LA 2007: Volkswagen Space up! Blue
Click the space up! blue for a high-res gallery
Revision 3 of the Volkswagen up! concept family makes it debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show today. Taking the larger four-door version that bowed in Tokyo last month as starting point, the space up! blue adds the first implementation of a high temperature fuel cell to the mix. Propulsion energy for the electric motor comes from an array of lithium ion batteries that can yield a range of up to 65 miles on a full charge. In the same manner as the Ford Airstream concept, the batteries can be recharged either via a plug or the fuel cell stack. Volkswagen's high temperature fuel cell stack is claimed to be less expensive to produce than other designs while offering greater efficiency. In the case of this concept, the combined range of the fuel cell and battery system is 220 miles and more energy can be added via the roof top solar panel.
Gallery: LA 2007: Volkswagen space up! blue
[Source: Volkswagen]
To the Point: The space up! blue
Clean Drive Revolution "Made in Germany"
Volkswagen presents the first car in the world with high-temperature fuel cell
space up! blue covers downtown distances with pure battery drive
- Wolfsburg / Los Angeles, November 2007. Powertrain revolution in California: Volkwagen is presenting the space up! blue concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show (November 14 to 25) as a world exclusive – a compact, self-confident zero emissions van in the style of the legendary Volkswagen Samba Bus. On board: the world's first high temperature fuel cell and an array of twelve lithium-ion batteries. When the electric motor (45 kW / 61 PS) of the space up! blue is driven exclusively by battery, a range of 65 miles is possible – enough to handle nearly all distances in downtown areas. In the scenario of tomorrow's world, the four-seat Volkswagen is advancing to become the ideal vehicle for anyone who wants to drive – completely emissions-free – to work, recreation, school or university or just shopping.
- Energy is "refueled" either via an electrical outlet or by the Volkswagen high-temperature fuel cell. In the latter case, the car's range is extended an additional 155 miles. This makes it possible to drive up to 220 miles on a single "energy charge". Aside from this, the microvan utilizes another energy source: the sun. And indeed with a large solar panel on the roof. It supplies up to 150 Watt of energy that is also fed into the battery.
- With its new high temperature fuel cell (HT-FC) Volkswagen is introducing a system that represents a turning point in research on fuel cells for mass production. That is because, the HTFC offers crucial advantages compared to all other fuel cell systems: considerably lower weight, significantly greater everyday utility, substantially lower price, and therefore clearly the better chances of becoming a reality someday as a mass produced technology. The high temperature fuel cell was developed at a dedicated research center founded by Volkswagen in Germany.
- With its concept car being shown in Los Angeles, Europe's most successful car producer is introducing the third variant of its "New Small Family" within just two months. Like the city specialist, the up!, already introduced at the IAA in Frankfurt, and the space up! presented in Tokyo, the space up! blue is a small space wonder too. Over a length of just 144.9 inches, a height of 61.8 inches and a width of 64.2 inches, it offers the space of a considerably larger vehicle. The clever space concept of the space up! blue – which is 1,090 kilograms "light" despite the fuel cell and batteries – is largely due to the layout of the powertrain. Its emissions-free electric motor operates – as did the engines of the Beetle and the Bulli (Microbus) at one time – in the rear. Also housed in the rear, under the rear seat to be exact, are the lithium-ion batteries. The high temperature fuel cell, on the other hand, is located at the front of the car.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve S 8:31AM (7/07/2008)
I commute 34 miles each way. If the vehicle will reach 65 mph loaded and run for 65 miles this would work for me. I can plug it in at work. We have cheap electric power (nuclear) so charging up would be a few cents each day.
What would the contribution (miles of range) of the 150 Watt PV panel be with 5.5 kW hours of sun? It is a good idea to add a PV panel if it adds a couple of miles to the range of the vehicle daily (lunch run and back).
If the hydrogen fuel cell will operate on any volatile liquid hydrocarbon that would be a major plus. There is no hydrogen available where I live, so H2 only would be a deal- breaker.
I like the appearance of the vehicle keeping in mind the compromises that must be made by the designers to get such an efficient use of space and minimization of weight. It is a box but not nearly as blatant a celebration of the box as the Scion xB.
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rgseidl 12:24PM (11/14/2007)
If CARB amends its ZEV legislation to eliminate the current crass bias in favor of fuel cell technology, VW could quite quickly knock out a far more viable parallel PHEV variation of this concept.
In that case, a three-cylinder gasoline ICE would be located in the rear and when active, power the rear wheels because that is how the Up! architecture works. The front wheels could sport individual electric motors, providing all-electric traction plus torque steer assist as required. There would be no way to use the ICE to recharge the batteries when standing still, but that is not a required feature.
As a suburban kid hauler / shopping bomber, the performance is minimally adequate. However, for short periods at a time (
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rgseidl 12:25PM (11/14/2007)
less than 30 secs), an additional 30kW or so should be on tap to safely merge into freeway traffic at short on-ramps etc. when the vehicle carries a full complement of passengers and cargo. Electric motors may be overtorqued briefly, though perhaps not by that much or for that long.
The solar panel is just plain silly. It adds a lot of weight and cost for virtually no extra power. Put it on the roof of your home instead, please.
A far more useful option would be a small folding bicycle with electric assist, so you could scoot around town after you've found somewhere to park - places with recharge outlets will be few and far between initially. A stowing kit would keep the bicycle secured under the hood and also include a charger, helmet, lock, and fanny pack with air pump, single-use rain poncho, repair kit etc.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/ezee_quando_a_f.php
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mike 9:10PM (11/14/2007)
- Great except for the fuel cell. Why do I want a hydrogen tank in my car?!?
- Yes, to the solar cell on the roof, it's not going to be the heavy silicon type, more like a thin film, but everything helps.
- The 4 door and roof window concept is great. Although I like it technically, I feel some revulsion for such a boxy car. Can you improve the aero look abit?
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mike 9:11PM (11/14/2007)
Maybe I can get used to the looks...
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mike 9:12PM (11/14/2007)
Is this ANOTHER 2010 car?
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Chris M 1:36AM (11/17/2007)
The article didn't say what type of high temp fuel cell is used, but solid oxide is most likely. The cost reduction is by reducing the amount of catalyst needed, and by using a less expensive catalyst.
More interesting is that the high temp fuel cells, both solid oxide and molten carbonate, are able to run directly on a variety of hydrocarbon fuels, doing away with bulky H2 fuel and the expensive high pressure tanks. It would be more efficient to power this fuel cell car directly with natural gas, rather than reforming it into H2 first.
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Geo. H 10:11AM (11/19/2007)
I like the car, saw it at the LA show, when will it be for sale here? I like the idea of a solar panel on the roof so when it's parked charging takes place. Can it produce it's own H2?
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BChau 8:59PM (11/24/2007)
Great idea to have a solar panel at the car roof. Apart from helping recharge the battery, it can help keeping the car interior cooler, thereby minimize the air-conditioning required to cool the car. I hope VW can bring this model to Australia. We have plentiful of sunshine here. Too much indeed.
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Michael 3:40PM (1/15/2008)
I'll buy it tomorrow. Great concept
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