Many people criticize the electric cars that are not on a dedicated platform, which are primarily gasoline cars, on which it was adapted, sometimes awkwardly, with limited budget, an electric motor. Mercedes intends to refute these criticisms, but without a chassis designed specifically to electric power. The trick is to develop a platform that Mercedes calls multi drive, to signify that it accepts both a conventional gasoline engine, an electric powertrain powered by a fuel cell.

Mercedes has developed 2 channels traction totally different concept F 800 Style. Let’s first hybrid gasoline. Who is not entirely original, since it is an evolution of the concept of Vision S 500 Plug-in hybrid, which was already based on an evolution of the S 400 series hybrid. We thus find the V6 petrol 3.5 liter. With direct injection of new generation, he is more sober, power up to 300 hp. The electric motor is progressing much as his power increases to 80 kilowatts (109 hp).

The fuel tank is 45 liters, the lithium-ion more than 10 kWh, giving 30 km of electric range and 700 km of autonomy combined. This is fairly low for a limousine. The trunk then, is not really what is expected of a big Mercedes. Its capacity is only 440 liters. It is certainly much better than a Lexus GS450h (280 liters), but it’s even bad for families, as hybrid cars more environmentally friendly, offer less autonomy and less space for luggage, than diesel.

Second version, fuel cell (CAP), and again it is an evolution of an existing drivetrain also that of the F-Cell Class B CAP. This is good! The more standardization in new automotive technology, they will be more affordable. Nevertheless, this powertrain is perhaps a bit light for a big sedan with an electric motor only 100 kilowatts (136 hp). 290 Nm of torque all the same, but the speed is limited to 180 mph, which makes the F 800 concept style, the slowest of all Mercedes.

Yet the best of all the saloons of the star (equal with the F-Cell), since it is zero pollution. Its use never rejects anything but a trickle of water vapor, and 5.2 kilograms of hydrogen at 700 bar pressure cylinders that contain her give a range of nearly 600 km. These 2 chains traction will meet in the future in the Mercedes range, certainly in this decade … But we will first see the new generation of the Mercedes CLS. She is the F 800 ad, with lines surprising, since very different from the slender silhouette of the current CLS, the car that started the fashion for low line sedans. We’ll see soon what happens on the production model, probably this fall.

Posted under Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Cars, Hydrogen Economy, Hydrogen Vehicles

In its research and development center in Los Angeles, Honda has taken the second generation of a hydrogen refueling station in operation. That should be possible in the future, electric vehicles loaded with fuel new home for the night. The station fits in the garage and produced in eight hours the normal daily requirement of 0.5 kilograms of hydrogen.

Previous stations needed a Elctrolyse unit plus a separate compressor, umd to put pressure on the gas and liquefy. The compressor was there the biggest and most expensive component. ErsteStation As the world comes the new Honda without a compressor station and is thus considerably smaller and at least 25% more efficient

With this easy-to handhabendenTechnologie stored hydrogen does not need to be and can be produced with cheap off-peak power. During the day, solar cells produce 6kW of power station, which is fed into Netzt and thus CO2 neutral earned money.

The Honda Solar Hydrogen Station was developed as a supplement to the public network of the fast charger. The Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell drive can be quickly loaded and offers a range of 460 kilometers. With 5-minute quick charge for longer trips and more comfortable night charge live rush hour and weekend trips no problem.

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Kia and its partners Hyundai fuel cell technology is still constantly exploring, recently kia released their latest fuel cell prototype vehicles Borrego / Mohave FECV (in the Korean market known as the Mohave) video. Although Borrego FECV This is Borrego Rear / four-wheel-drive SUV with body-based architecture split, but Borreg FCEV is all-wheel drive.

Borrego FECV is driven by a 110kW, AC electric horse Ta, powered fuel cells were placed in the lower compartment, this group of the battery can deliver 115kW of power. Interesting things, Kia claim that they do not need high-pressure fuel cell air pressure, so I do not compressors that a majority of the major components of fuel cell vehicles. Kia also said that their fuel cell vehicles can use 98% of all hydrogen to produce energy.

Brake energy recovery system from the electricity will be stored in a super-capacitor module, and then will be needed to provide additional impetus. Kia has not yet indicated that they use 700Bar hydrogen storage capacity of the system, but the car’s mileage up to 700 kilometers, Kia plans to produce in 2012 small-scale Borreg FCEV, while the large-scale production will have to in the small-scale production after three years.

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Mercedes wants to have its first fuel cell powered vehicles in 2015 from the dealer. This was confirmed by the manufacturers at a conference in Monaco: “Until then, customers will be for a car with the environmentally driven not need much more than pay for a better-equipped hybrid model,” said investigator Arwed Niestroj.

Production stage, the technology had already reached, however, stressed Joachim Schmidt, head of sales with a view to the first 200 vehicles produced by industrial processes, and in 2010 delivered in a pilot project. They are based on the current B-class and are driven by an electric motor with 100 kW and a torque of 290 Newton meters. Although the fuel cell needs in the B-class normalized to 100 kilometers is just 3.3 liters of diesel and hydrogen at the current price of around nine euros per kilo cheaper to maintain

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The industrial power of Japan has been demonstrated once again a vivid demonstration of the viability of hydrogen cars. Organized by the JFHC she met 3 cars completely separate with no common room in their chassis, or powertrain. It was a Honda FCX Clarity, a Nissan FCV, and a Toyota FCHV-adv. The event was interesting, because after a Tesla electric car has covered 500 km without having to reload, some people may wonder, on the advisability of using a fuel cell and hydrogen tank, rather than simple battery.

The demonstration Nippon timely to recall that the gap between the two is immense. Most of the Tesla has been established at 50 km/h average, in a car with windows closed in order not to increase the aerodynamic drag, and without air conditioning not consume energy. The Japanese demo was made in normal use. And when the Tesla is a strict 2-seater with a trunk ridiculous, hydrogen cars are Japanese family. The route was 1137 km, it was made in 19 hours. So average less than 60 km/h. In the absolute, very little, but it was the will of the organizer, with a substantial distance which stood in the city.

The car offering greater autonomy has traveled 714 km without refueling. But the most interesting information is the total consumption, or 28.8 kg of hydrogen. For the 3 cars, of 1137 km! Consider a ridiculous average consumption of 844 grams of hydrogen per 100 km. The Japanese cars have tanks 5/6 kg, but the Americans have already planned wider, the Chevrolet Sequel concept stores 10 kg of hydrogen. This means that while the electric car batteries is still very far from the autonomy of a petrol car, the hydrogen can already beat the autonomy of diesel. A fuel cell and hydrogen tank are also lighter than a pack of batteries.

The Japanese have celebrated the event as they do know, with all the men in white gloves. But despite this undeniable success, the future of hydrogen cars is still very uncertain. Is full in 3 minutes as an essence, there is no emission of CO2, or any pollutant. The hydrogen cars are everything to them, and even their sale price, which happens to contain a level very close to those species. But there is also politics. And even in a progressive country like Japan, there are only 13 hydrogen stations. Then we put in place around the world, moult grants and facilities for electric cars and charging stations.

Both Mercedes, Honda, Toyota and General Motors believe that the car fuel cell powered by hydrogen, is the best solution to replace the car oil. Not by ideology or by a submission to some unknown lobby, but simply because it promises to do better than the gasoline car in all areas. This does however not presage the success of this technology to market.

Source: Fuel cell car demonstration runs 1,100 km long

Posted under Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Cars, Hydrogen Vehicles