Shanghai-based Aiways recently announced a strategic partnership with Blue World Technologies, a developer of high-temperature methanol fuel cell systems for automotive applications. Both parties will team up on the high-temperature methanol fuel cell and jointly explore the range-extended electric vehicle (EV) technologies and applications of clean energy.
Founded in 2017, AIWAYS has so far unveiled two EV models, namely, the AIWAYS U5 BEV, which is planned to be mass produced and delivered in the fourth quarter of 2019, and the RG Nathalie fuel cell supercar.
The methanol fuel cell, which was first adapted for the electric-powered Gumpert Aiways Nathalie super sports car, offers a number of key benefits. Principal among these is a significant extension in battery range, to up to 1,000km (621 miles) depending on driving conditions.
Denmark based Blue World Technologies specializes in the design and manufacture of methanol fuel cell system and plans to open a branch in Shanghai.
Alexander Klose, executive vice president of overseas operations at Aiways, said, “Our move to forge closer ties with Blue World Technologies is a demonstration of our brand’s ambition to drive the development of innovative mobility solutions. The collaboration and engineering innovations already realized on the Gumpert Aiways Nathalie will convince critics that battery electric passenger cars can compete against conventional powered cars in terms of range. We have never been closer to overcoming this prejudice than now.”
Blue World Technologies CEO Anders Korsgaard added, “Our cooperation with Aiways Group will be followed by a major step to extend the range of battery-electric passenger cars. Our fuel cell runs with 100% liquid methanol, which has zero harmful emissions and is available worldwide through existing infrastructure.
“When adding our methanol fuel cell system to a vehicle, you can substitute the weight of the battery by a similar amount. Therefore, the battery-electric car will not become heavier, but its range will extend significantly.”
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