French car giant Peugeot Citroen has today debuted a new zero emission delivery vehicle that combines hydrogen fuel cell and battery technology.
The demonstration vehicle is the result of a three year H2Origin research project with UK fuel cell specialist Intelligent Energy that has seen the new engine integrated into Peugeot's battery powered Partner Origin van.
The engine combines the existing electric battery and powertrain with a hydrogen fuel cell designed to treble the range of the vehicle to 300km. The car can the run off of either the hydrogen fuel cell or the battery with the battery recharging when the fuel cell is powering the vehicle in the manner similar to a hybrid.
A spokesman for the company said that it boasted a top speed of 95km/h and accelerated from 0 to 50 in 8.3 seconds.
Intelligent Energy said that the fuel cell was small enough to fit under the bonnet of a small delivery vehicle. It added that concerns over the effectiveness of hydrogen fuel cells at low temperatures had also been addressed, noting that the vehicle can be started at minus 20 degrees centigrade.
The van also features a new hydrogen storage system that holds the gas in an exchangeable rack or fuel tank. Peugeot Citroen said that the exchangeable rack provides a practical alternative to refuelling at hydrogen refuelling stations, only two of which are currently operational in the UK. Instead delivery vehicles running low on fuel could simply return to the depot to have a new full hydrogen tank fitted.
Jean Pierre Goedgebuer, Scientific Director of PSA Peugeot Citroën, said that the extended range of the van would increase "the attractiveness of electric vehicles for urban delivery", adding that the sector represented "one of the most promising future markets for electric vehicles".
Intelligent Energy ramps up funding for R&D and partnerships 10 Jul 2008
Intelligent Energy ramps up funding for R&D and partnerships 04 Jul 2008
Designs for new car to be made freely available in attempt to accelerate the commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles 17 Jun 2009
Largest project of its type to test "real world viability" of new range of electric cars 23 Jun 2009
You might struggle to find anywhere to fill it up, but futuristic hydrogen-powered concept car promises supercar levels of performance 25 Nov 2008
Survey of public sector IT managers reveals deep concern over ability to deliver on carbon-neutral targets 03 Jul 2009
Fresh funding will provide new wave energy research equipment and support research 03 Jul 2009
EPA hints it could soon raise efficiency bar for routers, modems and storage systems 03 Jul 2009
More news
From record-breaking solar panels to the International Renewable Energy Agency's new home, we round up the top stories from the past week 03 Jul 2009
Well, I hope they got a no win, no fee deal. I don't like being cynical (it's more of a congenital thing)... 03 Jul 2009
Recycling waste heat is nothing new, so why has the computer industry not kept up? 01 Jul 2009 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
