Posted on 01/08/2007 8:56:46 AM PST by Red Badger
Ford has developed an electric-drive crossover concept car in conjunction with Airstream—the Ford Airstream Concept—that is powered by a hydrogen-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain—the HySeries Drive.
The HySeries drive in the AirStream Concept combines a lithium-ion battery pack with a compact fuel cell system as a range extender—the fuel cell’s sole function is to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack as needed.
(This series-hybrid electric drive design approach is similar to that taken by GM with its E-Flex family and the Chevrolet Volt. Earlier post.)
The new fuel cell, supplied by Ford partner Ballard, operates in a steady state, allowing a reduction in the size, weight, cost and complexity of a conventional fuel cell system by more than 50%. This approach also promises to more than double the lifetime of the fuel cell stack, according to Ford.
The Ford Airstream Concept can travel 25 miles in battery mode—depleting the battery’s state of charge to about 40%—before the fuel cell begins operating to recharge the vehicle’s 336-volt lithium-ion battery pack.
With the hydrogen-powered fuel cell, the range increases another 280 miles for a total of 305 miles.
The Ford Airstream Concept can travel at speeds of up to 85 mph. An on-board charger (110/220 VAC) can refresh the battery pack when a standard home outlet is available
The concept uses 4.5 kg of hydrogen stored in a 350-bar hydrogen tank. The HySeries Drive delivers the combined city/highway equivalent fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon.
This powertrain is already on the road and driving in a Ford Edge prototype. Ford scientists and engineers created this vehicle with partial funding from the United States Department of Energy. The vehicle will be shown for the first time at the Washington, DC, Auto Show on Jan. 23.
pING!.....
I'd hate to be driving anywhere near that thing on a sunny day. Probably leave a swath of destruction in its path. :)
Hey, if the thing gets 41 MPG and doesn't pollute so much, that's not such a bag thing. The next question is how much would the thing cost and how much would a "gallon" of fuel cost?
It'll never work...
wait...
It'll never werk...
wait...
It'll never be allowed to werk...
Yep...Thats it...
. Similar, earlier article:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1763772/posts
Blinded by the light?.........
lol. that's funny.
LOL! Better looking, still ugly. :)
I'm with you........both ugly. Ford is grotesque
Does it run on regular hydrogen, or does it require hight test hydrogen? I don't think my local Chevron station carries high test hydrogen.
Good God, that's ugly!
Double the lifetime to what? Six months, six years? What a crummy article.
How long will the battery last and what is the replacement cost?
What is the replacement cost of the fuel cell stack?
How often does the hydrogen tank need to be refilled?
How many gas stations in the US currently offer retail hydrogen? What is the projected number in five years? Ten years? Where are these stations located?
What are the chances this car will be put into production? When? What will it cost?
Has the first photo above been altered in any way? (Reflections seem a little fake.)
Lots 'o hype, little useful info.
Just don't crash into a LOX tanker
So we take the Airstream concept of aluminun skinned trailers which has been around since the 1930's add one American company losing money making cars:Ford. And we have a winning combo here?
Well, hey. I like innovation. Lets see how it works out. But where the heck do you get hydrogen refills. And when the battery pack needs replacing, whats the cost...etc.
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