking the water may be harmful to your health. The exhaust air contains no CO (carbon monoxide) or NOx (nitrogen oxide).
Yes. The EFOY is approved for use in motor vehicles. Leading vehicle manufacturers install fuel cells in their vehicles as standard.
Do not switch the fuel cell on. The unit must be returned for inspection to check that it does not leak and that it operates correctly. Please contact the EFOY service team.
The EFOY fuel cell meets the highest standards of safety and quality, including regulations governing installation in motor vehicles. It is certified in accordance with ECE-R10 (installation and operation in motor vehicles), CE and "Safety-tested and production-monitored fuel cell system" awarded by TÜV SÜD.
Consumption / Fuel Cartridge
The consumption depends on the power of the fuel cell. An EFOY 80 consumes approx. 40ml methanol per hour, whereas an EFOY 150 needs approx. 75ml.
The EFOY fuel cartridge is available in 5 l and 10 l. The consumption is 0.9 l per kWh, so the EFOY Fuel Cell can generate 460 Ah or 925 Ah of electricity at 12 V voltage. Depending on the power consumption, a 10 l methanol fuel cartridge will provide you with a self-sufficient power supply for up to 4 weeks.
EFOY customers in mobile homes or boats generally need 2-3 M10 fuel cartridges per year in normal use.
EFOY fuel cartridges were designed to meet the highest safety requirements from the very beginning. Fuel cartridges are also approved and labelled for road, sea and air transport.
No. It is not allowed to use fuels or fuel cartridges other than the original fuel cartridges supplied by SFC Energy AG. CAUTION: Using contaminated methanol will result in damage to the product and invalidate the warranty.
The law stipulates that EFOY fuel cartridges may only be sold in sealed containers for safety reasons. Accordingly, it is not permissible by law to provide a refill solution. In addition, the costs and energy overhead involved in refilling would not justify the benefits.
There is a label on the back of every fuel cartridge indicating its use-by date.
SFC has focused on the proven direct methanol fuel cell. This technology does not require the fuel to be converted into hydrogen in a very complex and elaborate process as is the case with e.g. propane or butane gas. A further advantage is the high energy density of methanol and the use of fuel cartridges as means of storage. One M10 cartridge weighs only 8.4 kg (18.5 lbs) and provides a capacity of 920 Ah (which corresponds to more than 250 kg (550 lbs) of lead batteries).
Temperature
We guarantee safe operation in an ambient temperature range of -20 °C to +40 °C (-4° F to +104° F). Should you require a power source to operate under more extreme conditions, please contact [email protected]
Yes. The fuel cell has an intelligent frost protection system, which ensures that it function when used at even very low temperatures.
The unit interrupts the charge function and re- starts automatically once the temperature falls. This prevents damage to the fuel cell. Should you use the fuel cell at high temperatures for long periods of time, please contact [email protected]
We only recommend removal if you do not require the fuel cell for longer than 2 months (for example in winter storage with a power supply). Removal and frost-free storage can save fuel.
The fuel cell has an intelligent automatic frost-protection system. It keeps itself warm when temperatures fall below 3 °C (37 °F) if it is connected to a functioning battery and has a supply of fuel. The system also works, when the unit is turned off.
The fuel cell requires approx. 5-10 litres of methanol for a dedicated frost protection mode during a five-month winter period in Central Europe.
If the fuel cell freezes despite all precautions, allow it to thaw switched off in a warm environment over a period of approx. 24 hours before putting it into operation. Please note that a fuel cell’s efficiency may decrease when allowed to freeze repeatedly.
Inclination angle
The unit can be operated for a sustained period of time at an angle of tilt of up to 35° longitudinally and up to 35° laterally.
The fuel cell will switch off and will report an error when switched back on again. Please follow the instructions on the display.
Purchase questions
We recommend that you only purchase a fuel cell from authorized EFOY dealers. You can find here a list of the dealers here.
Your authorized EFOY dealer provide you with the current price.
Please find the scope of delivery here.
Warranty
The EFOY fuel cell meets the highest quality standards. We guarantee it. For more details go to Warranty.
The purchase date of the new fuel cell on the invoice and its registration with SFC determine the start of warranty cover.
Registration makes the warranty valid, ensures that we can provide you with the latest information on a regular basis, for example, when a new firmware update is available. In addition, SFC will have all the necessary details if you require service, which means that we can process a case faster.
Service
Yes. We can repair your fuel cell at our location in Munich/Brunnthal, Germany and in Calgary, Canada when necessary. For further information please see Service
No. The unit must never be opened.
Repairs can generally be performed within a few working days. On top of this there is the time required for transportation and the time until the quotation is approved.
Repair costs depend on the components involved.
We recommend that you install a new update. The devices are continuously optimised and you can benefit from these improvements via a firmware update.
Service fluid is delivered with your EFOY fuel cell. Thanks to SFC’s patented water recovery system, fluid is recovered in a closed circuit. Over a long period of operation with high external temperatures a part of this fluid may evaporate, and the fuel cell will indicate that it requires service fluid. It is recommended to always have a bottle with you. Never fill up more than one bottle, and only when the fuel cell indicates that it really needs it.
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EFOY COMFORT / new EFOY fuel cell
No. The new EFOY fuel cell can only be operated with the new control panel or the EFOY App.
The charging cable, the waste heat flange and the mounting for the EFOY fuel cell must be replaced. However, these are included in the Scope of delivery for the new EFOY fuel cell. The off-heat tube and exhaust hose, on the other hand, can be used if they are still in good condition.
