July 20 th 2002
Hybrid fuel cell move
Source: Nationwide News Pty Limited
TOYOTA will have a limited supply of wagons powered by a hybrid fuel cell on the market by
the end of the year.
The Kluger, using technology developed on the FCHV-4 prototype, will be
leased to
government agencies, research institutions and energy companies in both
the US and Japan.
It will not be made available to the public until at least 2010.
Toyota says while the five-seat wagon has been developed more quickly than
expected, it
admits it still has to overcome problems of high cost, storage of hydrogen
under high
pressure and the vehicle's sluggish performance in cold temperatures.
The 1.8-tonne Kluger has a top speed of 150km/h, with its electric motor
producing 80kW and
260Nm of torque.
About 20 Kluger will be leased to markets that have a ready supply of hydrogen.
Toyota started extensive testing of the FCH-4 on public roads a year ago.
Meanwhile, Delphi, a major components supplier to the vehicle industry,
says it will have the
second generation of its alternative fuel cell system ready for testing
later this year.
Delphi's system uses a chemical plant to provide the car with independent
electrical power
but the vehicle retains its conventional combustion engine for propulsion.
The auxiliary power unit utilises a solid oxide system which partially
converts petrol, diesel or
natural gas into a hydrogen-rich gas at 800C in a small fuel reformer.
It is then delivered to a compact fuel cell stack where the gas reacts
with oxygen to generate
electricity.
Delphi plans to have its second-generation APU working in a BMW sedan and
Volvo truck
test mules by the end of the year.
The system is being seen as having the most benefit for the truck industry
because electrical
power for heating the cabin or cooling the cargo box is provided without
the need for the
truck engine to be run when the vehicle is parked.
The APU also can provide independent power to operate tools like a welder
or electrical saw
from the vehicle, which will be welcomed by rural producers and the building
industry.
Delphi is now working on reducing the cost of the system from the current
$ A5310 per
kilowatt to $ 265/kW by 2016.
