Volkswagen shows two fuel cell models in Shanghai
Volkswagen has introduced two world premieres for the Challenge Bibendum 2007 held in Shanghai, China: a Passat Lingyu and a Tiguan Hymotion. Both of them are powered by fuel-cells.
The Tiguan Hymotion complements the just-released Tiguan range of models. The powertrain is a fuel cell able to produce 80 kW but the system has 100 kW (136 HP) in total thanks to lithium batteries which store braking energy and release it for acceleration purposes or at low speeds, making it a hybrid. 0-60 is about 14 seconds and you can store up to 3.2 kg of hydrogen behind the backseats.
The Passat Lingyu was developed in China by VW engineers working with researchers from the University of Tongji. The specs are very interesting as well: it has a similar hybrid configuration, with a fuel cell that develops 55 kW with a motor able to produce 88 kW (120 hp) with peak energy coming from the lithium-ion batteries located below the backseat. The fuel cell is located in the floor and regenerative braking can be used to charge them. Performance is adequate: 0-60 in 15 seconds with a top speed of 140 km/h (90 mph).
VW also introduced the 2008 Jetta BlueTDI that produces less NOx and the Passat BlueMotion.
Gallery: 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan
[Source: VW Germany (link is in German)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GoodCheer 10:12AM (11/16/2007)
"The powertrain is a fuel cell (...) lithium batteries which store braking energy and release it for acceleration purposes or at low speeds, making it a hybrid."
Could someone explain to me how a fuel-cell vehicle could ever NOT be a hybrid? Fuel-cells convert chemical energy into electricity, which has to go through another motor to be converted into mechanical energy. That makes it a series hybrid right?
"The fuel cell is located in the floor and regenerative braking can be used to charge them."
And what happens, exactly, when you charge up a fuel cell?
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Mirko 10:56AM (11/16/2007)
Fuel cell car + traction battery = Fuel cell hybrid
Fuel cell car WITHOUT traction battery (or supercaps) = non-hybrid. Simple as that.
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GoodCheer 5:00PM (11/16/2007)
So then a diesel-electric locomotive is not a hybrid?
(They've only recently stared adding batteries for some regen energy storage, even though they're been around for 60 years.)
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Chris M 10:42PM (11/16/2007)
A "fuel cell only" car could theoretically be made, but fuel cells take too long to start up, run best at constant load, they are expensive and the price rises dramatically with increases in peak power. Adding a battery solves almost all those problems, except for high price, though the fuel cell can be less powerful and less expensive with a battery to assist it. For that reason, all the fuel cell vehicles are hybrids.
Some errors are bound to creep into reporting on new technology. The fuel cell isn't "recharged", it is the batteries that get recharged. There were some efforts made to make "rechargable fuel cells", but they didn't work too well. Pressure regulation and water control proved to be troublesome, and using batteries is much easier and cheaper and more efficient.
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