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.
If they're going to make it a plug-in electric hybrid, why not gasoline/electric instead of hydrogen which you can't get. A gasoline/plug-in electric would actually make sense. With nuclear power plants, it might actually do something to "save the friggin' planet" for the leftys while saving enough money to make me consider driving the damn thing. That plus restyling it to look like an actual van or something.
UGLY!
Also don't like the truck-like frame.
looks like my ACME SS Juicer.
When the Wright brothers flew their airplane no one asked where all the airports were located, or how long the engine would last, or how long the wings would last.
The fuel stacks and batteries are in advanced research stages at this time. They will continue to evolve. So will hydrogen extraction technology. The hydrogen fuel stations will also evolve and become more numerous.
My dad once told me that he was holding off on buying a color tv until the technology was perfected. That was back in 1970. He eventually figured out that it would never be perfected.
Hydrogen vehicles are where tvs were in 1960. Will they pan out? No one knows.
Does it explode with greater force than the Pinto?
It all comes down to price(ie, EXPENSIVE lithium-ion batteries)in the competitive market. Plus ford is being boycotted by conservative christians over gay issues.
To us non-metrics, that's 10 pounds of hydrogen stored at 50,000 psi.
"Good God, that's ugly!"
Maybe that's a good thing. It just screams "hey look at me I'm sooooo peeceee".
I was wondering what 350 bar converted to. I wouldn't be too worried about the effects of a hydrogen-oxygen explosion...it would be a firecracker compared to what would happen if that 50,000 psi bottle decides it's time for some stress relief!
As has been mentioned on previous posts. What is source of H2 and what will it cost? This seems like fishing for a grant from the enviro wacko Rats.
barbra ann
>To us non-metrics, that's 10 pounds of hydrogen stored at 50,000 psi.
Are you sure about that? Isn't 1 bar 14.7 psi, so then 5,000 psi?
OK. Now, imagine some yahoo filling up with hydrogen at 50,000 psi ....
Talk about a fast getaway!
You are correct. I didn't see the decimal point on my calculator.
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